New Finance Trends Research Highlights Growth and Transformation

A look at the top priorities for CFOs and finance leaders in the coming year — among them, security and privacy of data, financial and strategic planning and analysis, leadership, and enhanced data analytics — reveals a tale of transformation for CFOs whose responsibilities continue to widen.

Expanding roles: Our latest Global Finance Trends Survey results, based on responses from more than 950 finance leaders worldwide, show how top priorities can be drivers for growth and transformation. To excel, CFOs and finance leaders must ply their expertise, and their influence, throughout the organization.

Below are key survey insights and top priorities for CFOs and finance leaders for the next 12 months.

By the numbers: Notable findings from our research include the following:

• 57% of organizations that are employing generative AI are doing so as part of financial forecasting activities (overall, 34% of organizations are using generative AI in their finance function).
• 21% of organizations have achieved valuable cost and efficiency benefits and improved their finance projects through the use of AI and machine learning.
• 61% of finance leaders and professionals rate the security and privacy of data as a high priority for the finance organization in the coming year.
• 69% of finance leaders and professionals in publicly held organizations rate financial planning and profitability analysis and reporting as a high priority for the coming year.
• 59% of publicly held organizations report a high level of preparedness for ESG reporting, compared with 47% of private organizations.

Go deeper: In this report, we explore the top finance priorities as rated by finance leaders from around the world and provide detailed perspectives on how CFOs are focusing on cybersecurity and accountability, AI’s long-term value and other complex issues that go beyond traditional finance and accounting. To address these opportunities and challenges, we also offer key action items for CFOs and finance leaders.

Learn more: Our survey report, briefs and infographic are available here. In addition, we are hosting complimentary webinars on Tuesday, September 24, at 1 p.m. EDT and Thursday, October 24, at 1 p.m. EDT, to discuss key insights from the results of our survey. You can find more information and register here.