A survey of 1,000 CFOs and senior finance leaders throughout the UK and Eire has revealed the rising pressure dealing with finance professionals, with nearly all (99%) saying they work evenings or weekends, and almost two-thirds (64%) doing so typically or at all times.
When requested about their largest considerations, CFOs ranked well timed entry to knowledge (25%) as their high fear, overtaking each rising prices and inflation (25%) and cybersecurity threats (24%). In comparison with knowledge from the Mindset Report 2024, concern over knowledge entry has elevated by 5% from 20%, whereas nervousness about inflation and cybersecurity has fallen from 40% and 36% respectively. This alerts a shift from exterior dangers to operational challenges inside finance groups themselves.
The information hole is having an actual affect on decision-making too. Sixty 5 p.c of respondents mentioned monetary selections are made with out sufficient info, and 29% admitted this occurs typically or at all times.
Wanting forward, CFOs anticipate AI and automation (26%), regulatory change (25%), and international financial shifts (25%) to be the most important disruptors in finance by 2030. But, considerations stay about AI’s function within the finance operate, with leaders citing moral decision-making (27%), knowledge safety (22%), and lack of human oversight (21%) as key dangers.
Darren Cran, CEO of AccountsIQ, mentioned: “Finance groups are below intense stress to ship correct insights quicker, typically with out the suitable instruments or well timed knowledge. Our analysis exhibits that that is resulting in overwork and poor-quality decision-making. Clever automation affords an actual alternative to vary that, enabling CFOs to make higher selections based mostly on dwell knowledge and liberating up time for strategic pondering. A more healthy work-life stability is achievable when finance capabilities are really data-driven.”
With year-end quick approaching for finance groups, the report highlights the significance of smarter techniques and linked knowledge — not only for effectivity, however for the wellbeing and sustainability of the finance occupation.
