Good morning. How are finance leaders preparing their teams to meet today’s complexities and build for the future?
Along with an in-depth analysis of the survey data, the report explains the top five finance trends through 2026, identified by respondents and interviewees:
Finance chiefs are balancing cost efficiency with growth investments, while supply chain disruptions remain a major source of volatility and cost. Roughly 75% of respondents say their companies lack sufficient resources for investment, and priorities are tightly clustered: Planning for external challenges, adopting new technologies, and reducing costs all ranked nearly evenly at the top.
Most respondents (57%) say they are now primary strategy influencers at their organizations. Many scale their impact by deploying technology and AI, redefining finance as a proactive business partner. Nearly half (48%) of these leaders use cloud solutions to optimize costs, compared to 33% of those in support roles.
Finance leaders who own cost management—and emphasize accountability and effective tools—are more likely to meet or exceed savings goals. Thirty-six percent of surveyed finance leaders (and 42% of CFOs) are primarily responsible for cost management; 47% of these leaders consistently hit cost-savings targets, compared to 39% in supporting roles.
Forty-one percent of early-stage teams report legacy technology as a barrier to AI adoption, compared with 31% of “AI leaders”—respondents who have deployed AI solutions, delivered measurable value from those solutions, and have already integrated AI agents into the finance function.
The survey also found that 30% of finance leaders in the early stages of AI adoption struggle with justifying ROI, compared with 21% of those further along the AI journey, or AI leaders. Deloitte recommends that finance leaders take a holistic view of AI’s value, including trust and organizational sentiment—not just financial metrics—to ensure transformation succeeds.
Many finance departments now see technology as a key solution when talent is in short supply, and finding the right mix of both is increasingly a top priority. Nearly two-thirds of respondents (64%) plan to add more technical skills by 2026, prioritizing AI, automation, data analysis, and technology integration. For tax and finance professionals, AI skills are increasingly seen as essential.
How are you preparing your teams for this transformation in finance? Email me to share your thoughts.
