OneStream’s new "Finance 2035 Initiative" reveals that the CFO’s role is poised for a major transformation over the next decade, becoming integral to business growth, risk management, and strategy. The study surveyed 2,000 global leaders, highlighting a shift where investors increasingly value CFO competence over CEO performance. The findings show that investors place significant weight on the CFO’s strategic role, often increasing initial investments by an average of 2.6% if the CFO is the key driver of growth. Notably, for large asset managers, this figure rises to 3.6%. This focus on CFOs as essential growth leaders reflects broader trends, including regulatory convergence and tech advancements, which are reshaping business landscapes.
The report underscores a high demand for CFOs who can balance technical and strategic responsibilities while guiding organizations through complex regulatory and economic environments. As CEOs and investors express heightened expectations, many CFOs face challenges such as technology limitations, data overload, and skills gaps within finance teams. Despite these hurdles, a majority of business leaders (74%) believe that organizations failing to modernize financial technology and adopt AI will struggle to survive. The report emphasizes that by 2035, CFOs must embrace unified data systems and automation, positioning these advancements as essential for navigating future business pressures.
