Private equity firms are intensifying pressure on CFOs of portfolio companies to integrate AI into finance functions, but many finance leaders remain uncertain about where to begin. A recent survey by consulting firm Accordion, covering 200 private equity executives and 200 CFOs, found that 98% of private equity leaders have directed CFOs to prioritize AI adoption. However, 68% of CFO respondents said they are delaying implementation because they “simply do not know where to begin or who to turn to for help.”
The survey also noted that 10% of CFOs view AI as “all hype and not ready to be practically leveraged.” Despite the push, most finance leaders reported receiving no clear guidance on which AI tools to use, leaving ambiguity over whether firms should focus on large language models, generative AI, or agentic AI platforms.
Accordion’s Managing Director and U.S. Head of Data and Analytics, Kyle Roemer, said this lack of specificity is intentional. “Ninety-three percent of sponsors said they are not providing specific AI tool guidance because they want their CFOs to work with outside experts who can better identify and then help implement the right combination of technologies to address the finance workflows they are trying to improve,” he explained. Roemer added that finance workflows now use dedicated tools for calculations, with human review for material items. The findings highlight the growing pressure on finance chiefs to modernize operations with AI while ensuring strong oversight, accurate reporting, and risk controls remain firmly in place.
