Get future-ready with intelligent finance

March 25, 2019

RESEARCH REPORT

In brief

The CFO’s role is evolving. Today, they’re using data and digital technology to attract new finance talent and drive sustainable business growth.
CFOs can deliver value that helps every business function by investing in new technology and leveraging an innovative workforce.
An intelligent finance and accounting (F&A) operating model will help finance move from transactional to strategic.

Meet today’s CFO: tech-driven, data-rich and a leader in the C-Suite. Over the years, the CFO’s role has evolved from accountant to strategic enabler—seen by CEOs as their most trusted advisors. As disruption continues to put pressure on executives, CFOs are now the best equipped to drive value and lead the digital transformation of their organization.

What’s needed to drive this transformation? An intelligent F&A operating model that leverages data, new intelligent technologies and talent to deliver insights and analytics.

With an intelligent finance function, CFOs gain a new suite of capabilities that transcend their traditional roles. Companies stand to become more agile, generate value more quickly, and achieve a competitive edge when CFOs and F&A are at the heart of the enterprise. That’s because the finance function operates at the beginning and end of everything, enabling organizational change and measuring its impact.

77_%

77 percent of CFOs believe it is within their purview to drive business-wide operational transformation.

81_%

81 percent of CFOs see identifying and targeting areas of new value across the business as one of their main responsibilities.

Equipped with an aerial view of a company and its data, CFOs are uniquely positioned to shape strategy and drive transformation. Through an intelligent finance operating model, CFOs can help transform the finance function; moving from transactional and reactive to proactive and strategic.

Today, CFOs must focus on three main objectives:

Harnessing the power of data
Leading with new digital technologies
Developing future F&A talent

Success in achieving these objectives will help CFOs drive unprecedented growth and position finance to lead the enterprise through digital transformation.

Next Steps

CFOs will need to establish an intelligent finance function—powered by data, intelligent technology and future-ready talent—to drive shareholder value and sustainable growth and to elevate the role of finance. The time is now for CFOs to steer the strategic direction of the company and take their place as the CEO’s chief business partner.