The financial landscape is evolving at an unprecedented pace. We predict these four emerging FinTech trends will reshape CFOs’ responsibilities this year.
Table of Contents
1. Integrating AI into Finance Teams
AI is projected to enhance decision-making, streamline processes, and improve efficiency across financial operations. And 34% of finance leaders report being under pressure to adopt AI technologies, all driven by “the need for faster, more accurate financial forecasting; the demand for real-time data analysis; and the ever-present spectre of competition.” (source) And yet, “today’s AI technology advancements have not yet translated to solutions and applications that finance can deploy and utilize at scale – the design, build and deployment of these solutions on top of AI models is in itself a complexity to overcome for enterprises to adopt in the CFO’s organization.” (source)
Further reading on AI in the Finance Function:
- Gartner, Top 5 Finance Trends and Priorities for CFOs in 2025
- FinTech Magazine, Unseen Copilot: How AI Will Transform the Finance Function
- The CFO, Why CFOs are giving AI a second look
2. Emphasis on Real-Time Financial Insights
The demand for real-time data and analytics will (somehow!) increase, with CFOs yearning to make informed decisions swiftly, and leverage advanced data analytics and predictive modeling long-term during financial planning and forecasting.
In particular, CFOs are looking to achieve aggressive ROI from data analytics and translate raw findings into clearer stories. Jennifer Crow, CFO of CognitiveScale said, “Our investors and C-suite have an insatiable desire for more information. Our team’s role is to narrow the data to metrics that can drive decisions or identify problems – such as those around customer acquisition, churn, and lifetime value. We combine information from different platforms into one scorecard.” (source)
Further reading on the importance of real-time data:
- EY, How private company CFOs can use data to make a difference
- Future CFO, CFOs’ top priorities in 2025: metrics, analytics, reporting
- PYMNTS, Simpro CFO Says Real-Time Data Essential to Cash Forecasting
3. Sustainable and Ethical Finance
More than one-third (37%) of CFOs say climate change is a serious or moderate risk for their companies, according to a PwC survey. Coupled with activists, stakeholders, NGOs, and other influencers escalating their pressure on businesses and financiers to address critical social and environmental problems, it will be more important to integrate ESG factors into financial strategies. CFOs will play a pivotal role in steering their organizations toward sustainable and ethical financial practices and aligning with global sustainability goals.
Further reading on sustainability strategies:
- PwC, CFO’s playbook for sustainability strategies: PwC
- Reuters, The evolving role of CFOs in a company’s sustainable future – Thomson Reuters Institute
- The CPA Journal, Why the Office of the CFO is Making Climate and ESG Ambition a Reality
4. Talent Acquisition and Workforce Dynamics
Robert Stowe, head of Americas equity capital markets for Barclays, told Business Insider that he “predicted some $50 billion in initial public offering volumes in the US next year. That would be a roughly 20% increase from 2024’s just over $41 billion worth of IPO volumes in the Americas, as recorded by the deal-tracking firm Dealogic.” The finance industry is preparing for a robust hiring market, with a focus on acquiring talent to manage these deal flows and support growth initiatives.
Further reading on the Finance hiring market: