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The future of finance starts with better alignment

See how finance leaders are connecting AI, security, data and strategy to unlock greater business value.

8 min read

Finance leaders are balancing a growing list of priorities—from AI and automation to security, planning, cost optimization and economic uncertainty. The challenge isn't advancing these initiatives individually; it's bringing them together in a way that drives measurable business value.

Protiviti's 2026 Global Finance Trends Report explores how leading organizations are synchronizing technology, data, processes and strategy to improve performance, strengthen resilience and support better decision-making.

At a glance:

  • 77% of finance organizations are using AI, but only 14% of this group have a defined AI strategy.
  • Security and privacy remain finance's top priority for the third consecutive year.
  • Organizations are finding greater measurable value from automation, analytics and modernization than from AI alone.
  • Cash management and resilience have become top priorities amid ongoing economic uncertainty.
  • Leading finance organizations are aligning technology, data, processes and strategy to improve business performance.

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The technology story for finance organizations is not just about AI.

About the research

Protiviti surveyed 902 finance executives worldwide, including CFOs, vice presidents of finance and other senior finance leaders across North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific. Respondents represented organizations of varying sizes and industries, including financial services, energy and utilities, healthcare, manufacturing, technology and consumer products.

Survey respondents by region:

38 %

North America

35 %

Europe

27 %

Asia-Pacific

Where finance leaders are synchronizing initiatives

Finance leaders cite three primary areas of focus:

Key findings

The priorities finance leaders are working to synchronize:

Key themes

AI is part of a bigger transformation story

Moving beyond adoption to business value

AI adoption continues to grow, but strategy remains a work in progress. While the vast majority of finance organizations are employing AI, only 14% of this group have a defined AI strategy. Most organizations are focused on applying AI to forecasting, risk management and process automation rather than broader transformation.

Action for finance leaders:

Integrate AI with automation, analytics and modernization initiatives to accelerate measurable business value.

Building trust in a digital finance environment

Data security and privacy remains finance's top priority for the third consecutive year, ranking ahead of financial planning, analytics and process improvement. As organizations increase their use of AI and data-driven technologies, governance is becoming foundational to transformation.

Action for finance leaders:

Strengthen governance and data management practices to support innovation with confidence.

Connecting technology investments to outcomes

Organizations continue to adopt AI faster than they can measure it. Finance leaders report greater effectiveness measuring the ROI of broader transformation initiatives than AI-specific investments, highlighting a growing need for stronger value measurement disciplines.

Action for finance leaders:

Define AI success metrics early and connect technology investments to business outcomes.

Driving efficiencies through modernization

Automation, technology rationalization and cloud-based systems are generating the strongest cost optimization gains. While AI is delivering value, finance organizations continue to realize the greatest benefits from proven technologies that improve efficiency, visibility and operational performance.

Action for finance leaders:

Balance AI investments with modernization initiatives that deliver measurable results today.

Navigating uncertainty with confidence

Cash management remains the finance area receiving the greatest attention amid ongoing economic, monetary and trade policy uncertainty. Finance leaders are increasing their focus on forecasting, planning and liquidity management to strengthen organizational resilience.

Action for finance leaders:

Enhance forecasting and scenario planning capabilities to improve agility in a changing environment.

Aligning priorities across the enterprise

Today's CFO is expected to balance technology investments, operational priorities, governance requirements and business strategy. Success increasingly depends on the ability to synchronize people, processes and investments around shared organizational goals.

Action for finance leaders:

Connect finance, technology and business priorities to drive enterprise-wide value creation.

Key finance trends shaping CFO priorities

Protiviti Managing Directors Chris Wright and Shawn Seasongood examine the key findings from Protiviti’s 2026 Global Finance Trends Survey, Synchronize. In this discussion, they explore the competing priorities facing today’s CFOs, including AI adoption, ROI, business transformation, data governance and privacy, and evolving economic, monetary and trade policies.

Watch Time: 16:46 minutes

Why synchronization is essential for today's CFO

Watch a Protiviti's Chris Wright highlight the key takeaway from this year’s Global Finance Trends Survey and explain why CFOs must synchronize their priorities. He explores the connection between rising AI adoption and increasing cybersecurity risks, highlighting why an integrated approach is essential for finance leaders seeking to drive value and resilience.

Watch time: 2 mins

The AI journey: where finance leaders stand today

AI has become a top priority for finance leaders. In this video, Protiviti’s Shawn Seasongood explores what this year’s Global Finance Trends Survey reveals about AI maturity across organizations and how finance teams are putting the technology into practice.

Watch time: 1:59 mins

Cybersecurity in the age of AI: the CFO's new risk imperative

AI is raising the stakes for cybersecurity as organizations accelerate digital transformation, cloud adoption and automation. Watch Protiviti's Nick McKeehan and Mike Monday discuss how leading organizations are scaling AI securely, strengthening governance and managing emerging risks. Learn what separates confident AI adopters from their peers and why collaboration across the business is critical to unlocking AI's full value.

Watch time: 2:34 mins

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FAQs

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What are the top finance trends for 2026?

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Protiviti's 2026 Global Finance Trends Report identifies five priorities shaping the CFO’s agenda: AI adoption, security and privacy, business transformation, cost optimization and cash management. Together, these trends show that finance leaders are balancing innovation with resilience in an increasingly uncertain environment.

What are the key findings from Protiviti's 2026 Global Finance Trends Report?

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The survey reveals that leading finance organizations create more value by aligning technology, data, governance and business strategy. While AI adoption continues to grow, organizations are seeing the strongest measurable business outcomes from foundational investments in automation, analytics and modernization.

What does "synchronization" mean in Protiviti's Finance Trends Report?

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Synchronization refers to connecting AI, automation and analytics with governance, planning and business strategy to improve performance, agility and decision-making. Organizations that connect these priorities are better positioned to improve performance, strengthen resilience and create measurable business value.

How are finance organizations adopting AI?

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According to Protiviti's research, 77% of finance organizations are using AI, yet only 14% of this group have a defined AI strategy. The findings suggest finance organizations are moving quickly to adopt AI but are still developing the governance and strategic alignment needed to realize its full value.

Why are security and privacy still finance's top priority?

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Security and privacy have remained finance's top priority for three consecutive years. As organizations expand their use of AI, analytics and cloud technologies, strong governance and data protection are essential to managing risk and enabling transformation.

Which technologies are delivering the greatest business value?

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The report found that automation, advanced analytics, cloud-based platforms and technology rationalization are currently delivering the strongest cost optimization and efficiency benefits. These technologies continue to improve efficiency while creating a stronger foundation for AI adoption.

How is economic uncertainty changing finance priorities?

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Economic and policy uncertainty is increasing the focus on liquidity and resilience. Eighty-three percent of CFOs rank cash management among their top priorities as they strengthen forecasting and prepare for changing market conditions.

Who should read the Global Finance Trends Report?

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The report is designed for CFOs, finance executives, controllers, FP&A leaders and transformation teams. It features insights from 902 finance leaders across North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific to help organizations benchmark priorities and plan for the future of finance.

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