Global Finance Trends Survey | Protiviti Hong Kong SAR

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Results from our latest Global Finance Trends Survey reveal a tale of transformation for CFOs whose responsibilities continue to widen. Our findings highlight the rising importance of technology and automation to support the growth and success of the organisation. Finance teams are increasingly collaborating with stakeholders across the organisation to tackle issues such as cybersecurity, strategic planning, cost optimisation and sustainability initiatives.

The survey of over 950 finance leaders around the world shows:

CFOs and finance leaders are prioritising data security, financial planning and strategic planning due to expanding roles and new regulatory demands.
Leading CFOs and finance organisations are advancing GenAI and AI tools to secure long-term benefits beyond mere efficiency gains.
CFOs continue to lead the way for sustainability disclosures and reporting.

Go deeper: Our report provides an in-depth look at these and other priorities on the minds of CFOs and finance leaders worldwide, along with practical calls to action for them to address these challenges.

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The realisation we have come to is that this needs to be a never-ending story. Whether we call it continuous improvement or transformation, it’s not about creating a programme with a beginning and end.

Survey Respondent

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Dive into the results of our global finance trends survey to identify key priorities for finance leaders, look at new and emerging issues and explore strategies to navigate these growing pressures.

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Highlights

priority is security and privacy of data.

of organisations that are employing generative AI* are doing so as part of financial forecasting activities.

* Our survey indicates that 34% of finance organisations are currently using generative AI.

of publicly held organisations report a high level of preparedness for ESG reporting.

Top Overall Priorities

2024 Rank	Area	2024	2023 Rank
1	Security and privacy of data	7.7	5
2	Financial planning and profitability analysis and reporting	7.7	N/A
3	Strategic planning	7.6	6
4	Routine reporting and closing activities	7.5	10
5	Process improvement	7.5	11
6	Leadership (within your organisation)	7.4	23
7	Enhanced data analytics	7.4	7
8	Cloud-based applications	7.4	9
9	ESG metrics and measurement	7.3	1
10	Changing demands and expectations of internal customers	7.3	15
11	Tax changes (Formerly "National tax changes")	7.3	8
12	The changing roles of human resources, leadership & development, and recruiting	7.1	13
13	Transaction planning and readiness	7.1	16
14	Mobile finance applications	6.9	12
15	Artificial intelligence (including generative AI)	6.9	N/A

As a global organisation, we rely a lot on cloud-based solutions. [But whether] it’s cloud-based or on premise, there is still an opportunity for security breaches. In the current climate with AI speculated as being one of the drivers for increased security risks, this obviously remains one of the high priorities [for our organisation].

Survey Respondent

Cybersecurity accountability
FP&A: A cross-functional imperative
AI’s long-term value
Tech drives cost savings

Cybersecurity accountability

CFOs play a crucial role in cybersecurity. With the growing demand for data and the need for sophisticated controls, accuracy assurance and compliance savvy, the CFO’s data governance responsibilities have increased. New cybersecurity disclosure and reporting requirements, along with customers’ and vendors’ expectations for data privacy and security, also require the CFO’s hands-on cybersecurity role.

FP&A: A cross-functional imperative

FP&A has transcended its traditional finance boundaries to become a critical function across all business areas. It's pivotal for driving value and streamlining costs enterprise-wide — no department is exempt. Given today’s demands for advanced, forward-looking analytics, the need for FP&A is even more pronounced. Now integral to organisational strategy, finance teams are guiding others to ensure data used for analyses is relevant, precise and secure.

AI’s long-term value

Finance leaders are shifting focus from immediate gains to the transformative impact of generative AI. By deploying AI in areas like process automation, financial forecasting and risk management, CFOs aim to boost revenue and profitability. Our findings indicate that finance organisations investing in these applications anticipate benefits far beyond short-term efficiencies, eyeing substantial returns over time.

Tech drives cost savings

CFOs must boost agility and resilience in a high-risk global environment by continuously optimising costs and boosting revenue through finance automation, strategic sourcing and tech enablement. Our research highlights that while progress has been made, there's still significant room for improvement in cost optimisation efforts.

Full report

Explore our report for an in-depth look at the top priorities on the minds of CFOs and finance leaders.

Webinars

Dive into the ever-evolving world of global finance trends through our webinars where industry experts share their invaluable insights.

Podcast

In this podcast, Managing Directors Chris Wright & Nick Puetz share their insights on the results of this global study and what they tell us about the challenges and opportunities for finance leaders.

Infographic

View our infographic, offering a concise and engaging summary of pivotal findings from our survey report.

CFO brief

CFO Priorities in data protection, strategic planning, and leadership are key for their role expansion and strategic positioning as CEOs.

Finance Transformation

Protiviti helps finance leaders address their current challenges, prepare for future challenges, and explore opportunities for continuous growth, delivering innovative solutions and supporting finance as a forward-thinking, strategic partner for the business.

Business Planning & Analysis

Leverage Protiviti’s end-to-end customised solutions to understand and address your most challenging planning and analytics issues. We combine the strategic approach of consulting with the power of practice experience to deliver results.

Artificial Intelligence

AI is changing the way we do business and there’s applied value for almost every function in every industry. We partner with clients to unlock the power of intelligence-based innovations for your business.

Data Protection

We help preserve your business value by protecting sensitive data while assessing and maintaining compliance with regulatory and contractual requirements.

Cloud Security

We help you understand, address, and actively manage the risks you face to successfully operate your business in a secure cloud.

Sustainability Consulting

We believe sustainability is a continuous journey, presenting risks and opportunities. There are no blueprints or out-of-the-box solutions, and each company needs an individualised approach to ESG reporting and operations.