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 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. 

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. 

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.