First Midwest BankFirst Midwest Bank logoArrow DownIcon of an arrow pointing downwardsArrow LeftIcon of an arrow pointing to the leftArrow RightIcon of an arrow pointing to the rightArrow UpIcon of an arrow pointing upwardsBank IconIcon of a bank buildingCheck IconIcon of a bank checkCheckmark IconIcon of a checkmarkCredit-Card IconIcon of a credit-cardFunds IconIcon of hands holding a bag of moneyAlert IconIcon of an exclaimation markIdea IconIcon of a bright light bulbKey IconIcon of a keyLock IconIcon of a padlockMail IconIcon of an envelopeMobile Banking IconIcon of a mobile phone with a dollar sign in a speech bubbleMoney in Home IconIcon of a dollar sign inside of a housePhone IconIcon of a phone handsetPlanning IconIcon of a compassReload IconIcon of two arrows pointing head to tail in a circleSearch IconIcon of a magnifying glassFacebook IconIcon of the Facebook logoLinkedIn IconIcon of the LinkedIn LogoXX Symbol, typically used to close a menu
FDIC-Insured - Backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government

Suggested Search Terms

    Suggested Search Terms

      Top trends shaping the future of finance—AI, agility, and proactive leadership are in the spotlight
      Get Insights

      Get monthly ideas delivered right to your inbox.

      Subscribe for Insights

      For Your Business Sheryl Estrada December 2, 2025

      Top Trends Shaping the Future of Finance — AI, Agility, and Proactive Leadership Are in the Spotlight

      How are finance leaders preparing their teams to meet today’s complexities and build for the future?

      Deloitte’s inaugural Finance Trends report draws on a global survey of 1,326 finance leaders — mostly CFOs or next-in-line finance chiefs from companies with annual revenues above $1 billion — and interviews with nine global finance executives.

      Along with an in-depth analysis of the survey data, the report explains the top five finance trends through 2026, identified by respondents and interviewees:

      Scenario Planning and Agile Governance

      Finance chiefs are balancing cost efficiency with growth investments, while supply chain disruptions remain a major source of volatility and cost. Roughly 75% of respondents say their companies lack sufficient resources for investment, and priorities are tightly clustered: Planning for external challenges, adopting new technologies, and reducing costs all ranked nearly evenly at the top.

      Finance Leaders Have Become the Company Strategy Leaders

      Most respondents (57%) say they are now primary strategy influencers at their organizations. Many scale their impact by deploying technology and AI, redefining finance as a proactive business partner. Nearly half (48%) of these leaders use cloud solutions to optimize costs, compared to 33% of those in support roles.

      At HPE, for example, finance’s use of AI has been transformative. CFO Marie Myers told Deloitte: “We are using AI to empower our teams to become strategic partners, leveraging data and technology to drive enterprise-wide value. We’ve reimagined the role of finance, moving from traditional stewardship to proactive leadership enabled by digital transformation.”

      Finance-Led Cost Management Drives Measurable Value

      Finance leaders who own cost management — and emphasize accountability and effective tools — are more likely to meet or exceed savings goals. Thirty-six percent of surveyed finance leaders (and 42% of CFOs) are primarily responsible for cost management; 47% of these leaders consistently hit cost-savings targets, compared to 39% in supporting roles.

      Finance Teams Are Leaning Into AI, but Lagging on Integrating AI Agents

      Nearly all finance teams are experimenting with AI; 63% have already fully deployed and are actively using AI solutions in their finance function. Among those respondents, only 21% believe those AI investments have already delivered clear, measurable value, and only 14% have reached the additional milestone of fully integrating AI agents directly into the finance function. This may highlight the challenge of moving from AI pilot projects to embedding AI into daily finance operations. It also shows that many industries are still in the early stages of adopting AI agents for specific tasks — a relatively new frontier in the field, according to Deloitte.

      Forty-one percent of early-stage teams report legacy technology as a barrier to AI adoption, compared with 31% of “AI leaders” — respondents who have deployed AI solutions, delivered measurable value from those solutions, and have already integrated AI agents into the finance function.

      The survey also found that 30% of finance leaders in the early stages of AI adoption struggle with justifying ROI, compared with 21% of those further along the AI journey, or AI leaders. Deloitte recommends that finance leaders take a holistic view of AI’s value, including trust and organizational sentiment — not just financial metrics — to ensure transformation succeeds.

      Infusing Tech Talent in Finance

      Many finance departments now see technology as a key solution when talent is in short supply, and finding the right mix of both is increasingly a top priority. Nearly two-thirds of respondents (64%) plan to add more technical skills by 2026, prioritizing AI, automation, data analysis, and technology integration. For tax and finance professionals, AI skills are increasingly seen as essential.

       

      This article was written by Sheryl Estrada from Fortune and was legally licensed through the DiveMarketplace by Industry Dive. Please direct all licensing questions to legal@industrydive.com.

      Subscribe for Insights

      Subscribe