Did you know that 27% of job listings for CFOs now mention AI?
The role of the chief financial officer is evolving, and fast. What was once a position focused on balance sheets and cost controls is now increasingly tied to artificial intelligence. A growing number of CFO job descriptions reflect this shift: 27% of CFO job postings now require AI-related expertise.
The increasing demand for AI skills among CFOs mirrors broader corporate trends. A recent Cisco study found that while 97% of CEOs plan to integrate AI into their business strategies, only 1.7% feel fully prepared to do so.
Meanwhile, McKinsey research highlights that although nearly all companies are investing in AI, only 1% consider themselves “mature” in AI deployment. The common thread? Leadership, not employees, is the primary roadblock to scaling AI within organizations.
The modern CFO is no longer just a steward of financial operations but a strategist tasked with driving digital transformation. AI is reshaping key finance functions: automating routine tasks, enhancing risk management, and improving predictive forecasting.
CFOs today are expected to oversee AI-driven initiatives that improve cash flow management, detect fraud, and streamline financial planning. AI-powered analytics tools allow finance chiefs to forecast economic scenarios with greater accuracy, making them critical players in long-term business strategy.
“The finance function is at a tipping point,” said Jeetu Patel, Cisco’s Chief Product Officer. “Leaders who fail to modernize will struggle to keep up as AI transforms business models at an unprecedented pace.”
While CFOs are expected to leverage AI, many organizations have not yet prepared their finance teams for this shift. Cisco’s research found that 74% of CEOs worry that gaps in AI knowledge among top executives will hinder decision-making and slow growth.
Meanwhile, more than 70% fear that inadequate IT infrastructure and underinvestment in AI will erode their competitive advantage. Over half of CEOs already see direct losses stemming from insufficient AI adoption.
In many cases, employees are further along the AI learning curve than leadership. McKinsey’s study found that workers are more eager to adopt AI than executives assume.
Employees were three times more likely than their leaders realized to believe that AI will replace at least 30% of their work within a year. Yet, without top-down investment and direction, AI deployment across organizations remains sluggish.
For CFOs who are slow to develop AI competencies, the risks are tangible. Companies that fail to integrate AI into finance operations face higher costs, inefficiencies, and missed opportunities in forecasting and compliance.
A lack of AI adoption can also impact valuation and investor confidence. Companies seen as laggards in digital transformation risk being perceived as less resilient in a volatile market. A finance leader’s ability to leverage AI can make the difference in attracting capital and sustaining long-term profitability.
To address these concerns, many organizations are turning to external expertise. Cisco’s study found that 96% of CEOs plan to partner with trusted technology providers to accelerate AI integration. Finance leaders are also increasingly expected to collaborate with CIOs and CTOs to ensure that AI strategies align with corporate goals.
Upskilling finance teams will be crucial. Business schools and executive education programs are already ramping up AI-focused curricula for senior leaders. Companies are also investing in AI training initiatives to equip finance teams with the necessary technical acumen.
“The CFO of the future will need to be as comfortable with AI models as they are with financial statements,” said Oliver Tuszik, President of Cisco EMEA. “The shift is already happening—finance leaders who don’t embrace AI now will find themselves at a disadvantage sooner rather than later.”