Hey there, CFOs! 💼

If you still think you're just the spreadsheet people in the back office… buckle up. This week’s issue dives into the massive shift happening in boardrooms everywhere—from CFOs stepping into the spotlight as growth architects, to the skillsets redefining what it means to be a financial leader in 2025.

We’re talking AI fluency, cross-functional leadership, cybersecurity ownership, and yes, even storytelling (who saw that one coming?). The numbers don’t lie—finance isn’t just about reporting the past anymore.

It’s about shaping the future.

📰 Upcoming in this issue

• Who’s Driving the Growth Bus? CFOs Say “Me” 🧠

• The Future CFO Will Look (and Think) Very Different 🧬 

• 20 Survival Skills Every Financial Leader Needs in 2025 🧠 

📈 Trending news

• From Back Office to Boardroom: The 25-Year CFO Transformation

• CFOs and the Power of Pay Transparency

• CFOs Rising: Beyond the Balance Sheet

Who’s Driving the Growth Bus? CFOs Say “Me” 🧠 read the full 742-word article here

Article published: April 3, 2025

I just finished reading CFOs see themselves as the engineers of growth from CFO.com, and it’s a fascinating snapshot of how modern CFOs are reimagining their role—from bean counters to business architects.

According to SAP Concur’s global survey, a staggering 81% of CFOs believe they alone should steer the growth strategy. The catch? Their own teams and peers—SVPs of finance, HR, and IT—aren’t so sure. What’s emerging is a tension between ownership and collaboration, especially when tech, talent, and transformation are all in play.

The disconnect is especially sharp in cybersecurity: 27% of CFOs have taken over security, but only 20% plan to collaborate with CISOs. So yes, CFOs want to lead—but to win, they might need to share the wheel.

Key Takeaways:

• 📈 81% of CFOs claim the growth-driver title, but only 9% think it should be shared across the C-suite.

• 🤝 HR and IT want more collaboration, yet CFOs rank shared KPIs and transparency low on the list.

• 🛡️ 27% of CFOs now own cybersecurity, but just 20% plan to partner with CISOs—despite rising threats.

• 🌍 Geopolitical risk is now a top challenge for 37% of CFOs, up from just 11% in 2024.

The Future CFO Will Look (and Think) Very Different 🧬 read the full 1,500-word article here

Article published: April 3, 2025

In Closing the skills gap: shaping the CFO of the future, Dan Harris, CFO at Colt Technology Services, paints a compelling picture of a CFO role in flux—and what needs to happen next.

While CEO and CTO appointments soared over the past year, CFO hires inched up just 2%. Why the lag? Harris blames lack of succession planning, early retirements, and rigid hiring paths. But his call to action is clear: tomorrow’s CFO must be part strategist, technologist, storyteller, ESG leader, and DEI ally.

With only 11% ethnic diversity and under a third of CFOs being women, representation still lags. But the bigger shift may be skills: Harris says financial acumen alone won’t cut it. The future CFO must master AI, champion sustainability, and connect numbers to human impact.

Key Takeaways:

• 🧑‍💼 CFO hiring rose just 2% last year, compared to 15% for CEOs and 23% for CTOs.

• 🌍 Only 11% of CFOs are from ethnic/racial minorities, and 44 of 163 new CFOs in 2024 were women.

• 🤖 30% of CFOs say tech literacy (AI, cloud) is crucial in selecting their successor—more than financial planning.

• 🌱 CFOs are becoming ESG and DEI champions, blending strategy with sustainability and inclusive leadership.

20 Survival Skills Every Financial Leader Needs in 2025 🧠 read the full 2,000-word article here

Article published: March 4, 2025

In 20 Essential Skills For Financial Leaders To Thrive In 2025, the Forbes Finance Council drops a masterclass on what it really takes to lead through uncertainty, innovation, and relentless change.

From wielding generative AI to cultivating empathy, the list reflects a new kind of CFO—equal parts strategist, technologist, and human connector. These aren’t your grandfather’s accounting skills. Think adaptability over predictability, courage over compliance, and emotional intelligence over spreadsheets.

In short, the future of finance is flexible, bold, and deeply human.

Key Takeaways:

• ⚙️ Tech-savvy is table stakes: From AI to automation, leaders must use tech to drive smarter, faster decisions.

• 💬 Empathy, storytelling, and human relationships now rival forecasting in importance.

• 💥 “Fail fast” is in: Experimentation beats perfection in today’s high-speed markets.

• 🧠 Open-mindedness > expertise: Leaders must unlearn old rules to thrive in a world that reinvents itself monthly.

Why It Matters

CFOs are no longer passengers on the growth bus—they’re trying to grab the wheel. But as the role expands into tech, talent, ESG, and beyond, success won’t come from control—it’ll come from collaboration, adaptability, and vision.

Whether you're in finance or work alongside it, understanding this evolution is key. Because the most valuable leaders tomorrow will be those who know how to bridge the gap between numbers and narrative—and bring others along for the ride.

Until next time,

Vanessa Carter
Editor-in-Chief
CFO Executive Insights