• 60% of finance professionals now lead cross-functional initiatives across recruitment, business strategy, sustainability, marketing, and people management
  • 1 in 4 say they need more training and support to adapt to their evolving roles
  • AI and automation top the list of growth opportunities, though nearly a fifth express concern over the pace of technological change

The study of 500 finance decision-makers, conducted by The CFO Centre – provider of part-time CFOs to more than 750 businesses across the UK – found that the traditional finance role is expanding rapidly. A notable 60% of respondents said they now lead cross-functional initiatives, while 55% have taken on new responsibilities driven by structural or market changes. Just 1% reported no change to their role.

Finance professionals are increasingly stepping into areas such as recruitment, business strategy, sustainability, marketing, and people management.

While 59% of respondents said they felt equipped for their expanded responsibilities, one in four admitted they require further training and support. Reflecting this, two-thirds of organisations have brought in fractional specialists to bolster their teams, highlighting the rising appeal of flexible, on-demand finance leadership.

Respondents expect this evolution to continue, with finance leaders forecasting greater involvement in reputation management, digital transformation, and change management, alongside traditional financial planning and strategy.

The findings suggest growing confidence in the market with 56% of finance leaders said they were “very confident” about meeting their financial targets this year, with another 40% “somewhat confident.”

When asked about the most promising growth drivers, AI and automation led the way, with 41% citing them as key to improving performance. This was followed closely by supply chain cost efficiencies (40%), mergers and acquisitions (35%) and product diversification (33%).

Looking ahead, top priorities for finance teams include research and development (24%), securing long-term funding (22%), developing AI strategies (21%), and optimising profits (21%), all areas where strategic finance input is critical.

Key concerns among finance professionals include increasing operational and people costs (22%), meeting sustainability and net-zero targets (22%), and access to finance (20%). Other headwinds include government fiscal policy, technological disruption and uncertainty around tariffs.

Patrick Murray, a seasoned CFO with over 30 years of experience helping high-growth companies secure funding, scale efficiently and achieve successful exits, believes the role of the CFO has fundamentally changed but sees great opportunity for those ready to evolve.

“I’ve seen first-hand the shift from functional specialist to strategic consultant, with finance professionals growing in influence from SME boardrooms to corporate C-suites. Today’s CFO is no longer confined to balance sheets and forecasting. They’re leading talent strategies, shaping sustainability agendas, overseeing marketing impact and driving digital transformation.

The most successful finance professionals will be those who embrace change, broaden their skillsets, and commit to continuous personal and professional development.”

Sara Daw, CEO of The CFO Centre says the research reflects broader changes across the C-suite. “Businesses are having to adapt to an increasingly dynamic environment. They need agile, strategic guidance now more than ever and we have seen an increase in demand and acceptance for fractional professionals as a result.

“This research reinforces the accelerating demand for ‘fractional twins’ as we call them who can deliver high-level expertise without the full-time overhead or the long and costly process of hiring and onboarding.  There is no doubt that the finance function is evolving, and we’re proud to be leading that evolution globally. These findings paint a picture of a finance function that’s more integrated, more accountable, and more vital than ever. The era of the siloed CFO is over; the age of the strategic, CFO has arrived.”

The CFO Centre, a pioneer in fractional CFO services since 2001, operates in 18 countries across four continents. From its headquarters in Swindon, it employs more than 350 CFOs in the UK & Ireland and over 700 worldwide.

For more information, visit www.cfocentre.com/gb