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Key dynamics redefining the modern CFO role
Change is the only constant, it’s said. The past five years have seen rapid shifts, from historically low interest rates to a higher rate environment to renewed recession fears. As a chief financial officer (CFO), you should know how to get comfortable with the uncomfortable, especially as your role continues to evolve. While abrupt geopolitical and policy shifts can bring volatility, a clear view of your organization’s financial health can help you tackle any challenge head-on. How? With a focus on driving business results through collaboration and business model reinvention.
In the spotlight
Finance leads the way through uncertainty
In a volatile economy, CFOs are stepping up as strategic architects of resilience and growth. According to our latest Pulse Survey, 57% of CFOs say they’re reshaping their short-term strategies as a result of US economic policy. Another 58% are investing in AI to drive real-time forecasting and smarter planning. By balancing near-term risks with long-term value, CFOs are reshaping decision-making and proving that finance can power resilience and reinvention.
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57% of CFOs say U.S. economic policy is driving short-term strategy shifts
Source: PwC Pulse Survey, May 2025
Where to focus in 2025
Strategy and growth
Embrace your evolving role
The days of crunching numbers are long gone. Finance leaders need diverse skills — financial expertise, strategic decision-making and risk and stakeholder management — to navigate complex challenges, financial regulations and political uncertainty. Capital requirements, risk and interest rates implications continue to move higher on the list of CFO challenges.
Now, with ongoing innovation and finance transformation, leaders have a full plate. To address these CFO trends, lean on technology. Savvy finance leaders harness the power of data, predictive analytics and financial intelligence. Modern tech can identify risks, simulate scenarios and help devise mitigation strategies to safeguard financial health and enhance financial resilience. Collaboration with other C-suite members is equally critical. Aligning teams and enabling data-driven decisions can steer your company to success.
Additional ways to embrace your evolving role
Strategy and growth
A CFO imperative: Smart resource reallocation
New PwC research confirms that the strategic redeployment of capital can boost profit margin. The challenge for CFOs? Overcoming stubborn biases.
Strategy and growth
Three strategic leadership goals to unleash your finance function
From redefining roles to enhancing collaboration and embracing innovation for transformative outcomes, these goals can help you unleash your finance function.
Technology
Hit reset on risk and drive more effective system transformations
How CFOs can drive more value from ERP, cloud and technology initiatives through executive teaming.
44% of CFOs say increasing the use of tech to reduce costs is very important to fund in the next 12 months
Source: PwC Pulse Survey, June 2024
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