A Wolters Kluwer Corporate Performance & ESG survey of 1,672 senior finance leaders across more than 20 markets finds chief financial officers are taking on broader enterprise responsibilities, moving beyond classic accounting and reporting functions to roles oriented around enterprise performance.
The research, published in the 2026 Wolters Kluwer "Future Ready CFO Report, Performance Orchestrator in the Age of Transformation," shows 53% of those surveyed say the CFO function owns digital transformation at their organization. In addition, 42% report the CFO is responsible for capital allocation and 40% say the CFO oversees risk management.
Maria Montenegro, CEO of Wolters Kluwer CP & ESG, commented on the findings: "CFOs are signaling a decisive shift in how they lead, orchestrating a digital future, bringing together data, technology, risk, and strategy across the enterprise. As they operate in an environment shaped by AI-powered decision making, CFOs are taking on a central role in how their businesses plan, predict, and act with greater precision."
The survey identified artificial intelligence adoption and implementation as the single most impactful global trend for finance leaders, with 47% of respondents ranking AI ahead of both interest rate volatility and regulatory complexity. Respondents also indicate a rapid timeline for change: 87% say expectations of the CFO are expanding as AI becomes embedded in enterprise decision making, and 85% believe AI will reshape their role within the next year.
Looking further out, 62% of those surveyed expect AI and advanced analytics to drive transformational change in capital allocation within the next three years. The report also notes capital allocation itself is being influenced by external forces: 43% of respondents say AI investment is directly affecting capital allocation decisions, 42% point to interest rate volatility, and 37% cite regulatory complexity as a primary driver of investment choices.
The research highlights a clear gap in digital maturity among finance functions. While 69% of finance teams describe themselves as being in early or established stages of digital maturity, only 18% consider their organizations digitally advanced - a designation the report associates with real-time capabilities, automation at scale, and continuous optimization.
Summary
The Wolters Kluwer survey of 1,672 senior finance leaders finds CFOs increasingly lead digital transformation, capital allocation and risk management. AI is identified as the top global trend affecting finance, with most respondents expecting substantial role changes for CFOs within a year and transformational capital allocation impacts within three years. Digital maturity remains limited across many finance teams.
Key points
- 53% of respondents say CFOs own digital transformation; 42% say CFOs handle capital allocation; 40% say CFOs oversee risk management.
- 47% identify AI adoption and implementation as the most impactful global trend; 87% say CFO expectations are expanding as AI is embedded in decision making.
- Only 18% of finance teams consider themselves digitally advanced, while 69% report early or established stages of digital maturity.
Risks and uncertainties
- Uneven digital maturity across finance functions may limit the speed at which organizations can realize AI-driven benefits - a concern for enterprise technology and financial operations.
- External pressures such as interest rate volatility and regulatory complexity are cited alongside AI as primary drivers of capital allocation decisions, introducing uncertainty for corporate investment planning.