Only 25% of CFOs lead major investment decisions despite 60% believing they should shape value creation, per global survey data.
A global survey of over 1,600 CFOs reveals a disconnect between expectations and influence in corporate decision-making. While 60% of finance leaders believe they should drive value creation, just 25% lead major investment decisions and 26% guide discussions on value drivers. Only 27% of respondents say their organizations view finance as a key partner in value creation, highlighting a gap in strategic involvement.
The survey, conducted across 28 countries and 22 sectors, found that 49% of CFOs believe traditional metrics fail to capture value from technology, data, or long-term investments. Half cite proving return on investment upfront as a major barrier, while 68% say performance metrics need redefinition. Capability constraints further limit CFOs, with fewer than half recognizing strong AI potential in data analysis, growth forecasting, or dynamic pricing.
Finance teams perceived as AI-ready are more likely to leverage AI for value creation, but leadership skills and outdated metrics remain hurdles. The findings suggest companies risk missing growth opportunities by underutilizing CFOs in strategic roles.