Roadmap Creation for Finance

The way we get hired is changing. But the way we get promoted is changing even faster. -AI is accelerating. -Financial reporting is evolving. -Communication is differentiating. The professionals who will lead in 2026 won’t be the most technical. They will be the most integrative. Here’s what I see emerging from the latest #SkillsOnTheRise signals: We are moving toward a new executive standard a Hybrid Skill Stack. 1️⃣ AI for Business AI is no longer a side project. It is a capital allocation decision. Leaders must understand: -Where AI creates measurable value -How to link it to ROI and risk-adjusted returns -How to govern it responsibly The competitive edge is not building models. It is knowing where models belong. 2️⃣ AI-Augmented Financial Reporting Financial reporting is shifting from historical documentation to decision intelligence. We are entering an era of: -Continuous analysis -AI-assisted anomaly detection -Predictive financial insights -Real-time performance signaling The future CFO will not just report numbers. They will interpret AI-generated signals and convert them into strategic direction. Reporting is becoming proactive, not reactive. 3️⃣ Executive Communication & Stakeholder Alignment Here is the uncomfortable truth: Technical excellence gets you noticed. Executive communication gets you promoted. You can be exceptional technically. But if you cannot translate data into clarity, you will hit a career ceiling. Influence is the multiplier. Boards do not promote spreadsheets. They promote leaders who can align people around insight. The 2026 Leadership Equation AI Literacy + Financial Intelligence + Strategic Communication = Executive Impact The winners of the next cycle will not be “AI experts” or “finance experts.” They will be translators between technology, capital, and people. That is the real hybrid advantage. #SkillsOnTheRise

The finance world isn't what it used to be. And honestly? That's a good thing. I've been mentoring finance professionals and students at FCP Consulting for years now, and the conversations have completely shifted. Five years ago, we talked about Excel models and financial statements. Today? We're talking about AI, ESG, and cybersecurity threats. Here's what's actually changing on the ground: 1. AI isn't coming. It's here: The analysts I work with are already using automation for risk analysis. The question isn't "should we adopt AI?" It's "how fast can we upskill our teams?" 2. ESG isn't a buzzword anymore: It's in boardrooms. It's in RFPs. It's in investor calls. If you're still treating sustainability as a side project, you're already behind. 3. Real-time data is the new normal: Static annual forecasts? They're relics. Leaders need agile frameworks that respond to market shifts as they happen not months later. 4. Your team doesn't look like it did in 2019: Hybrid work. Remote collaboration. Cross-functional skills. The finance talent of tomorrow needs to be digital-first, analytical, and adaptable. 5. And trust? It's everything: With digital finance expanding, one security breach can destroy decades of credibility. Cybersecurity isn't IT's problem, it's a leadership priority. The finance leaders who win in this decade won't be the ones with the best spreadsheets. They'll be the ones who can lead through transformation, build resilient teams, and earn trust in an increasingly complex world. What trends are you seeing in your corner of finance? Drop a comment I'd love to hear what's keeping you up at night. ----- Jeetain Kumar, FMVA® Founder, FCP Consulting Helping students break into finance and consulting PS: If you want to start your career in finance, check the link in the comments to book a 1:1 session with me #finance #investment #leadership #careers #tech

In 2030, Finance will look like a Product function Because let’s be honest: Too many finance teams still operate like it’s 1995. · One annual budget. · A sea of Excel sheets. · A process that punishes iteration instead of rewarding it. But product teams? → They test. → They learn. → They ship. → They improve. They don’t wait until year-end to find out what went wrong. That’s the mindset we need to bring into finance. In 2030, the best finance functions will look more like product teams than cost centers: 1. Roadmaps instead of static plans Strategic OKRs that flex with business shifts—not fixed budgets that break under pressure. 2. Experiments instead of assumptions Want to enter a new market? Price differently? Model it, test it, learn fast. Stop waiting for “certainty.” 3. Feedback loops instead of month-end surprises Real-time signals on margin compression, burn rate drift, or revenue anomalies—surfaced before they show up in the board pack. 4. User-centric design Finance outputs that speak human. No one should need a decoder ring to understand your forecast. 5. Actionable metrics Not vanity KPIs. Real levers that connect data to decisions to impact. This is where we’re headed. Because finance isn’t about control anymore. It’s about velocity, clarity, and adaptability. The CFOs who win in 2030 will build teams that think in sprints, learn like scientists, and operate like product leaders. Let’s stop being the department of “no” and start being the engine of “how.” ______ 👋 I’m Jaume Montané, CFO at Dost — where we’re helping finance teams move faster, think smarter, and scale without burning out. #CFO #FinanceLeadership #FPandA #FinanceTransformation #DigitalCFO #ProductThinking #AgileFinance #AIinFinance #Dost

New KPMG data just dropped on the UK hiring market. And buried inside it is a signal every senior finance leader should pay attention to. 55% of UK financial firms plan to increase headcount in 2026 after one of the worst hiring years since 2008. But the recovery is almost entirely concentrated in one area. 52% directing recruitment into tech and AI. 57% hiring at board level say AI skills are their single biggest focus. Apprenticeships? Dropped from 20% priority to just 4% in four months. The market is not recovering evenly. It is recovering around a very specific profile. I had a conversation recently with a Deputy CFO overseeing a £1.5 billion division. His entire focus right now is not the P&L. It is how to build AI into the fabric of the business operationally, commercially, strategically. That is what a high-value CFO looks like in 2026. Because we are moving from using AI as a tool to finance leaders running teams of AI agents. Automated workflows replacing what previously required three or four headcount. CFOs sitting at the intersection of commercial strategy, financial insight and AI deployment. The boardroom question is no longer just what have you delivered. It is can you architect the finance function of the future. That is not a tech hire. That is you with a sharper toolkit and a bigger seat at the table. The senior finance leaders who will move fastest are not the ones who know AI the best. They are the ones who can marry deep commercial and strategic experience with the ability to deploy and lead with AI-driven insight. As we discussed on yesterdays FCP call. We need to lean in to AI even more as senior finance leaders. Agree/disagree?

The days of CFOs just “watching the books” are over. The CFO role needs to evolve in 3 major ways this year: 1. From reporting numbers to driving outcomes Financial leaders can't just deliver data and walk away anymore. Today's CFOs need to use what they know to help shape plans and make things happen. 2. From managing finance to leading transformation Better ways of working start in finance, but it shouldn't stop there. CFOs should lead company-wide improvements — making work smoother and more efficient everywhere. 3. From efficiency measures to standard metrics Prediction: By 2030, CFOs will routinely track employee-level ROI metrics across all departments, not just sales. Finance leaders will measure how each team member contributes to recurring revenue, customer lifetime value, and operational efficiency using standardized productivity benchmarks. Smart CFOs should start building these measurement frameworks now. The CFO job is changing fast. How is your team adapting to these changes?

The CFO's office in 2030 won't just look different it will think differently. I've been reflecting on how artificial intelligence will fundamentally reshape the financial leadership landscape, and the transformation goes far beyond automation. Here's what I envision: From Rear-View Mirror to Crystal Ball Today's CFO dashboards show us what happened. Tomorrow's will show us what's about to happenand why. Imagine opening your morning dashboard to find: Predictive cash flow modeling that factors in geopolitical events, weather patterns, and supplier sentiment analysis in real-time. Anomaly detection that flags the unusual $47K expense buried in a $2M budget line before it becomes a pattern. Scenario planning that runs 10,000 simulations overnight and presents the three strategies most likely to succeed The New CFO Toolkit ✲ 1. Natural Language Finance "Show me why our gross margins compressed in APAC last quarter" ➝ Instant visual breakdown with root cause analysis, competitor benchmarking, and recommended actions. No SQL. No pivot tables. Just answers. ✲ 2. Autonomous Close Process The month-end close that once took 10 days? AI will handle reconciliations, variance analysis, and preliminary reporting in hours. The CFO's team focuses on strategy, not data collection. ✲ 3. Risk Intelligence Layer Real-time monitoring of 500+ risk indicators across cyber, credit, compliance, and operational domains with AI prioritizing what actually needs human attention. What This Means for Finance Leaders The CFO of 2030 will spend: ➝ Less time on data gathering and validation ➝ More time on strategic decision-making and stakeholder influence ➝ Zero time wondering if the data is accurate (AI will ensure data integrity continuously) But here's the critical insight: AI won't replace CFOs. It will elevate them. The finance leaders who thrive will be those who: ➝ Embrace AI as a thought partner, not just a tool. ➝ Develop strong business acumen to interpret AI insights. ➝ Focus on the human elements AI can't replicate—judgment, ethics, and leadership. ➝ Build teams that blend financial expertise with data fluency. What's your vision for the CFO dashboard of tomorrow? What capabilities would transform how you lead finance today?

The finance job is rapidly changing.  By 2030, Gartner predicts one-third of enterprise apps will embed autonomous AI agents, making 15% of decisions on their own.  That’s not automation. That’s a new model for how decisions get made.  For finance, this means less number-crunching and more orchestration. Leaders won’t just manage numbers. They’ll manage the systems that generate them.  Tomorrow’s finance leaders will need:   • Critical thinking to validate AI-led decisions.   • Systems fluency to understand and audit intelligent workflows.   • Influence across teams to lead through complexity, not just compliance.  At Stacks, we see this shift every day, finance teams moving from reconciling data to designing workflows. The job isn’t about doing the work anymore. It’s about shaping how the work gets done.  How are you preparing for this shift in your own role or team?  

Over the past 10 years, I’ve had the privilege of managing finance teams of over 100 professionals across multiple countries. One thing has become very clear: the future of finance demands a skill set that transcends traditional number-crunching. Here’s what I’ve learned: 1. **Embrace Technological Advancements:** From AI to automation, tools that once seemed futuristic are now the norm. Embrace them to move from reactive bean-counting to proactive value creation. 2. **Cultivate a Strategic Outlook:** Today’s finance leaders don’t just track performance; they shape it. Get involved in cross-functional teams, understand the business at a deeper level, and champion decisions that move the needle. 3. **Tell Compelling Stories:** Data is the foundation, but storytelling brings it to life. Your ability to translate complex insights into action points will set you apart—and earn you a seat at the leadership table. 4. **Commit to Lifelong Learning:** In a world where regulations change overnight and fintech disrupts whole industries, staying curious and adaptable is your superpower. 5. **Forge Resilience:** Markets exhibit abrupt shifts, particularly in dynamic economies like Nigeria's. Rather than viewing volatility as an obstacle, perceive it as a chance to innovate, pivot, and fortify your resilience. 6. **Lead with a Purpose:** Profit matters, but so does impact. Real leaders focus on building sustainable, ethical, and inclusive growth that serves both the organization and the community. As we navigate the future of finance : - Which skill do you anticipate will define the forthcoming finance era? - How do you equip yourself to adapt and flourish in this evolving path?

The transformation of the CFO role continues to fascinate me. Having worked extensively in this space, I wanted to share some perspectives on how finance leaders are evolving from traditional "financial scorekeepers” to "Value Architects." Inspired by the insights from my colleagues Julie Teigland, Kristin Vorbohle, and Norman Emmenlauer what’s particularly interesting is how, despite varying regional perspectives on sustainability reporting requirements, many organizations remain deeply committed to practical value-creation initiatives. Whether it's decarbonization efforts, circular economy strategies, or supply chain optimization - these aren't just compliance exercises, they're fundamental business imperatives driving innovation and efficiency. ✅ Two major catalysts are reshaping the finance function: The first is the acceleration of sustainability imperatives. The data tells an interesting story - our research shows that an overwhelming majority of European companies are fundamentally transforming their sustainability reporting approaches. What I find particularly noteworthy is how institutional investors have shifted their perspective - with most now supporting strategic sustainability investments, even at the expense of quarterly earnings targets. This signals a fundamental change in how we measure and create value. The second catalyst is the AI revolution in finance. It's remarkable to see that nearly 90% of finance leaders are already leveraging AI for data analytics and non-financial reporting integration. This isn't just about automating processes - it's about enabling finance leaders to focus on strategic value creation. What I find most compelling about this evolution is how CFOs are navigating what is the "Age of And" - where leaders must simultaneously: - Balance short-term results with long-term value creation - Integrate financial metrics with practical sustainability initiatives - Harness technology while enhancing strategic input - Drive shareholder returns while optimizing operations for future resilience The path forward seems to center around three key elements: 1. Crafting value narratives that demonstrate how sustainability initiatives drive business performance 2. Developing integrated business cases that consider both financial and non-financial value 3. Building operating models that embrace innovation and operational excellence I'm continually impressed by the adapting to these new demands and opportunities, focusing on tangible improvements in their operations while preparing for the future. I'm curious to hear from others in this space: How are you seeing the CFO role evolve? What practical sustainability initiatives are you finding most impactful for your business? Link to the full article - https://lnkd.in/eQzby5kB ⤵️

The role of the CFO is no longer about just numbers. It’s about navigating ambiguity, enabling transformation, and influencing the future. To lead in today’s AI-driven, volatile, and cross-functional world, finance professionals must evolve and FAST. That’s why I developed the FAST CFO Framework, built around 4 core pillars: F - Future-Ready Mindset Adaptability is the new superpower. Finance professionals must embrace AI, shifting business models, and continuous reinvention. A - Analytical Storytelling It’s not about reporting numbers. It’s about telling the story behind numbers. The ability to turn data into strategic insights is what makes a finance leader trusted and heard. S - Strategic Tech Fluency Understanding how tools like ChatGPT, RPA, and predictive analytics can drive business performance is no longer optional. Tech is the new language of finance. T - Trusted Influence Finance needs to lead beyond spreadsheets. That means building visibility, credibility, and cross-functional impact even without formal authority. The world has changed and the expectations from finance have changed: - 40% of finance work will be automated by 2026 (Gartner) - Boards and CEOs now expect finance to shape strategy, not just report on it - Generative AI is reshaping every function and finance must lead, not lag The FAST CFO Framework isn't just a model; it’s a roadmap to stay relevant, drive enterprise value, and lead the future of finance. Because this framework is so critical, I’ve embedded it into the curriculum of Batch 19 of the Strategic CFO Program, starting July 5. Every session, every case, every simulation has been aligned to develop these four capabilities. If you're serious about growing into a future-ready finance leader, this is the path forward. Which of the FAST CFO pillars do you think is mostly needed to prepare for the future of finance? Let me know in the comments. MECA CFO Academy #CFO #FutureOfFinance #FinanceLeadership