The rapidly evolving economic landscape heading into 2025 is pushing financial executives to recruit even larger numbers of staff with advanced technology and data analytics skills. This should drive strategic growth and enable organizations to maintain a competitive edge in what is shaping up to be a volatile market in the new year.
One of the key takeaways from a survey of hundreds of Financial Executives International (FEI) members — to be released in a report next month in partnership with Forvis Mazars — is that demand is certain to escalate for technology-savvy professionals in the finance suite heading into next year.
As the chart reveals, there has been a clear shift in finance suite hiring priorities since 2021, with a growing emphasis on data-driven skills.
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According to the initial survey results, financial planning and analysis remain the most sought-after skills areas; such roles have increased significantly in importance since 2021. More than 40% of respondents said they are making it a priority to acquire these skills in 2025.
Data management, technology, and AI skills have also seen notable growth, reflecting the finance sector's reliance on advanced analytics and automation. Traditional skills like technical accounting and specialist finance, while still important, are growing more slowly. Regulatory and audit management skills remain lower priorities, which only proves further how finance suite focus is pivoting toward strategic and data-centric competencies.
What’s Driving the Continued Tech Push in the Finance Suite
As artificial intelligence is continuing to reshape the accounting and finance landscape, many industry leaders are viewing its integration as an opportunity rather than a threat. This is why some of the financial executives interviewed for the report stated that they are placing their talent chips on technology skills in 2025:
“I don’t think AI is a job killer in accounting and finance. I think that streamlining current manual processes will happen, and people need to work through the ramifications,” said one interviewed executive.
Recent research outside of the upcoming report underscores the accounting industry’s increasing emphasis on AI and data analysis skills. Earlier this year, the National Pipeline Advisory Group (NPAG) pointed to the need to focus the talent pipeline in that direction:
“We believe that technology in general, and AI in particular, is likely to reduce the number of repeatable processes in accounting, freeing up talent to focus on other, higher-value activities. Labor-augmenting technologies that increase efficiency and free up capacity allow those in the accounting profession to turn their attention to more difference-making work.”
Adapting to this new paradigm will be a priority for financial executives in the new year. They will need to focus on upskilling existing staff to enable them to leverage AI as a tool, in addition to taking on additional or replacement employees who are already adept at using the application.
“With AI, as with any new technology in finance, the emphasis is on its maintenance, ownership, and review,” one executive interviewed for the research pointed out.
The promise of AI and the changes reshaping the workforce are just two areas examined in the forthcoming Financial Executives Priorities Survey & Insights Report, which will be released next month.
The report also addresses additional topics critical to CFOs, CAOs, and controllers, including:
- What financial leaders think about regional, industry, and global opportunities in 2025
- Post-election expectations and key strategic concerns
- How the financial executive mindset has evolved since the pandemic crisis
Join us on January 30, 2025, to learn more.