In 2026, CFOs predict AI transformation, not just efficiency gains

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• It's going to become absolutely critical for CFOs and finance leaders to have some level of AI literacy and an ability to identify use cases to improve productivity

  80% confidence

• In 2026, leaders will shift from 'What can AI do?' to 'How do we build the foundation for scale?'

  80% confidence

• In 2026, AI will be judged less on promise and more on proof, with enterprises expecting measurable gains in speed, resilience, and decision quality

  80% confidence

• In 2026, AI won't be a future concept for finance; it will be a business necessity

  80% confidence

• e.l.f. Beauty will continue to explore how to best leverage AI in finance to lean into its strengths

  80% confidence

• With currency volatility becoming the baseline through early 2026, AI-driven models will be critical for monitoring FX exposure and adjusting strategies in real time

  80% confidence

• We're advancing toward a future where nearly every business decision will involve AI

  80% confidence

• Leaders will manage a more nuanced AI portfolio that balances launching pilots with rolling out proven solutions, and will prioritize data governance, process redesign, and maintenance

  80% confidence

• AI-illiterate leaders will disappear in the next few years

  80% confidence

• Consolidation needs to happen before widespread AI implementation

  80% confidence

• The orchestration of systems, data, and workflows through the use of generative AI will serve to augment end-to-end visibility and cross-functional scenario analysis, planning, and reporting

  80% confidence

• HPE's intelligent agents will automate quarterly close, forecasting, and analysis, delivering real-time insights and actionable predictions

  80% confidence

• The real unlock is moving finance from reporting what happened to shaping what happens next

  80% confidence

• Embedded in ERP, agentic AI will accelerate the close, sharpen forecasting and cash visibility, and automate controls and compliance, cutting manual work while improving auditability

  80% confidence

• The era of buying AI for AI's sake is over

  80% confidence

• As cheap capital remains off the table, CFOs will lean on AI to optimize liquidity, manage debt, and prioritize spending with tighter margins

  80% confidence

• The future of finance is not just about crunching numbers, but rather about transforming data into strategic foresight

  80% confidence

• Success will hinge on strong governance, human oversight, ROI discipline, and building digital acumen that empowers talent

  80% confidence

• Many CFOs are holding off on broad AI adoption because the market is saturated with overlapping tools and unclear value propositions

  80% confidence

• Predictive analytics and competitive benchmarking will become essential, enabling CFOs to anticipate market shifts and optimize decisions with speed and precision

  80% confidence

• Success in 2026 will be defined by how we mature our AI strategy to ensure it is both agile, durable, and enterprise-grade

  80% confidence

• Core finance and accounting systems will enter a phase of end-to-end connectivity, visibility, flexibility, and interconnectedness with all business applications across departments

  80% confidence

• If AI is only being used to do the same work faster, its value is being underutilized. The real power comes from doing different work, strategic work that drives outcomes

  80% confidence

• In 2026, CFOs need to shift from financial gatekeepers to transformational architects who drive strategy and shape decisions

  80% confidence

• Success depends on fixing foundational systems; layering AI over broken processes won't deliver results

  80% confidence

• 2026 will mark a turning point where advances in generative AI and predictive analytics will enable finance teams to move beyond automation toward real-time insights and scenario modeling

  80% confidence

• Leaders will need to move beyond pilots and start treating AI and agentic systems as real team members that take on work and drive outcomes

  80% confidence

• AI will not replace human experience or judgment, but it will quickly expose where it's missing and reward organizations that connect vision to AI-powered execution at scale

  80% confidence

• CFOs who modernize architecture and skills will convert pilots into durable productivity, faster cycle times, and stronger margins

  80% confidence

• The real AI shift will be enterprise-wide, with AI embedded into how companies plan and allocate capital, operate, serve customers, and manage risk

  80% confidence

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