The role of the CFO is evolving—and it’s not getting any simpler. AI is advancing at breakneck speed, automation is reshaping workflows, and finance leaders are expected to become the change-makers the entire organisation can count on.
The 2025 edition of The CFO’s Playbook underscores this shift and unveils just how dramatically this new reality is shaping up, placing unprecedented expectations on finance leaders across Europe.
Those who proactively embrace this transformation will define the path forward for their organisations. And this evolution is exactly what The CFO’s Playbook for 2025 is designed to guide.
What the new finance skillset looks like
Today’s leaders are navigating entirely unexplored terrain. They're juggling responsibilities well beyond traditional finance—like cybersecurity, hiring, and even HR—often all at once.
It’s a complex balancing act, and according to The CFO’s Playbook for 2025, 55% of CFOs say these extra responsibilities are creating a ‘decision-freeze’, slowing down exactly when they need to speed up.
That’s what happens when expectations outpace resources, leaving finance leaders stuck between urgency and uncertainty. To face this era, CFOs and their teams will need to master a set of non-negotiable skills that will keep them competitive and prepared for the challenges ahead.
AI know-how becomes the ace up the sleeve
The CFO’s Playbook reveals that AI is now the most in-demand finance skill for the next 12 months, and 65% of companies say they’re prioritising AI and tech skills when hiring into finance teams.
This shift is transforming career trajectories. Those who embrace AI are not only securing higher salaries but also gaining access to more strategic, influential roles within their organisations. It’s clear that employers need people who can make sense of what these tools uncover, spot the risks they miss, and translate machine-driven insights into real-world strategy.
In other words, AI is making the best finance professionals even more valuable and indispensable.
Knowing how to collaborate effectively is key
There was a time when finance teams felt constrained to stick to the numbers, file reports, and let the rest of the business figure out what to do next. Those days are over. Finance is now a central part of decision-making, working across departments to drive strategy, manage risk, and fuel growth. That kind of influence doesn’t come only from technical skills.
According to The CFO’s Playbook for 2025, teamwork ranks three times higher than emotional intelligence (33% vs. 11%) as a priority for finance teams. The reason is straightforward: businesses need finance professionals who, of course, understand the numbers but, most importantly, can work with leadership, HR, and operations to turn financial insights into action. A strong balance sheet means nothing if teams can’t align on how to use it. A risk analysis won’t prevent losses if no one understands the next steps.
Working well with others includes listening, communicating clearly, and helping teams connect the dots between finance and the bigger picture. Simply put, the best finance professionals are the ones people want in the room when decisions are made.
Flexibility is the new name of the game
Finance has always taken its time to adapt to changes, but right now, it’s in overdrive. Regulations keep shifting, technology is rewriting the game, and markets refuse to sit still. The way things were done last year won’t cut it now.
This leads to flexibility being ranked as the third most important skill for finance employees for the year ahead, according to The CFO’s Playbook for 2025. Businesses need people who can adjust on the fly and rethink strategies when the ground starts shifting beneath them.
The ones who will thrive are spotting trends early, testing new ways of doing things, and staying ahead of what’s coming next, whether that’s AI upgrades, regulatory updates, or another unexpected market shake-up.
Be bold enough to face the future of finance
Spreadsheets are getting automated. Data crunching is handled with just a click. But before all of that, the in-between and everything after, still demands the unmistakable influence of the human brain. And the skills needed to put everything in motion are now the most sought-after.
If you want to get ahead of the game and not become a cautionary tale, download The CFO’s Playbook for 2025. It’s got the skills, the trends, and the insider scoop on what to expect moving forward.
