Eight powerful forces—including technology, organizational dynamics, and regulatory change—will fundamentally reshape the finance function over the next five years. Agentic AI will be embedded in many enterprise applications, with a growing share of routine decisions made autonomously and human roles shifting toward supervising, collaborating with, and coaching AI counterparts. Machine decision-making and connected device data will enable real-time decisions on operational costs and cash flow, reducing repetitive work. Organizational specialization and remote-work technologies risk isolating finance staff, while self-service tools can create silos and disconnect finance from business context. A looming talent shortfall among finance professionals will exacerbate workforce challenges.
AI is chief among them. By 2030, Gartner projects that one-third of enterprise applications will have embedded agentic AI, with 15% of day-to-day work decisions made autonomously. Human roles will evolve to focus on supervising, collaborating with, and coaching AI counterparts. Machine decision-making will also accelerate. As early as 2028, Gartner is predicting 70% of finance functions will use AI analysis with connected device data for real-time decision making on operational costs and cash flow management, according to Brian Stickles, senior principal at Gartner Finance.
But one prediction-the "lonely enterprise"-warns that these advances may negatively impact the employee experience if CFOs are not proactive. According to Gartner, organizational specialization and remote work technologies will make finance staff more isolated. While self-service tools boost efficiency, they also risk creating silos and disconnecting finance from the broader business context necessary for high-quality advice. A recent Harvard Business Review article also emphasizes that organizations shouldn't lose sight of their most important asset-humans-as AI creates more efficient and productive workplaces.
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