Wolters Kluwer recently completed a comprehensive survey on the current levels of adoption, future plans, and key drivers related to Artificial Intelligence (AI) within the office of the Chief Financial Officer (CFO).
This survey sheds light on the transformative potential of AI, particularly agentic AI, which is positioned as a pivotal tool for revolutionizing financial operations. By examining the latest trends and insights from industry leaders, our survey highlights the growing significance of AI innovations that are set to redefine the landscape of financial management and decision-making.
The survey was conducted with 392 finance leaders on May 21, 2025, during CCH® Tagetik inTouch25, an annual conference focused on innovation in corporate performance management.
Full survey results:
How important are AI skills when recruiting new finance team members?
| Not at all important | 15% |
| Somewhat important | 44% |
| Very important | 30% |
| Essential importance | 11% |
When considering AI adoption in your finance function, what would have the greatest impact on driving further adoption?
| Training in AI skills and tools | 23% |
| Data readiness | 44% |
| Cyber security safeguards | 8% |
| Embedded AI-powered corporate performance management technologies | 25% |
Are you currently using Agentic AI in your finance function?
| Yes, we are currently using agentic AI in our finance function | 6% |
| Not yet, but we have plans to use agentic AI in our finance function in the next 12 months | 38% |
| No, we are not using agentic AI and have no plans to do so | 46% |
| I don't know | 10% |
What would you consider the biggest advantage of AI for your finance function in the next 12 months?
| Driving efficiency and productivity gains | 36% |
| Enhancing predictive intelligence to manage economic volatility | 10% |
| Increasing accuracy and reducing human error | 40% |
| Improving decision making | 14% |
How much time do you think AI will save your team in the next 12 months, freeing up your team to focus on strategic objectives?
| No time will be saved through AI usage in our finance function | 12% |
| We will save 5% of time in the next 12 months through AI adoption | 22% |
| We will save 10% of time in the next 12 months through AI adoption | 42% |
| We will save 20% of more of time in the next 12 months through AI adoption | 24% |
When considering the current economic volatility, do you have the talent, structure and team resources you need on your finance team?
| We have the optimum talent, structure and team resources | 21% |
| We will consider restructuring our team | 24% |
| We will consider hiring new team members | 33% |
| We do not have the optimum talent, structure, or team resources but are unable to make | 22% |
How will global economic volatility impact your use of AI specifically for Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A)?
| We have been using AI and plan to increase our usage of AI tools | 14% |
| We have been using AI and plan to continue using AI tools at the same level | 8% |
| We have not previously used AI but we plan to use AI tools | 67% |
| We are not currently using AI and do not intend to use AI | 11% |
The findings of this survey reflect a pivotal moment in the financial sector, where the integration of AI and strategic human resource management is becoming indispensable. Finance leaders are not only recognizing the immediate benefits of technology in enhancing efficiency and reducing errors but also envisioning long-term improvements in productivity and decision-making capabilities.
As organizations navigate an increasingly complex economic landscape, the proactive adoption of AI and the strategic alignment of resources will likely distinguish the leaders from late-adopters. This survey underscores the transformative potential of these advancements, heralding a new era of innovation and resilience in financial management.
For more information on how CCH® Tagetik Intelligent Platform with super agent Ask AI is supporting CFOs with their digital transformation, please visit: CCH® Tagetik | Corporate Performance Management Software & CPM Solution | Wolters Kluwer