Steve Gallucci, US Leader of Deloitte's CFO Program, and Anjali Shaikh, US Leader of Deloitte’s CIO and CDAO Programs.
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Many corporate finance leaders are navigating a pivotal moment. Shrinking talent pipelines, rising demands on the CFO role, and evolving expectations from the C-suite appear to have created a new mandate for transformation. Many CFOs are responding with clarity and purpose, turning to Generative AI (GenAI) not simply as a technology solution, but as a strategic enabler of agility, productivity and long-term growth.
As to the potential of GenAI, successful integration often depends not just on the tools themselves, but on the impacted workforce’s trust in its thoughtful implementation. Across industries, many finance teams are understandably asking how AI will affect their day-to-day work. This presents an opportunity for CFOs to lead with transparency, collaboration and conviction.
The Talent Equation is Changing and GenAI can Help CFOs Respond
In the US, while the accounting industry has seen a slight uptick in the number of students pursuing accounting degrees, due in part to the its counter-cyclical relationship to economic uncertainty and updated CPA licensure requirements, the attractiveness of the profession for future prospects remains a top concern for finance leaders, especially as expectations for CFOs continue to expand. According to Deloitte research, today’s CEOs often expect their CFOs to bring strategic insight and data fluency to the table, in addition to accurate financial reporting. In the past, many finance teams lacked the capabilities and bandwidth, especially around data fluency and accurate financial reporting, to fully step into the role of strategic drivers and influence organizational investments, even before workforce challenges compounded the issue.
Against this backdrop, AI is emerging as a powerful accelerant. In Deloitte’s 1Q 2025 CFO Signals survey, 79% of surveyed CFOs said they are either “likely” or “very likely” to use GenAI in the coming 24 months to help overcome skills gaps. This comes as CFOs who systemically apply AI-drive solutions to manage nascent risks are increasingly stepping up as influential strategy leaders across the organization, according to Deloitte’s 2026 Finance Trends report. AI can help augment core finance responsibilities, streamline manual tasks, and free up teams to focus on high-value work such as analysis, planning and strategic decision making.
Building Confidence from the Inside Out
Despite its potential, employee resistance to GenAI can stall its adoption. Nearly half of surveyed CFOs (48%) cite staff resistance to new technology as a top barrier to adoption. The good news? That resistance may be rooted in uncertainty rather than unwillingness.
By clearly communicating how AI is meant to complement human work, CFOs can help shift the narrative. In fact, 70% of surveyed technology leaders say they expect GenAI to increase headcount in tech departments, according to Deloitte’s Tech Exec survey.
For finance teams, GenAI can mean less time spent on routine data entry and more time spent on strategic analysis and insight generation. More advanced GenAI applications, such as agentic systems, could also assist with modeling, forecasting and risk assessment that can further elevate the finance function’s value to the enterprise.
Why CIOs are Key Allies in the Journey
To help maximize momentum, CFOs should consider partnering with their tech counterparts. Together, CFOs and CIOs can ensure teams understand how GenAI will work in practice, why it’s being implemented, and what support is in place to help employees succeed.
Many organizations are already leaning into this approach. Deloitte’s Tech Exec survey shows that tech functions are engaging directly with frontline employees to better understand their needs (42%), coordinating cross-functional messaging strategies (36%), and prioritizing clear, business-friendly communications about the value of new tools (36%).
Leading Through Change, Not Around It
The road to successful AI integration starts with leadership. CFOs who meet employee concerns with clarity, empathy, and vision can unlock more than just new capabilities, they can build trust, loyalty, and momentum.
By working in lockstep with CIOs and engaging their teams early and often, CFOs can help transform apprehension into adoption and skepticism into shared success. The future of finance will likely be shaped not just by what GenAI can do, but by how leaders guide their people through the change.
This article contains general information only and Deloitte is not, by means of this article, rendering accounting, business, financial, investment, legal, tax, or other professional advice or services. This article is not a substitute for such professional advice or services, nor should it be used as a basis for any decision or action that may affect your business. Before making any decision or taking any action that may affect your business, you should consult a qualified professional advisor.
Deloitte shall not be responsible for any loss sustained by any person who relies on this article.
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