Finance Trends 2026

Finance teams worldwide are navigating a landscape defined by rapid technological advances, emerging risks, and shifting priorities. Leading CFOs are rising to the challenge, steering their organisations into new markets and building teams that are ready for the future.

In Switzerland, these dynamics take on a unique shape. Swiss finance leaders face heightened concerns around data privacy regulations, reflecting Europe’s stringent standards beyond the global norm. Economic uncertainty and cross-border trade weigh heavily on Swiss respondents, underscoring the challenges of a strong export-driven economy paired with a relatively small domestic market. Additionally, Swiss CFOs tend to keep core management functions in-house, while offshoring or outsourcing other activities to respond to the high costs in the Swiss market.

Visit the US report page or download the Global findings and more in our Finance Trends 2026 global survey report, featuring perspectives from over 1,300 finance leaders worldwide. Learn how finance teams everywhere are adapting strategies, embracing innovation, and shaping the future of finance.

Top five Global trends impacting finance

1. Advanced Scenario Planning and Agile Governance

Finance leaders are increasingly prioritising advanced scenario planning and agile governance models to navigate uncertainty and enhance organisational resilience. These tools are critical for making informed capital allocation decisions and responding swiftly to external challenges such as inflation, tariffs, and regulatory changes.

2. Strategic Integration of AI and Cloud Technologies

The adoption of AI and cloud-based solutions is transforming the finance function from traditional stewardship to proactive leadership. Leveraging these technologies enables finance teams to optimise costs, improve productivity, and deliver measurable value, positioning finance as a strategic partner in driving enterprise-wide growth.

3. Cost Management as a Strategic Discipline

Finance leaders who own cost management responsibilities are deploying cloud infrastructure, intelligent automation, and dedicated expense teams to strike a balance between growth and cost control. This approach ensures flexibility in scaling resources and enhances efficiency in identifying cost-saving opportunities.

4. Agentic AI for Enhanced Financial Insights

Agentic AI systems are emerging as a powerful tool for financial planning, working capital optimisation, and expense management. These autonomous systems enable finance leaders to manage critical tasks efficiently, providing predictive analytics and decision support to navigate uncertainty and guide strategic growth.

5. Infusion of Tech Talent in Finance

The convergence of data science and traditional finance skills is reshaping the finance function. CFOs are focusing on upskilling existing teams and recruiting talent with expertise in AI, automation, and data analysis to address productivity gaps and meet evolving business needs.