Today’s CFO sits at the crossroads of the organization, not only accounting for the investments it makes but steering them as well. Other functions have their own responsibilities for growth, but it’s the CFO who brings the risk-balanced, capital-shaped perspective that's often needed to push through uncertainty, avoid paralysis, and find ways forward in the moment.
You know your role as a Finance leader is changing fast. But how exactly? An exponential CFO is expected to manage more than dollars and cents. You’re likely tasked with managing shareholder activism, cyber threats, geopolitics, culture, and purpose. Even the name of your job may be due for an upgrade. How about Chief Figure-It-All-Out Officer?
If one part of the CFO’s growing role stands out from the rest, it’s enterprise value creation. Before, you measured it. Now, it’s up to you to drive it.
Where does the CFO look to drive value? Based on Deloitte’s quarterly CFO Signals survey, there are three top priorities that leaders can steer today:
Technology is accelerating rapidly, and adoption of innovations such as cloud computing and AI can disrupt business models.
Demographic shifts are driving new dynamics not only in the workforce, but among your customers.
Environmental instability and regulation are changing the ways stakeholders measure and even define enterprise value.
Geopolitical forces like rising nationalism and trade barriers make doing business in a global economy more complex.
Capital markets have left the zero-rate era behind, which makes strategic investment decisions tougher.
Opens in new window
CFOs today can face these headwinds and take on growth, cost, and capital challenges all at once, charting a path to sustainable enterprise value through a continuous process that informs and adjusts itself based on ongoing results. That means connecting with and managing multiple stakeholders effectively—and continually asking the right questions about needs, perceptions, and the behaviors the organization needs to adopt.
Deloitte can help
Our Finance Labs explore the “art of the possible” and define your Finance Transformation strategy, bringing to life potential use cases, road map priorities, and future-state benefits. Contact us to learn more.