TLDR: A recent survey reveals that 72% of finance organizations now utilize Artificial Intelligence, more than doubling last year’s adoption rate. CFOs are increasingly leveraging AI for process automation, financial forecasting, and risk management to enhance efficiency and agility. However, this rapid integration also brings heightened concerns regarding data security and governance, pushing finance leaders to adapt their strategies for 2026.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming the financial landscape, with a new report indicating its widespread adoption as a critical tool for efficiency rather than merely a potential threat. According to Protiviti’s latest Global Finance Trends Survey, released on September 17, 2025, a significant 72% of finance organizations are now actively using AI, a dramatic increase from 34% just last year. This surge marks a pivotal shift in how finance functions operate, forecast, and mitigate risk.
The survey, conducted by global consulting firm Protiviti, highlights the growing confidence in AI’s value proposition across various finance functions. Data shows that 66% of Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) are deploying AI for process automation, 58% for financial forecasting, and 57% for risk management. These AI-powered tools are proving instrumental in enhancing organizational agility, significantly reducing manual workloads, and enabling faster response times to dynamic market shifts.
Christopher Wright, global leader of Protiviti’s CFO Solutions and Business Performance Improvement practice, emphasized the evolving role of finance leaders. “CFOs are no longer simply stewards of capital who report the results,” Wright stated. “They are using scenario planning, AI, and digital modernization to drive innovation, optimize operations, and ensure their organizations are prepared for future challenges—from global price volatility to data governance challenges.”
While AI offers substantial benefits in speed and efficiency, its rapid ascent also introduces new complexities and risks. For the second consecutive year, data security and privacy have emerged as the top concern for CFOs, reflecting the escalating threats in the digital finance environment. This necessitates a new set of governance demands, particularly as the boundaries between finance, IT, and cybersecurity continue to blur.
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Furthermore, the report notes that tariff volatility and shifting trade policies have become persistent disruptors, with nearly four in ten CFOs (39%) reporting increased focus on Financial Planning and Analysis (FP&A) due to tariff impacts. In response, CFOs are investing in driver-based machine learning models, predictive and prescriptive analytics, and self-service reporting tools to transform FP&A into a strategic value driver. This proactive approach, coupled with closer collaboration with CIOs and CISOs, underscores the expanded mandate of CFOs in shaping enterprise-wide governance frameworks and securing organizational data in an increasingly complex digital world.
