Leadership insights

What’s important to the future CFO in 2025

Five essential steps to help you prepare for your next career move

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From aspiring to inspiring: Your path to CFO

There is no one-size-fits-all path to CFO. Career progression could be part of a long-term plan, a move to a new organization or achieving results by creating value in unique ways. How can you prepare for this important C-suite role? First, better understand what’s important to today's CFOs.

Next, excel in your current position while showcasing forward-thinking leadership. Offer strategic insights that highlight your business perspective and knowledge of new, engaging technologies.

In the spotlight

Lead through policy changes

Aspiring CFOs have a golden opportunity to showcase their leadership as tax and trade policies evolve in 2025. Understanding the impact of these changes on global trade, cash flow and operational strategy is crucial for driving value. Insights from our 2025 Tax Policy Outlook can help shape company tax strategies, unlocking potential savings and enabling leaders to effectively align business goals with emerging trends.

29% of CFOs are delaying investment decisions due to potential tax policy changes

Explore related C-suite insights

What to focus on in 2025

Strategy and growth

Level up your strategy

Elevate your path to the C-suite by stepping into the role as a strategic advisor. Look to add value by becoming the go-to source for data-driven insights, trends and informed business decisions.

If your career has mainly focused on one part of the business, seek experience in other areas for a broader perspective. Investor relations, financial planning and analysis (FP&A), treasury and business unit-level CFO roles are worth considering. Exposure to corporate development, banking and capital markets, profit and loss management, technology transformations, strategic cost management, sustainability and even sales can make you a better advisor. Remember, the modern CFO role doesn’t just focus on the back office. Increased globalization and policy uncertainty is likely to continually push you to focus on the middle and front office, too.

Additional ways to level up your strategy

Strategy and growth

3 strategic leadership goals for future finance leaders

From redefining roles to enhancing collaboration and embracing innovation for transformative outcomes, these goals can help you unleash your finance function.

Strategy and growth

How transformative leadership can improve performance and drive business reinvention

Why organizations need transformative leaders who can adapt and innovate to stay competitive and drive business outcomes.

Transformation

What future finance leaders can prioritize over the next year

Learn how to transform into a leading finance function of the future in 2025.

44% of CFOs say increasing the use of tech to reduce costs is very important to fund in the next 12 months

Explore executive insights

Identify the key focus areas of your colleagues.

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