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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
Why CFOs are hitting pause on investment decisions
The current business environment is causing CFOs to be judicious about spending. Eighty-four percent of CFOs surveyed in PwC’s latest Pulse Survey say they’re delaying at least one investment decision. With economic, political and regulatory uncertainty, accurate predictions have become harder.
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[84%] of CFOs are currently delaying at least one investment decision
Source: PwC Pulse Survey, October 2024
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
Source: PwC Pulse Survey, June 2024
Technology
Create agility through technology
Volatility, inflation, interest rate uncertainty and the cost of capital can create an environment requiring quick, informed decisions — especially in our interconnected, always-on global market. Even currency and exchange rates are top of mind for many finance leaders. Amid constant fluctuation, data-driven approaches are key to creating more agility and helping maintain a competitive edge.
Aspiring CFOs, sharpen your data and analytics skills. Enhance automation and generative AI (GenAI) competence to provide richer enterprise insights. Some companies already use GenAI to forecast market conditions, automate tasks, transform workflows and pinpoint areas for strategic cost reduction. Take the lead in helping your CFO explore new uses for these tools and examine how they can advance ways of doing and thinking — while working to deploy responsibly and securely across the business.
Additional ways to create agility through technology
Technology
Hit reset on risk and drive more effective system transformations
Find out how CFOs can drive more value from ERP, cloud and technology initiatives by collaborating with CIOs by focusing on these five areas.
Generative AI
How to leverage generative AI to unlock value and reinvent your business
Discover generative AI's potential for digital transformation in company operations, workforce, cloud and data modernization and business reinvention.
[73%] of businesses use or plan to use both traditional forms of AI and GenAI
Stakeholder engagement
Embrace the art of storytelling
Get comfortable turning numbers into narrative. For those with an eye on the CFO role, storytelling can transform complex financial data into compelling, trust-building anecdotes. Telling your company’s story to investors in an engaging way can showcase financial health, justify decisions and build stakeholder confidence.
Executive presence also matters, so if you’re looking to improve your presentation style and stand out, gain exposure to the investor and banking community. Seize opportunities to practice your leadership soft skills and ask for feedback — then act on it. If you're confident discussing financials, showcase your ability to connect the dots across projects, challenges and risks. Also, to help foster an inclusive team culture while honing your experience, practice communicating tough issues effectively and engaging in candid conversations with the board and other internal audiences.
Additional ways to embrace the art of storytelling
Stakeholder engagement
Get boardroom ready: Five ways to improve executive interactions with the board
Your time as an executive with the board is limited. Preparation is key to making a good impression — learn practical tips for effective board communication.
Financial reporting
Prepare for your next audit committee meeting
Our quarterly audit committee special edition offers potential topics for inclusion in your upcoming audit committee meeting.
Financial reporting
Closing the investor expectations gap: What you need to know
Don't get caught in the investor expectations gap. Listen as PwC talks about what investors want from financial reporting.
Strategy and growth
How transformative leadership can improve performance and drive business reinvention
Learn why organizations need transformative leaders who can adapt and innovate to stay competitive and drive business outcomes.
Engaging with the board is an {opportunity} to build your relationships and professional brand.
Sustainability
Think outside the sustainability box
With the recent surge of ESG reporting requirements, companies are under pressure to disclose and do more. Many are taking a hard look at how they can drive sustainability initiatives, who in the organization is better suited to do so and how to adapt. In turn, sustainability’s center of gravity is shifting to the finance function because they have the technical acumen to produce reliable ESG reporting and align sustainability initiatives with long-term planning and capital allocation.
Aspiring CFOs can help streamline ESG reporting through technology and AI, which can reduce costs, improve data quality and reveal potential areas of growth. They can also acquire new skills and collaborate across the business on projects like managing greenhouse gas emissions. Those who swiftly grasp the business impacts of sustainability and focus on high-value activities will likely be well-positioned for success.
Additional ways to think outside the sustainability box
Regulation and policy
CFO checklist: How to drive sustainability
PwC’s checklist reveals how the finance function can lead on the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and ESG reporting, decarbonization and transformation.
ESG reporting
ESG controller: The position you didn't know you needed
ESG leaders guide companies to understand the impacts of evolving ESG disclosures requirements. Find out how an ESG controller can help lead the way.
ESG reporting
10 pitfalls companies should avoid when conducting a CSRD-aligned double materiality assessment
Learn the 10 pitfalls companies should avoid when conducting a CSRD-aligned double materiality assessment.
ESG reporting
Actions you can take now to transform your ESG reporting strategy
Prepare for the SEC climate disclosure rules and other regulations that expand ESG reporting requirements.
Sustainability’s {center of gravity is shifting} to the finance function.
Workforce
Create a tech-savvy talent culture
Talent factories are where people build careers, while talent magnets attract new employees. Growing organizations should focus on being talent magnets. However, you can't simply focus on new talent. It's also important to upskill your existing team. To become a valued strategic advisor, you need a workforce that can design, build and effectively use the tech that can help drive your organization’s decisions.
Upskill your team with key technical, analytical, strategic and sustainability skills. Foster a strong, inclusive culture where everyone feels valued. Leverage emerging tech — like AI, GenAI, virtual reality and the metaverse — to supercharge training, automate workflows and free up time for more high-level tasks. Future CFOs can attract finance talent — and drive retention — by offering competitive compensation, professional growth and a strong work-life balance.
Additional ways to create a tech-savvy talent culture
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.
Workforce strategy
Workforce Radar: To build the workforce of tomorrow, the time to act is now
Practical steps businesses can take to not just change with the times but lead that change.
Workforce strategy
Workers are ready for change. Are leaders ready to engage them?
Discover the trends in workplace change – and the six actions to engage workers to drive transformation.
[52%] of CFOs say hiring people with the necessary skills is a high priority
Source: PwC Pulse Survey, June 2024
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Identify the key focus areas of your colleagues.
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