Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
Author: Unit4 Communications January 22, 2026 5 min read

2026 CFO Insights: Build agility and cement growth for the future with digital data-focused tools

Two people are seated near large windows in a bright indoor setting, engaged in conversation.

2026 presents a cautiously optimistic outlook for the office of finance. CFOs who embrace digital transformation can pave the way to sustainable growth by integrating more agile operations into their organization.

While there are still ongoing geo-political factors affecting market conditions, creating a greater responsibility for the office of the CFO to be more strategic, proactive, and focused on building agility and resilience for future years has significant benefits.

In this blog, we will explore issues the office of the CFO may encounter in 2026, and how digital transformation can provide the data insight leaders need to cement growth and build agility to respond quickly to change.

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What’s the outlook for the Office of Finance in 2026?

Inflation has been steady but is now slightly decreasing in the European Union, standing at 2.1% as of the end of 2025, and is at its lowest since July 2025, at 2.7% in the US. So, while there is a degree of optimism, uncertainty could creep back into global markets.

In the UK, for example, finance leaders are reporting rising cost pressures, also rising at the fastest rate in over four years.  Cost reduction and cash control are two of the top priorities for CFOs in this market. 

Geopolitics is now given a slightly lower rating with an average score of 62%, down from 71% in the prior quarter. 

Two other areas of note include that 47% of CFOs expect to see a fall in operating margins over the coming 12 months, the highest reading since Q2 2023, when it was 57%. CFOs report a slight increase in wage growth, with average wages at their own businesses rising 3.5% over the past 12 months.

47%

of CFOs

expect to see a fall in operating margins over the coming 12 months

Ultimately, those with clearer visibility and transparency into reliable organizational data will be able to make better data-led decisions today, while also innovating and strategizing, building resilience and agility for tomorrow.

What does a CFO do in 2026?

The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) plays a critical role in steering a company’s financial health and is a key strategic partner to the CEO.

Traditionally responsible for overseeing all aspects of financial management, such as accounting, budgeting, cash flow, spend management, tax compliance, investing, and managing relationships with external parties like lenders and investors, the CFO has evolved into a more dynamic, cross-functional leader in today’s market.

In 2026, the modern CFO is more than just a financial expert. They must collaborate not just with the CEO but, importantly, with the CIO and COO to balance cost savings with strategic digital investments that drive long-term value by streamlining financial processes for efficiency and accuracy.

The evolving role of the Tech CFO

A Tech CFO operates in a fundamentally different capacity than a traditional CFO, sitting at the nexus of financial stewardship and digital transformation. Beyond core financial leadership, the role demands fluency in emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and advanced data analytics to anticipate market shifts, modernize legacy operating models, and strategically allocate capital to drive scalable, technology-enabled growth.

Tech CFOs in 2026 are tasked with leveraging advanced analytics to uncover actionable insights, managing complexities, integrating automation, and ensuring cybersecurity in financial systems. Their ability to balance innovation with financial prudence makes them indispensable to the success of growing organizations. 

When questioned about their top priorities in 2026, 48% of CFOs cited planning for external challenges such as inflation and regulation, while an equal 48% pointed to the adoption of new technological capabilities, including AI. Notably, nearly half (48%) of CFOs confirmed they are deploying cloud-based solutions to help manage costs across their companies. 

Click to read Office of the CFO 2026 (Gated)

Digital investment will help the modern CFO navigate 2026’s challenges

As collaborators and visionaries, 2026’s tech CFOs must go beyond managing finances—they must invest in the latest digital innovations that are tailor-made to help CFOs thrive.

Rather than being reactive to external factors, CFOs should instead proactively innovate and invest so that potential disruption can be more easily managed – Cloud tools can integrate Procurement and Financial data for better insights.

As organizations adapt to new ways of operating, they are finding ways to work around disruptions and improve efficiency. CFOs should focus on gaining control and visibility across their departmental data, as well as on integrating this data with other functions, particularly procurement and HR.

CFOs need to enable strategy by working with HR to free up current talent to focus on forecasting, using digital tools that can project data forward, and building agile operations.

A data-focused solution that provides integrated insights, scenario planning, forecasting, and configurable outcomes is key for Tech CFOs to fulfill their modern role as strategic leaders of the organization.

Incite cross-functional collaboration by championing tech adoption

In 2026, CFOs are emerging as tech trendsetters, leading not just financial strategy but also the organization’s adoption of cutting-edge technologies. CFOs must ensure that technology initiatives align with broader organizational goals, while simultaneously excavating cross-functional value.

According to recent research by Gartner®, 34% of organizations already involve CFOs in shaping their future GenAI strategies, defining the next wave of innovation. By embedding themselves in technology-driven decision-making, CFOs set the tone for how the entire company embraces and benefits from innovation.

Enabling strategic thinking in the office of the CFO and driving investment in digital tools is useful, but a cross-functional response led by strategy will be the most effective.

34%

of organizations

already involve CFOs in shaping their future GenAI strategies

By integrating data across organizational functions, they can work more succinctly with the office of the CFO. HR can use data to empower managers across functions to build long-lasting relationships and engagement, align functions under the same mission, and identify and address imbalances across an enterprise.

How can Unit4 help CFOs plan for the future?

With changing market conditions and 2026 presenting the aftermath of the political election year for around half of the world’s population, organizations need to react quickly to the impact of these political changes on their organizations. The importance of integrated data for forecasting and agile decision-making cannot be overstated.

Tech CFOs need a 360 view across their organizations. Integrating software solutions such as ERP, HCM, Procurement software, and FP&A helps achieve the goal of strategically planning for the future.

Unit4 FP&A helps you to forecast and predict future outcomes accurately. Our Cloud-based software is designed to provide businesses with the tools they need to optimize financial performance and drive growth.  Visit our dedicated FP&A product page, watch a personalized demo, or talk to sales today!

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