For many CFOs, the past few years have been a stress test for the entire finance function. AI is moving from buzzword to actual system deployment; traditional ERP systems are increasingly outdated and cumbersome; regulatory requirements, cybersecurity challenges, and supply chain issues continue to rise in scope and complexity.

As a result, CFOs and finance leaders are being asked to take on a fundamentally different role. "The role is shifting from reporting the past to helping shape the future," said Jordan Weitzen, CFO of Acumatica. "Finance is expanding from a reporting function to a real-time decision-making partner for the business."

This challenge is compounded by a dynamic regulatory environment—frequent policy changes require rapid adaptation. "The finance function has historically been underfunded in technology, leading to historically high levels of burnout in the industry, which in turn exacerbates the shortage of qualified talent," noted Brian Howell, CFO of NexTec Group. NexTec is an Acumatica Gold Certified Implementation Partner and value-added reseller (VAR) with three decades of ERP expertise. "Looking ahead, finance professionals equipped with the right technology platforms and tools will play an increasingly important role in helping organizations stay agile, compliant, and achieve sustainable growth."

Weitzen draws a clear distinction between a reporting-focused CFO and a strategic CFO. "The biggest difference lies in where time and energy are invested," he said. In his view, a reporting CFO devotes most of their effort to producing accurate financial data; a strategic CFO, on the other hand, focuses on what those numbers mean for the business and what decisions should follow. However, the obstacle to making the strategic CFO a reality is that many finance teams lack the systems or data foundation to support it.

Why a Connected Cloud ERP Is Key

In many mid-market organizations, finance still relies on stitching together data from multiple siloed systems and reconciling it with "spreadsheet glue."

"Surprisingly, a lot of finance work is still about piecing data together rather than analyzing it," Weitzen pointed out. "Spreadsheets often become the glue between systems, which introduces risk and slows everything down."

This is why a connected cloud ERP has become central to the modern CFO's agenda. In practice, such platforms integrate financial and operational data in one place, serving as a single source of truth and strengthening control throughout the reporting cycle.

"If data is scattered across different systems, you can't get real-time insights," Weitzen said. When revenue, inventory, projects, and cash reside in a single real-time environment, finance leaders gain a more reliable and timely view of performance.

The Most Practical AI Use Cases in Finance

As AI becomes embedded in daily finance work, the importance of a single source of truth grows. The most practical and valuable use cases today center on the repetitive, data-intensive tasks every finance team handles, such as reconciliation, transaction classification, anomaly detection, and generating draft management reports.

"AI is most effective when automating the mechanical parts of finance," Weitzen said. "Those repetitive, data-intensive use cases allow AI to quickly reduce manual effort, freeing finance teams to focus on higher-value work."

In this regard, as Weitzen put it, "AI in finance is not about the models themselves, but about the data." The foundation must be "clean, connected data, because AI can only produce useful insights when the underlying data is accurate and accessible."

When ERP is not just a system of record but a system of action, and processes are clearly defined, AI has a structured operating environment. But when data is scattered across fragmented systems and one-off spreadsheets, automation often amplifies noise rather than delivering insights.

"Finance teams are under unprecedented pressure in today's technology- and AI-driven environment," Howell added. "Many organizations still on legacy accounting or ERP systems urgently feel the need to adopt AI and automation while ensuring reporting accuracy and regulatory compliance. Implementing new systems, redefining operational processes, and maintaining parallel accuracy between legacy and modern platforms places a tremendous burden on teams accustomed to stable, repetitive monthly reporting cycles."

Flexibility, Choice, and Speed

When implemented well, the benefits of ERP modernization are most evident in speed and flexibility. "As a CFO, there's nothing better than having flexibility and choice," Weitzen said. When new accounting standards emerge, compliance requirements tighten, or supply chain disruptions hit, modern platforms make it easier to update workflows once and apply them consistently, rather than cobbling together manual workarounds.

Over time, integration not only changes the speed of finance operations but also its position within the enterprise. Weitzen sees stronger data integrity profoundly shifting leadership discussions. "It boosts confidence and speed. Better data moves the conversation from 'Is this correct?' to 'What should we do?'"

Forecasts become more credible, scenario planning more actionable, and conversations with the CEO and operational leaders focus on decisions rather than debates over the accuracy of numbers.

For organizations that know they need to modernize but feel overwhelmed, Weitzen advises starting with obvious pain points. "The smartest starting point is where the team spends the most time on manual work," he suggests, often concentrated in "moving or reconciling data." Focusing on a few high-impact workflows first delivers quick wins and builds momentum, rather than attempting a full-scale transformation all at once.

Why the CFO Role Won't Be Automated Away

Amid all the changes, one concern often surfaces: if AI and automation continue to advance, what will become of the CFO's office? When asked whether the finance function might disappear, Weitzen's answer was unequivocal: "My answer is no. AI and these systems will give you more productivity to do the real work that matters. They will replace manual tasks and accelerate business decisions, but decisions still need someone to make them."

The future of finance lies in building an intelligent, connected backbone based on modern ERP and trusted data, enabling CFOs to spend less effort proving "what happened" and more effort orchestrating "what should happen next."

Finding the right ERP implementation partner to deliver a connected finance system is critical. "ERP implementations are known for their complexity, and without an experienced partner to guide the transition, they can cause disruption," Howell said. "To ensure long-term value and return on investment, it's essential to work with a consulting firm that is committed to your success not just during the sales cycle and initial implementation, but throughout the entire lifecycle of the ERP software—often 15 years or more."

Learn how modern cloud ERP solutions are reshaping the future of finance.Explore Cloud ERP.