CFO Study: Strategic Intelligence
CFOs as architects of action and champions of change
When change is at its most intense, people long for certainty. For enterprises, this traditionally has meant turning to an officer charged with maintaining stability, fiscal soundness, and adherence to standards: the Chief Financial Officer (CFO).
In this role, the CFO brings calm, perspective, and a comprehensive understanding of the big picture by being grounded in specific details and tangible realities. CFOs are equipped with a toolbox of levers that they can use to deliver outcomes. And reliable outcomes are exactly what executives want in a time of change.
For this study, IBM’s Institute for Business Value (IBV) surveyed 2,000 C-suite finance leaders across 28 industries and 43 locations during 2021, in-depth qualitative interviews with a select group of executives, revealing insights about their on-the-ground experiences.