WSJ · 18 Sep, 11:25 · Finance briefing

Accenture, BlackLine Leaders on the Reinvention of Finance

Recent reporting highlights how senior executives at Accenture and BlackLine are redefining the finance function.

What it means for you ↓ Courses for this story

28%average pay gap between certified and uncertified finance staff

2.4xfaster promotion with a professional credential

83%of finance leaders rank upskilling a top-3 priority

20days to your first credential

The briefing

The story
in brief.

What happened, who it affects, and why it landed on our intelligence desk — in plain English, sixty seconds or less.

Recent reporting highlights how senior executives at Accenture and BlackLine are redefining the finance function. They argue that finance professionals must evolve beyond traditional reporting roles to become strategic partners. This shift involves leveraging advanced technology to drive business value rather than merely recording historical data. The narrative suggests a fundamental transformation in how financial departments operate, emphasising agility, data-driven decision-making, and close collaboration with other business units. This development signals a move away from static accounting towards dynamic, forward-looking financial management within modern corporate structures.

Employer demand for Finance and Accounting skills — indexed growth since 2019
Indicative index of skill mentions in professional job postings for the field this story moves (2019 = 1)

Your move

What this means
for your career.

Every headline redistributes opportunity. Here is who this one rewards — and how to be on the right side of it.

You must adapt to this shift or risk obsolescence. Traditional accounting skills are no longer sufficient; you need to master data analytics and strategic business partnering. Finance leaders now demand professionals who can interpret complex data to guide executive decisions. If you work in finance, prioritise learning advanced analytical tools and business intelligence platforms. Develop your communication skills to translate financial insights into actionable business strategies. Engage with technology teams to understand how automation impacts your workflow. You should also seek cross-functional projects to broaden your perspective. This evolution rewards those who can bridge the gap between financial data and operational strategy. Start by identifying gaps in your digital literacy and address them through targeted upskilling immediately.

For this story, the fields that convert it into pay are Finance and Accounting, AI in Accounting, Data Science and Business And Management — exactly the programmes matched below. The chart shows the indicative salary uplift certified professionals report in each of those fields; every one of them is a click away, from £79, finishing in as few as 20 days.

Indicative salary uplift in the fields matched to this story
Indicative ranges from published continuing-education salary studies, by field — each field is a recommended course below

Matched to this story

Enrol in these
to benefit.

These programmes position you for exactly this shift — online, self-paced, and finishing with a verifiable certificate you can share the day you pass.