Fortune · 30 Sep, 11:35 · Finance briefing

AI is giving CFOs a bigger slice of the C-suite, new IBM data shows

Recent data from IBM indicates that artificial intelligence is significantly expanding the influence of Chief Financial Officers within the C-suite.

What it means for you ↓ Courses for this story

28%average pay gap between certified and uncertified finance staff

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

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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 data from IBM indicates that artificial intelligence is significantly expanding the influence of Chief Financial Officers within the C-suite. The report suggests that AI-driven insights are elevating the strategic importance of financial leadership, allowing CFOs to contribute more broadly to corporate decision-making beyond traditional accounting. This shift highlights how technology is reshaping executive dynamics, with finance professionals leveraging automated analytics to drive broader business strategy. The findings underscore a growing trend where data proficiency directly correlates with increased executive authority and organisational impact.

Employer demand for AI Strategy 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.

This shift signals that technical fluency is now a prerequisite for senior leadership. If you aim for executive roles, you must master data interpretation and strategic AI application. Finance professionals should prioritise learning predictive analytics and automation tools to enhance their strategic value. Meanwhile, non-finance leaders must develop financial literacy to collaborate effectively with empowered CFOs. To stay competitive, invest in courses bridging technology and business strategy. Focus on understanding how AI transforms financial modelling and risk assessment. Proactively seek projects involving data-driven decision-making. By aligning your skill set with these emerging demands, you position yourself as an indispensable asset in an increasingly automated corporate landscape.

For this story, the fields that convert it into pay are AI Strategy, Financial Modeling, 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.