forbes.com · 16 Sep, 10:00 · Finance briefing

Why The Finance Operating Model Is An Enterprise Transformation Priority

The article highlights that rethinking the finance operating model is now a critical priority for enterprise-wide transformation.

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.

The article highlights that rethinking the finance operating model is now a critical priority for enterprise-wide transformation. Rather than remaining a back-office function, finance is evolving into a strategic partner driving operational efficiency and decision-making. Organisations are urged to modernise their financial structures to support agility and data-driven insights. This shift requires integrating technology, streamlining processes, and aligning financial capabilities with broader business objectives. Professionals must recognise that this transformation affects every department, necessitating a holistic approach to change management and cross-functional collaboration to realise full enterprise value.

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.

This shift elevates the strategic importance of finance professionals who can bridge operational execution with high-level business strategy. You should prioritise skills in financial modelling, data analytics, and change management. If you are not in finance, understand how these new operating models impact your department’s budgeting and resource allocation. Smart professionals will upskill in digital finance tools and process optimisation. Engage with your finance colleagues to understand their transformation roadmap. Demonstrating cross-functional literacy will make you indispensable. Focus on learning how to interpret financial data to drive operational decisions, ensuring you remain relevant in an increasingly integrated enterprise environment.

For this story, the fields that convert it into pay are Finance and Accounting, Financial Modeling, Business And Management and Project 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.