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New SAP Concur CFO Insights Survey reveals shifting priorities amid rising automation, cybersecurity, and internal leadership debates

More than a third of finance leaders now rank worsening economic conditions and geopolitical instability among their top external concerns, according to the 2025 SAP Concur CFO Insights Survey, which reveals the evolving landscape of priorities for CFOs and finance executives worldwide.

The study, based on responses from 350 CFOs and senior finance leaders, along with HR and IT counterparts, highlights how the global finance function is recalibrating in the face of mounting pressures—from economic volatility to technological transformation and internal role conflicts.

External Pressures Mount

The survey shows that 41% of finance leaders cite deteriorating economic conditions as the leading external challenge in 2025. Concerns over geopolitical tensions have more than tripled since last year, climbing from 11% in 2024 to 37% this year.

Surprisingly, the emphasis on climate change regulation has diminished significantly. Only 23% of finance leaders now rank it among their top concerns, a stark contrast to 69% in 2024.

Despite growing external pressures, many finance teams are held back by outdated or inadequate internal systems. Poor data visibility (59%), user adoption challenges (56%), and limited reporting capabilities (48%) are among the top barriers cited.

AI and Cybersecurity at the Forefront

The survey points to a strong shift toward digital transformation, with 57% of finance teams now highly automating general office tasks, up from only 7% in 2024. Top areas for automation include:

• Journal entries and bookkeeping (54%)

• Fraud monitoring (38%)

• Financial planning (30%)

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is also delivering tangible benefits, with 94% of leaders stating it improves decision-making, 73% saying it reduces risk, and 52% linking it to progress in Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) goals.

Meanwhile, cybersecurity remains a growing priority. More than half of finance leaders plan to increase cybersecurity budgets, yet only 20% aim to enhance collaboration with Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) and IT teams. The cybersecurity leadership remains contested, with 50% viewing it as a shared responsibility and 45% assigning it to IT alone.

Balancing Growth and Security

The divide over cybersecurity is impacting growth strategies. According to the report:

• 33% of finance leaders plan to continue growth as scheduled.

• 50% intend to adapt growth strategies based on cybersecurity readiness.

• 16% are slowing growth to focus on cybersecurity infrastructure.

Cost optimization and efficiency (69%) rank as the primary growth levers for 2025, followed by AI investments (58%) and sustainability efforts (48%).

Internal Leadership Divide

Despite the push for cross-functional alignment, a leadership gap remains. While 95% of business leaders believe they are effective at securing internal support for growth, only 52% of Senior Vice Presidents (SVPs) agree that CFOs should be the primary growth drivers.

Instead, SVPs advocate for a shared leadership approach (28%) or a supporting role for the CFO (20%). Only 9% of CFOs agree with this shared-responsibility view, signaling an internal misalignment.

“Given the current focus on efficiency and automation for finance leaders, it’s no surprise that investment in these areas will continue to increase, indicating that there’s not just a challenge to be faced, but an opportunity for growth,” said João Carvalho, Managing Director of SAP Concur in Southern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. “The real differentiator will be the CFO’s ability to secure buy-in across departments and enable organisation-wide solutions that support shared growth.”

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