Horváth, CFO Study 2026: 73% of CFOs aim to accelerate digitalization

• 63% of CFOs consider digitalization and automation the main accelerator of finance department efficiency
• Digitalization and automation are at the top (29%) of planned investments for the coming period
• The digital skills deficit is perceived as one of the biggest obstacles to the transformation of finance departments, amplifying the pressure on talent retention and development

In a context marked by economic uncertainty, persistent cost pressures and geopolitical volatility, companies are not reducing their investments in digital transformation, but rather accelerating them. Chief financial officers (CFOs) are increasingly relying on process standardization, digitalization and automation to increase efficiency and strengthen the responsiveness of organizations, shows the “CFO 2026” study, conducted by Horváth, an international management consulting company, present on the Romanian market for 20 years.

According to the “CFO Priorities in an Era of Economic Turbulence” study, the harmonization and standardization of financial processes is the main strategic priority for 2026, being mentioned by 87% of CFOs. In an environment characterized by high operational complexity and increasingly strict reporting requirements, process fragmentation limits both efficiency and control capacity.

Standardization is seen as an essential condition for digitalization, facilitating the integration of technological solutions and the coherent use of data in reporting, financial planning and decision-making processes.

“Finance departments are at an inflection point. Cost pressures and economic uncertainty are driving companies to accelerate standardization and digitalization processes, not delay them. The CFO plays an increasingly important role as an architect of transformation, making a key contribution to increasing efficiency and strengthening the resilience of the organization,” said Maria Boldor, Partner and Managing Director, Horváth Romania.

Digitalization and automation – performance accelerators

The study shows that 63% of CFOs consider digitalization and process automation as the main accelerator of the efficiency of the finance function. Also, investments in digital transformation occupy the first place in budget priorities, with 29% of allocations, surpassing investments in organizational transformation, which is at 19%. Technology plays a key role in reducing manual activities, improving data accuracy and shortening reporting cycles.

In parallel, financial directors place increasing emphasis on advanced analytics, scenario simulation and near-real-time reporting capabilities, essential for rapid decision-making in an unpredictable economic context.

According to the CFO Study 2026, the main obstacles to digital transformation include silo mentality (lack of effective collaboration between departments), insufficient change management and reluctance to invest. At the same time, the lack of digital skills remains one of the biggest challenges. The talent shortage is leading CFOs to pay increased attention to developing internal skills and collaborating with specialized external partners.

The Horváth study was conducted among over 240 CFOs from 22 countries (including Romania), providing a detailed perspective on the priorities, challenges and strategic directions that will define the finance function in the coming years.