Evolving CFO Role Drives CIO Partnership on AI Finance Trends 2026

The CFO role in 2026 will no longer be limited to financial oversight. CFOs will play a bigger role in shaping tech strategy. Collaboration between CIOs and CFOs will be a major trend amidst AI disruptions

Wolters Kluwer outlines five strategic changes that will occur, one of which is agentic AI drastically changing work processesand the relationship between the CIO and the CFO on financial tech decisions becoming closer.

82% of CIOs currently head enterprise digital transformations, thereby infringing on traditional CFO territories such as the selection of financial software. 93% of both roles are in consensus that AI fosters collaboration, which in turn improves innovation, efficiency, and risk management. CFOs need to become acquainted with technical aspects of data models without necessarily becoming IT experts.

The trends are complemented by hyperscaler neutrality, geopolitical complexities, and the capacity to absorb transformation. CFOs lead the way in AI change with the help of CIOs, setting priorities and managing changes. This duo is laying down the foundation for company, wide AI decision, making.

On the ground, the TCS, ServiceNow partnership is paving the way to more AI adoption through industry, specific solutions which change manual processes to autonomous workflowsthese are crucial for financial executives. Stepan’s $100M cost, out plan is indicative of the drive towards efficiency amidst AI changes.

Financial executives who focus on these trends will be at the helm of resilient organizations in turbulent environments.