Five key challenges Australian CFOs will face by 2026
The CFO role is being reshaped as organisations contend with increasing complexity and accelerating change. According to Deloitte's latest CFO Sentiment Report more than 80% of CFOs cite cost control and operational efficiency as top priorities, underscoring the pressure to deliver results while continuing to support growth, transformation and talent development.
With no single lever to pull, CFOs must advance multiple initiatives in parallel, demanding sharper prioritisation, more agile leadership and disciplined resource allocation. Here are the top five challenges Australian CFOs are expected to face in 2026:
1. AI integration and implementation
AI is a crucial driver of efficiency, but many organisations still struggle to derive value from AI projects due to disparate systems that create data silos, leading to complex and costly integrations. Without access to the right data and the ability to work across entire business processes, AI impact is limited. By moving to more unified systems, CFOs can unlock AI's true potential, providing automated workflows and real-time insights that improve decision-making and operational efficiency.
2. Growth and profitability amid rising costs
Inflation, rising interest rates and global supply chain disruptions continue to put pressure on margins and profitability. A recent PwC report found that 55% of Australians feel financially insecure and 74% cite the rising cost of living as a major concern, which will no doubt impact business. In addition, export-dependent businesses remain vulnerable to global trade dynamics and currency fluctuations – particularly with markets like China, Australia's largest trading partner. In this environment, CFOs need to focus on dynamic pricing strategies to improve customer retention and maintain profitability.
3. Talent acquisition and retention
Australia's ongoing accountant shortage is a significant challenge for finance leaders. CPA Australia recently forecastthat an extra 32,400 accountants will be needed over the next 10 years. Automation can help to relieve finance teams from routine tasks, allowing them to focus on strategic work, improve productivity and boost job satisfaction. CFOs need to be thinking about how AI can fill skills gaps while collaborating with HR teams to rethink recruitment strategies.
4. Regulatory compliance
Under new guidance from ASIC, many medium and large entities will be required to prepare sustainability reports alongside their financial statements, including climate-related financial disclosures aligned with Australian sustainability standards. In addition, Australia's first deadline for Pillar Two Global Minimum Tax is 30 June 2026. To help ensure compliance with constantly evolving regulations, CFOs will need to move beyond manual processes and embrace automation to streamline data insights and reporting. With an integrated system that supports global financial management and planning, governance, risk and compliance, as well as supply chain management and procurement, CFOs can automate compliance and allow their teams to stay focused on broader business goals.
5. Supply chain resilience
Global supply chain disruptions continue to challenge businesses, especially those dependent on international trade which constitute nearly half of all Australian businesses. Managing risk, optimising inventory and diversifying suppliers are crucial for business resilience. Australian CFOs will increasingly rely on technology, real-time data and predictive modelling to help de-risk decisions and guide investment priorities. By integrating real-time data across financial and supply chain operations, CFOs can respond quickly to disruptions, reducing delays and strengthening the business's overall resilience.
AI-powered ERP solutions, such as NetSuite, can help CFOs tackle their toughest challenges by unifying financial management, planning, supply chain, procurement and operational processes within a single system. With AI embedded in business processes that touch multiple lines of business, organisations can automate workflows to increase productivity, reduce costs, expand insights and efficiently scale operations.