Finance leaders today wear many hats. Beyond managing transactions and reporting, they’re now expected to guide technology strategy, navigate market volatility, and lead ESG and sustainability initiatives. This shift reflects the growing need for finance to be more forward-looking and integrated across the business.
Yet, many organisations are facing a persistent gap between revenue growth and profitability. In professional services, for example, firms report strong revenue growth—but far fewer see matching gains in profit. This signals inefficiencies in current processes and a clear opportunity to improve operational management.
There's also a disconnect between awareness and action. Finance executives who acknowledge challenges like ESG disclosures and AI ethics often rank them as low on their strategic priority list. Treating compliance as a tactical hurdle rather than a strategic opportunity can lead to penalties, reputational damage, and missed chances to build stakeholder trust.
Learn more about how professional services firms are addressing this in our blog: Agile and intelligent professional services.
Meeting these new demands is tough with outdated systems. Many CFOs say their current financial software is inflexible, doesn’t scale with growth, lacks cloud support, and struggles to aggregate data for reporting.
As a result, finance teams spend too much time on manual tasks like closing books, managing accruals, and reconciling accounts. This leaves little room for strategic planning and innovation. Without the right tools, finance remains reactive—unable to fully support business growth and resilience.
For more on how data trust and automation are transforming finance, read our blog: AI in ANZ.
Modern cloud ERP solutions, such SAP S/4HANA Cloud Public Edition, offer a way forward. By standardising financial data and automating routine processes, they help finance teams work more efficiently. A single source of truth supports consistent reporting and faster audits, freeing up time for strategic work.
AI is also playing a major role. According to recent research:
Embedded AI tools like the Joule copilot in SAP S/4HANA Cloud Public Edition can detect anomalies, flag exceptions, and recommend actions, eliminating manual work and enabling real-time financial steering.
This shift is also changing how CFOs collaborate across departments. With access to real-time data and predictive insights, finance leaders are shaping strategy in sales, operations, and HR. For example, by integrating financial data with supply chain metrics, CFOs can identify bottlenecks, optimise inventory, and reduce costs, contributing directly to operational efficiency.
For broader industry insights, see our blog: Industry-specific solutions.
AI is also transforming scenario planning and forecasting. Traditional methods which often had to rely on static models can now leverage AI-powered tools that have the capabilities to analyse vast datasets, detect patterns, and simulate multiple scenarios in real time, giving finance teams the power to anticipate risks and respond proactively as and when the market shifts.
And when finance and HR teams work together using platforms like SAP SuccessFactors, they can align workforce planning with financial strategy—ensuring that talent decisions support business goals and budget realities.
Case in point:
The benefits of this transformation aren't limited to large enterprises. Mid-sized and growing businesses can also take advantage of cloud ERP and embedded AI to streamline operations and scale efficiently, while solutions like SAP S/4HANA Cloud Public Edition are flexible and scalable, meaning that organisations of all sizes can harness their benefits.
With support from EPI-USE ANZ, businesses can confidently implement these technologies and align them with their strategic goals.
At the end of the day, the CFO's new mandate is primarily about leading a cultural shift that can help their organisations become more agile, resilient, and competitive.
This requires a mindset that sees change not as disruption, but as an opportunity to create value and drive growth. With the right technology and trusted partners, finance can become a powerful voice in the C-suite.
Ready to modernise your finance function? Contact EPI-USE ANZ to learn how our SAP S/4HANA Cloud, SAP Business Technology Platform, SAP SuccessFactors, and business process optimisation services can help you lead with confidence.
Explore our services here: https://epiuse.com.au/
Or contact us to start your transformation.