100+ FP&A statistics & trends for finance teams to know in 2025

FP&A statistics to know in 2025

Let’s explore key statistics that highlight trends in finance team structures, career opportunities, budgeting strategies, forecasting advancements, and the emerging role of AI.

Statistics on the size and structure of finance departments

Finance departments come in all shapes and sizes. Companies all have their own approach to finance staffing and how they divide up the many roles and responsibilities within the finance team.

These FP&A statistics show you how it’s done across the industry: 

• The median finance spending across industries is 1.26% of total company revenue. (Gartner, 2024)
• Median organizations employ 78.6 full-time finance and accounting employees per billion USD in annual revenue. (American Productivity & Quality Center (APQC), 2024)
• 75% of total finance spend is allocated to in-house staff and contractors. 11% goes to finance technology and 14% to external experts and support. (Gartner, 2024)
• 24% of total finance spending is allocated to accounting and reporting, 20% to transactional finance, 19% to FP&A, 17% to finance management and administration, 7% to tax, 6% to treasury, 5% to internal audit, and 3% to investor relations. (Gartner, 2024)
• Organizations with less than $250 million in revenue have a median finance headcount of 131.5 full-time finance employees per billion USD in annual revenue, compared to just 46.9 FTEs per billion USD for organizations with over $10 billion in revenue. (Gartner, 2024)
• Organizations with centralized finance structures often require fewer FTEs than those with decentralized finance operations. (APQC, 2024)
• 64% of finance leaders plan to maintain current staffing levels while 32% of finance leaders intend to increase their finance and accounting staff. (Controllers Council, 2024)
• The share of finance leaders outsourcing finance functions has decreased from 40% last year to 27% this year. (Controllers Council, 2024)
• 24% of finance professionals plan to change jobs within a year. (Association of International Certified Professional Accountants (AICPA-CIMA), 2023)
• Only 8% of finance professionals prefer a traditional office-based work model. (AICPA-CIMA, 2023) 

FP&A career statistics 

FP&A is increasingly in demand within businesses. But do employee salaries reflect that?

These statistics give insights into the role, hiring trends, and compensation.

• 52% of CFOs say hiring people with the necessary skills is a top priority. (PwC, 2024)
• 83% of FP&A professionals agree that technology and data skills are valued equally to finance skills. (Association for Financial Professionals, 2025)
• 51% of finance team leaders report symptoms of professional burnout. (AICPA, 2023)
• 61% of treasury and finance professionals say operating income and EBITDA targets are the top determinants for bonus calculations. (Association for Financial Professionals, 2024) 
• 83% of finance professionals say that quickly learning new competencies is the most crucial soft skill. (AICPA, 2023)
• 79% of FP&A professionals say they hire for specific technology skills. (AFP, 2025)
• 82% of FP&A job postings list advanced spreadsheet skills as a requirement. (Association for Financial Professionals, 2025)
• 86% of FP&A job postings list business intelligence, reporting, and analytical tools as a required skill. (Association for Financial Professionals, 2025)
• The unemployment rate for FP&A professionals is estimated to be at 1.5% (Robert Half, 2024.
• Respondents rate their satisfaction with company-offered professional development opportunities at 3.5 on a 1-to-5 scale. (Association for Financial Professionals, 2025)
• The median annual wage for financial and investment analysts was $99,010 in May 2023 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2023).
• The median annual wage for financial managers was $156,100 in May 2023 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2023).
• 54% of finance professionals say it is easy or very easy to find a new job. (AICPA-CIMA, 2023)

The expanding role of FP&A 

Financial planning and analysis is part of the wider finance function and integral to every aspect of the business. Recently, rather than focusing on traditional financial activities like accounting and reporting with financial statements, FP&A has been overlapping with other areas, notably environmental, social, and governance (ESG); mergers and acquisitions (M&A); and corporate development duties. 

But what impact has that had on teams? 

These statistics show how FP&A teams have seen their responsibilities expand.

• 82% of CFOs say their role has significantly expanded over the past five years. (Egon Zehnder, 2024)
• 33% of CFOs say expanding their function’s influence across the C-suite is a high priority. (PwC, 2024)
• 54% of CFOs report their organizations still face issues producing trustworthy reports for stakeholders. (Gartner, 2024)
• 44% of CFOs are focusing on self-directed learning. (The CFO Alliance, 2025)
• 58% of CFOs use generative AI for product and service development, up from 35% in Q1. (Grant Thornton, 2024)
• 40% of CFOs are considering cost cuts in external professional consulting support and fees. (Grant Thornton, 2024)
• 58% of CFOs have increased their focus on FP&A and business performance management compared to a year ago. (PwC, 2024)
• 82% of finance professionals prioritize data visualization tool knowledge. e.g., Tableau, Power BI. (AICPA-CIMA, 2023)
• 71% of FP&A professionals use Enterprise Performance Management (EPM) tools at least quarterly. (AFP, 2025)
• Machine learning usage in FP&A increased 16 percentage points since 2020. (AFP, 2025)

Statistics on finance team collaboration 

Finance teams have historically had a reputation for being pretty insular, but in recent years there’s been a shift for finance business leaders (and their teams) to take on a more strategic role in their companies.

These statistics show how frequently and effectively finance teams collaborate cross-functionally within the business.

• 37% of CFOs plan to increase collaboration across the C-suite to enhance financial planning. (PwC, 2024)
• 39% of CFOs are focused on optimizing their supply chain. (PwC, 2024)
• 12% of CFOs cite difficulty securing business buy-in as a challenge when implementing new financial technology. (McKinsey, 2024)
• CFOs rely heavily on their Head of FP&A (57%) and their Controller/CAO (49%) for collaboration within financial teams. (Egon Zehnder, 2024)
• 52% of organizations increased financial due diligence on their banking partners after the 2023 regional banking crisis. (Association for Finance Professionals (AFP), 2024)
• 61% of FP&A professionals cite reliable data as a moderate or significant challenge. (AFP, 2024)

Common challenges for finance and FP&A

If your finance team is struggling it can be hard to tell whether this challenge is unique to you, or a common challenge for finance professionals. These stats shine a light on some of the common challenges facing finance and FP&A teams today.

• 70% of CFOs cite the already-demanding workload of finance teams as a key challenge to adopting new technology. (McKinsey, 2024)
• 67% say a lack of relevant capabilities within finance teams is a major challenge. (McKinsey, 2024)
• 81% of finance professionals cite increased workload demands due to economic volatility as a key challenge. (Gartner, 2024)
• 50% of workers in office-based work report burnout. For hybrid model workers, it’s 36%. (AICPA-CIMA, 2023) 
• 49% of CFOs cite supply chain disruptions as a top risk to business growth, up from 20% in 2023. (McKinsey, 2024)
• Only 35% of CFOs believe their teams can accurately and confidently evaluate their technology integration’s value-creation potential. (Gartner, 2024)
• Finance teams' ability to absorb change has declined by 50% year-over-year, leading to increased fatigue from digital transformation efforts. (Gartner, 2024)
• 55% of executives agree or strongly agree that their company is behind the competition in adopting new technologies, up from 48% in August 2023. (PwC, 2024)
• Only 53% of CFOs are confident in achieving supply chain objectives. (Grant Thornton, 2024)
• 23% of CFOs are concerned about tax policy changes due to the election. (Grant Thornton, 2024)
• 78% of CFOs are concerned about cybersecurity threats impacting financial operations in 2025. (Financial Education & Research Foundation (FERF), 2025)
• 18% of accountants report that errors occur daily. 59% make several errors per month. (Gartner, 2024)
• 70% of finance professionals report feeling pressure from inflation, economic disruption, and the possibility of recession. (CFO Dive, 2023) 
• 24% of finance professionals say manual processes are a key challenge impacting their teams' efficiency. (CFO Dive, 2023)

Budgeting and financial planning statistics 

Budgeting and planning are core focuses for FP&A professionals, but how much time should you dedicate to it, and who else should be involved?

These statistics will help you understand how other finance departments handle the budgeting and planning process.

• 100% of FP&A professionals use spreadsheets for planning and reporting at least quarterly. (AFP, 2025)
• Strategic planning has become a top priority for 60% of CFOs, up from 38% in 2023. (McKinsey, 2024)
• CFOs are twice as likely to expect their companies' investment levels to hold steady in 2024 rather than increase, a shift from prior surveys. (McKinsey, 2024)
• 44% of CFOs intend to increase technology investments aimed at cost reduction. (PwC, 2024)
• 39% of CFOs are focused on optimizing their supply chain. (PwC, 2024)
• 14% of CFOs said they have no plans to cut costs, an all-time survey high. (Grant Thornton, 2024)
• 66% of finance leaders believe generative AI will have the most immediate impact on explaining forecast and budget variances. (Gartner, 2024)
• 56% of CFOs plan to allocate spending toward improving margins over the next 12 months. (PwC, 2024)

Financial modeling and forecasting statistics

Forecasting is another key focus for FP&A teams. This includes cash flow forecasting, looking at business trends, and creating detailed forecasts to determine a company's growth or future outcomes.

These stats look at how long it takes, and which parts of the process take the longest.

• 79% of CFOs expect net profit growth in the next 12 months, the highest in 10 quarters. (Grant Thornton, 2024)
• Confidence to meet goals for increased demand over the next year fell 12 points to 51%. (Grant Thornton, 2024)
• 55% of finance leaders use generative AI for financial forecasting. (Protiviti, 2024)
• 98% of CFOs say their finance functions have invested in digitization and automation in the past year. (McKinsey, 2024)
• Despite this investment, 41% of CFOs report that just 25% or less of their processes are currently digitized or automated. (McKinsey, 2024)
• Finance analysts often spend days answering requests for financial data from business leaders. (McKinsey, 2024)
• Finance professionals are increasingly expected to act as interpreters of financial insights, rather than manual data processors. (McKinsey, 2024)
• 58% of CFOs have increased their focus on FP&A (Financial Planning & Analysis) since last year. (PwC, 2024)
• Organizations using AI for financial modeling and scenario planning have reduced the time FP&A teams spend on data capture, presentation, and manipulation by up to 65%. (McKinsey, 2024)
• 55% of finance leaders in retail and consumer goods (CPG) companies are employing generative AI to improve forecasting accuracy. (Protiviti, 2024)

FP&A software and tools for managing data

Finance teams have an increasing number of tools and technology available to them, but many are still relying on spreadsheets and manual data entry for a lot of their work. These stats will help you understand how other finance departments are leveraging software to improve their processes, and where they’re looking to invest in the next few years. 

• Companies with "high technology acceptance" report a 75% reduction in errors. (Gartner, 2024)
• 70% of CFOs say their finance transformation efforts have been less impactful or slower than expected. (Gartner, 2024)
• Only 13.5% of finance transformation leaders report a clearly successful transformation, where finance transformation is more impactful than expected and moving as fast or faster than expected. (Gartner, 2024)
• 70% of organizations do not plan to stop using checks by 2026. (AFP, 2024)
• Finance automation lowers FTE headcount needs but requires a balance between efficiency and maintaining financial reporting quality. (CFO.com, 2024)
• 81% of CFOs anticipate increasing technology investments in 2024 to improve finance transformation efforts. (Gartner, 2024)
• 62% report insufficient resources to invest in digital finance tools. (McKinsey, 2024)
• Only 31% of CFOs say achieving measurable value from adopting new technology is a significant challenge. (PwC, 2024)
• 82% of FP&A professionals use data connectivity/preparation tools at least quarterly. (AFP, 2025)
• 66% of FP&A professionals use workflow automation tools at least quarterly. (AFP, 2025)
• 58% of CFOs say they are spending more time on tech investment and implementation compared to a year ago. (PwC, 2024)

The emerging role of AI in FP&A

Artificial intelligence is enabling teams to move beyond manual data processing to real-time forecasting and strategic decision-making. With generative AI, machine learning, and automation, finance professionals can analyze vast amounts of data faster, identify trends, and optimize financial performance with greater accuracy. 

These statistics highlight the adoption process of AI, and how it is improving efficiency and reducing risk across finance teams.

• More than 70% of CFOs believe AI tools will increase efficiency in finance leadership by automating routine tasks. (McKinsey, 2024)
• 83% believe AI will improve employee productivity. (McKinsey, 2024)
• 52% of CFOs say AI and automation are their top focus for team efficiency investments. (The CFO Alliance, 2025)
• Generative AI adoption is still in early stages, with only 20% of CFOs actively using AI tools in finance, and nearly half still in the pilot phase. (McKinsey, 2024)
•  30% of CFOs prioritize hiring finance team members with data management, technology, and AI experience. (FERF), 2025)
• 49% of CFOs identify strategy and leadership support as the most useful application of generative AI in finance. (McKinsey, 2024)
• 33% of CFOs say AI will be useful in general accounting and controls, which suggests greater collaboration with audit, compliance, and operational teams. (McKinsey, 2024)
• 26% of CFOs see AI as a tool for reducing risks through improved controls. (McKinsey, 2024)
• 23% of FP&A professionals have implemented AI and use it on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis. (AFP, 2024)
• 34% of finance organizations are currently using generative AI, with 44% of publicly held companies using the AI in finance. (Protiviti, 2024)

Stats on CFOs, business leaders, and financial leadership

The role of the chief financial officer is changing rapidly, so how does FP&A fit into its new strategic priorities? These statistics will help you understand the challenges and priorities for CFOs and finance leaders, as well as the types of work that take up most of their time.

• 45% of CFOs cite the election’s effect on the overall economy as their biggest concern. (Grant Thornton, 2024)
• 30% of CFOs say customer and market knowledge is a gap they need to address before becoming a CEO. (Egon Zehnder, 2024)
• 50% of CFOs in North America have considered early retirement due to job demands. (Egon Zehnder, 2024)
• 56% of CFOs are budgeting for wage increases to match inflation to reduce turnover. (FERF), 2025)
• 74% of finance chiefs were confident in the U.S. economy at the start of 2025. (The CFO Alliance, 2025)
• 78% of CFOs say "quiet quitting" is an issue for their company, with some employees doing only the minimum requirements of their job. (CFO Outlook Survey, 2023)
• 45% of CFOs are prioritizing data integration and visualization for efficiency improvements. (The CFO Alliance, 2025)
• 66% of CFOs plan to boost IT and digital transformation spending in the coming year. (Grant Thornton, 2024)
• Cost optimization is a priority for 64% of CFOs, the highest in 10 quarters. (Grant Thornton, 2024)
• 43% of CFOs report being approached for new CFO opportunities more often. (Egon Zehnder, 2024)

FP&A trends for 2025

Based on the statistics mentioned, we’ve made some predictions for how the FP&A landscape will look going forward. 

1. AI and automation will come like a tidal wave

Hardly surprising, right?  The adoption of AI and automation is rapidly transforming FP&A functions from data processors to strategic advisors. Generative AI and machine learning are already enabling finance teams to produce faster, more accurate forecasts and eliminate time-consuming manual tasks. In 2025, companies that fully leverage AI-driven insights will have the upper hand, making more accurate decisions at a faster rate.

2. Finance teams will play a larger role in business strategy

Finance is no longer just about reporting and budgeting—it has a seat at the table of business strategy. FP&A leaders are increasingly collaborating with the C-suite and other departments to guide decision-making and long-term planning. Companies that embrace cross-functional collaboration will see better alignment between financial performance and strategic goals.

3. Dynamic planning and forecasting 

With ongoing economic uncertainty and market volatility, FP&A teams are prioritizing scenario planning to prepare for multiple outcomes and mitigate the risks well in advance. Organizations are investing in predictive analytics and real-time modeling tools to stress-test various financial scenarios. In 2025, companies that embrace dynamic forecasting will have more confidence in seizing new opportunities.

4. Data integrity and governance will be critical

As finance becomes more dependent on AI and automation, data hygiene and integrity will be essential. Companies will invest more in governance frameworks to validate financial data, prevent errors, and ensure compliance with evolving regulations. Organizations that focus on clean, well-structured data will maximize the value of their financial insights.

5. The rise of real-time financial insights

Traditional monthly and quarterly reports are becoming obsolete as finance teams adopt real-time financial dashboards. Businesses are shifting to continuous planning and rolling forecasts to stay agile in fast-changing environments. In 2025, instant access to financial performance metrics will be a necessity rather than a luxury.

6. FP&A talent will need stronger tech skills

Finance teams are no longer just spreadsheet experts—they now require skills in business intelligence, data visualization, and automation tools. Companies are strengthening their finance functions by prioritizing hires who know the ins and outs of FP&A software. In 2025, technology fluency will be just as important as traditional financial knowledge in FP&A roles.

What FP&A statistics interested you? 

There you have it: 100+ statistics focused on financial planning and analysis. And now we want to hear from you. What surprised you? And what felt true to your experience?

And if you want to become a business with high technology acceptance, you may want to learn how FP&A software can save you time and improve accuracy. Request a demo with Cube today.