OneStream Study Finds 75% of CFOs Now Lead Enterprise AI Strategy

OneStream announced in a press release that 75% of CFOs now lead their organizations’ AI strategy, yet only 33% report having successfully deployed AI at scale. The findings come from a survey of more than 350 CFOs across the U.S., the U.K., and Australia, conducted in August 2025.

The study shows that 83% of CFOs expect AI investment to rise in 2026, with 80% anticipating increased spending specifically within finance. Nearly four in five CFOs forecast budget increases of up to 50% across their organizations. While 67% of CFOs believe their AI strategies are ahead of the curve, only 35% report an excellent understanding of AI.

Boards are placing strong emphasis on AI outcomes, with 97% of CFOs saying their boards expect regular updates on AI investments. Cost savings, ROI, and productivity gains are the top metrics used to assess progress. However, 32% of CFOs express concerns over uncertain ROI, even as 56% report early productivity gains from AI deployments.

AI adoption remains focused on core financial functions such as closing, forecasting, and compliance. About 49% of CFOs are experimenting with generative AI, and 33% are exploring advanced cognitive use cases. To support finance leaders in navigating these applications, OneStream has launched the Finance AI Academy, a monthly video series on AI in finance.