A recent Gartner survey reveals that most finance chiefs are gearing up for 2026 with a cautious yet strategic approach, projecting expense growth to lag behind revenue increases.
Randeep Rathindran, Distinguished VP of Research, Gartner Finance Practice, sees this as a clear signal that CFOs are maintaining a disciplined focus on cost management without stalling their organizations’ momentum.
In Gartner’s 2026 Budget Assumptions survey, which polled 142 CFOs and senior finance leaders, 54% of respondents anticipate their selling, general, and administrative (SG&A) expenses will grow one to five percentage points slower than their expected revenue growth. An additional 10% expect an even wider gap, with SG&A budgets trailing revenue growth by more than five percentage points. “CFOs aren’t taking their foot off the gas, ” Rathindran noted .
“They’re continuing to be careful, especially with SG&A expenses, building on a trend we’ve seen over the last couple of years.” Indeed, over two-thirds of S&P Global 100 firms have prioritized cost-cutting recently, and this survey suggests that mindset persists.
However, not all finance leaders are tightening the purse strings. About 26% expect SG&A budgets to align closely with revenue growth, while 8% project SG&A spending to outpace it, reflecting varied strategies across industries.
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When it comes to cost-saving targets, human resources tops the list, with 57% of respondents eyeing budget reductions in this area. Corporate IT follows closely at 53%, and 40% are looking at legal and compliance for savings. The focus on HR budgets likely stems from plans to maintain stable headcounts in 2026, coupled with the growing influence of artificial intelligence (AI).
“AI-driven transformation is reshaping how organizations approach support functions,” Rathindran observed. The survey supports this, with 42% of CFOs anticipating some AI-driven headcount reductions in SG&A or support functions, and 33% expecting reductions between 1-5%.
This cautious optimism reflects a broader willingness to rethink traditional support functions. As AI tools become more adept at handling rule-based and judgment-based tasks, finance chiefs are leveraging technology to drive efficiency while keeping costs in check.
“The data shows CFOs are balancing growth ambitions with disciplined expense management,” Rathindran concluded, “and AI is increasingly part of that equation.”
