Marco Steecker, Senior Director at Gartner, emphasized that finance leaders must move beyond traditional roles to oversee and drive AI initiatives.
As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes a cornerstone of business innovation and efficiency, Gartner, Inc. is calling on Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) to take a central role in guiding their organizations through the AI revolution.
“CEOs are looking to finance to deliver on AI in multiple ways, from partnering with vendors to spearheading in-house projects,” Steecker told attendees. “This is a significant responsibility alongside their existing workload.”
With AI adoption expanding beyond IT departments, CFOs are increasingly tasked with enterprise-wide oversight of AI projects. Steecker highlighted that finance leaders are often positioned as “project sponsors” for technology initiatives, a role now extending to AI. This involves evaluating business cases, ensuring robust data provisioning, and validating analytical outcomes.
Steecker advocated for a “proof-of-concept” mindset, allowing CFOs to assess AI initiatives early, monitor business outcomes, and determine whether investments should proceed. “This approach helps gauge impact and ensures alignment with organizational goals,” he said.
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The role of CFOs in AI projects varies based on the nature of the solutions. For off-the-shelf AI tools, CFOs act as end-user advocates, ensuring the technology meets business needs and is properly tested and implemented. For custom AI solutions, their role expands to include hiring technical experts and fostering learning within the finance function.
Steecker stressed the need for CFOs to build technical knowledge, particularly in data science and AI modeling, without requiring deep expertise. “Finance leaders must stay ahead of the curve through continuous learning and development,” he noted.
The rise of AI marks a pivotal shift for the finance function. Rather than observing from the sidelines, CFOs must actively shape AI implementation to maximize value and mitigate risks. As AI drives critical business decisions, finance leaders are uniquely positioned to ensure its strategic integration.
“The demand for CFOs to lead AI initiatives is not a trend—it’s a transformation,” Steecker said. “Finance leaders must understand their role in ensuring AI’s success.”
Gartner’s insights underscore the evolving role of CFOs in navigating the complexities of AI adoption. By embracing their responsibilities early, finance leaders can drive long-term value and competitiveness. With AI poised to redefine financial leadership, the opportunity for CFOs to shape their organizations’ futures is unprecedented.
