For years, finance teams have operated in a world of static spreadsheets, manual consolidations, and time-consuming data validation. But as organizations scale, those tools break down. In 2025, CFOs are no longer asking if they should modernize their finance infrastructure; they’re asking how fast they can do it.
Why the Shift Is Happening Now
Between increasing investor scrutiny, faster reporting cycles, and the rise of predictive analytics, finance leaders are realizing their legacy systems can’t deliver the visibility or speed they need. Cloud-based ERP and FP&A tools like Workday Adaptive, Anaplan, or Planful. These enable CFOs to:
- Automate data consolidation across entities, geographies, and business units.
- Perform rolling forecasts that adapt to changing business conditions in real time.
- Create scenario models to assess the impacts of macro-economic shifts, pricing changes, or M&A events before they happen.
- Reduce dependency on IT for system updates or report creation.
What CFOs Should Be Thinking About
- Integration, Not Isolation: Modern systems must connect seamlessly with CRMs, HRIS platforms, and data warehouses to provide a single source of truth for decision-making.
- Change Management: New tools fail when old habits persist. CFOs must invest in training and culture to move their teams from data collection to data interpretation.
- Data Governance: Clean data is the foundation of automation. CFOs should establish ownership models and validation rules that ensure data integrity across systems.
- Scalability for Growth: Whether through acquisitions or organic expansion, systems must handle complexity (multi-currency, multi-entity, and consolidated reporting) without manual workarounds.
- AI Readiness: Generative AI in finance is only as good as the data it learns from. Laying a solid foundation now will allow CFOs to safely leverage AI-driven insights later.
The Payoff
Finance teams that automate see faster closes, better forecast accuracy, and more bandwidth to focus on value-added initiatives, like profitability modeling, capital allocation, and strategic planning.
👉 Ready to modernize your finance infrastructure?
Alliance’s Business Systems & Technology experts specialize in ERP and FP&A transformation, from system selection through implementation and optimization. Contact us to learn how we can help you accelerate your journey toward a more agile, insight-driven finance function.
