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Middle Market CFO Survey 2025: Finance Modernization Insights | Cherry Bekaert
Middle Market CFO Survey 2025 Insights: Modernization in Motion
Cherry Bekaert's inaugural CFO survey reveals how finance leaders are accelerating decision velocity while keeping control.
Middle Market CFO Survey 2025: Finance Modernization Insights | Cherry Bekaert
Modernization in Motion: What Our CFO Survey Reveals
Cherry Bekaert surveyed 200 CFOs and senior finance executives at U.S. middle market enterprises to understand the current state and future trajectory of finance modernization — which focuses on improving the efficiency and effectiveness of existing finance people, processes, data and technology.
CFOs Are Leading Through Uncertainty with Financial Decision Velocity
Middle market CFOs are navigating inflation, pricing pressure, regulatory shifts and supply chain disruption. At the same time, they are being asked to accelerate decision-making with lean teams and tight budgets.
Cherry Bekaert’s inaugural CFO survey reveals a turning point: nearly two-thirds of CFOs are expanding beyond financial stewardship into strategic leadership. Success hinges on clean, connected data, integrated systems, trustworthy forecasts, scenario planning, blended talent and AI embedded in structured workflows.
Top 5 Priorities for Finance Operations
- Improving data quality and integration
- Optimizing finance technology
- Streamline processes
- Establish and improve reporting
- Train existing talent
CFOs' Biggest Pain Points Today
What You Will Take Away
- Where middle market CFOs are investing next by priority and impact
- How peers are improving forecast accuracy, reporting speed and decision velocity — despite tight budgets
- A 12-action roadmap you can apply in sprints for speed with control
Who We Surveyed
Cherry Bekaert surveyed 200 CFOs and senior finance executives at U.S. middle market enterprises with revenue between $5 million and $250 million across various industries to assess the current state and future trajectory of finance modernization.
CFO Survey Objectives
The research aimed to uncover strategic priorities, operational challenges, modernization readiness and emerging trends, and provide actionable insights for both enterprise transformation and finance leadership.
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Track Finance Modernization Progress
Evaluate the progress of finance modernization among middle market finance leaders.
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Uncover Key Barriers to Modernization
Benchmark priorities, budget allocations and technology adoption within finance functions.
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Benchmark Priorities and Tech Adoption
Identify the primary challenges and barriers to modernization.
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Cross-Industry Finance Comparisons
Compare industries, including industrial manufacturing, life sciences, retail, real estate, construction, healthcare, professional services, givernment and not-for-profit.
“We’ve helped middle market CFOs move from managing the books to shaping business strategy. By leaning into digital transformation and closing capability gaps, finance leaders aren’t just keeping pace, they’re defining their company’s competitive edge. Operate to innovate.”
Our Professionals
Daniel Wheadon
CFO Advisory Leader
Technology & Life Sciences Leader
Partner, Cherry Bekaert Advisory LLC
Finance Modernization CFO Survey FAQs
Finance transformation, also called finance modernization, is a strategic reinvention of an organization’s finance function. It combines process improvements, system upgrades and organizational shifts to create a more agile and efficient framework.
Leveraging new technologies, targeted training and data-driven analysis, this approach simplifies and optimizes finance systems. Finance transformation aims to better align finance operations with business strategy, improving efficiency and adaptability. By integrating skilled teams and modern technologies, finance transformation drives value creation and enhances decision-making.
A CFO Survey collects insights from chief financial officers and senior finance leaders about their organization’s financial strategies, priorities and outlook. Key topics that CFO surveys typically highlight include focus areas such as technology investments, cost management and cash flow optimization. These surveys also provide a deeper understanding of the risks and challenges CFOs face including talent shortages and evolving market dynamics.
In addition, CFO Surveys explore how organizations are adapting their strategies in response to changing conditions, particularly in areas like digital transformation, automation and the adoption of artificial intelligence. By analyzing responses from CFOs across industries, these surveys offer valuable benchmarking data and actionable insights for finance professionals seeking to drive modernization and support business growth.
CFO Surveys help organizations benchmark their financial strategies, stay informed on industry trends, and identify emerging risks and opportunities. By gathering direct input from finance leaders, these surveys offer a real-time view into how companies are navigating complex financial landscapes.
CFO Surveys typically include responses from chief financial officers, senior finance executives and other key decision makers across various industries and company sizes.
These surveys provide actionable insights, industry benchmarks and best practices that empower finance professionals to stay ahead of trends, drive modernization and support business growth.
