Top 10 Finance Trends of 2026: What Business Owners and Finance Leaders Need to Know

The finance world is constantly changing. From new technology, shifting customer expectations, and ongoing economic uncertainty, these can create both challenges and opportunities for businesses of all sizes. Whether you are a business owner, CFO, controller, accountant, or finance leader, understanding these changes can help you make better decisions and better prepare for growth.

After reviewing research from Deloitte, Salesforce, Morgan Stanley, and more, one message stood out above all others:

Businesses that adapt to change will be better prepared for growth ("Finance Trends") ("Financial Services").

Here are the top finance trends shaping 2026 and what they mean for your organization.

2026 Finance Trends by the Numbers

The finance industry is experiencing significant changes driven by technology, workforce shifts, and evolving business expectations. Here are some of the most notable statistics from recent industry research:

• 95% of finance and accounting teams expect to be involved in a major digital transformation initiative within the next two years. This highlights how quickly organizations are investing in new technology, automation, and data tools ("10").
• Nearly 39% of workers' core skills are expected to change by 2030, according to research cited by Richmond Group USA. Analytical thinking and AI literacy are among the fastest growing skill needs ("The Future").
• Accounting leaders continue to identify talent shortages as one of their biggest challenges, while demand grows for professionals with advisory, data, technology, and business strategy skills ("The Future") ("Accounting").

What These Numbers Tell Us

Taken together, these findings point to a clear trend: finance is becoming more strategic, more technology driven, and more connected to overall business growth. Organizations are investing in AI, digital transformation, and better data while also facing pressure to attract talent, improve efficiency, and prepare for uncertainty. Businesses that can adapt to these changes are likely to be better positioned for long term success ("Finance Trends") ("Financial Services").

1. AI as a Daily Tool for Finance Teams

For years, businesses have heard that artificial intelligence would change finance. In 2026, that change is happening, and it is taking over more than we could have imagined years ago.

According to the Richmond Group USA, AI is already automating portions of reconciliations, invoice processing, and tax preparation. The report notes that accountants are spending less time on manual tasks and more time supervising systems, validating outputs, and interpreting results. Human touch is still important in the process, but AI has allowed them to become more efficient and spend more time on tasks that require those soft skills ("Accounting").

The shift is happening quickly. Robert Half reports that 95% of finance and accounting teams expect to be involved in a major digital transformation initiative within the next two years ("10").

Deloitte also found that finance leaders are increasingly looking to AI to improve decision making and generate business value, although many organizations are still working to fully realize returns from their AI investments ("Finance Trends").

What this means for businesses

The question is no longer whether AI should be used - it's where it can create the most value while allowing employees to focus on higher impact work.

2. Finance Teams Are Also Strategic Business Partners Now

Finance leaders are playing a much larger role in guiding business strategy than they did just a few years ago.

Deloitte surveyed 1,326 finance leaders from around the world and found that finance leaders are helping drive enterprise strategy, innovation, digital transformation, and cost optimization initiatives.

Rather than simply reporting results, CFOs are increasingly helping companies decide where to invest, how to manage risk, and how to capture new growth opportunities ("Finance Trends").

What this means for businesses

Finance teams should be involved in key business decisions because they have a unique ability to connect financial performance with future growth plans.

3. Better Data Leading to Better Decisions

As businesses face economic uncertainty, access to reliable information is becoming more important.

One of Deloitte's top trends for 2026 is the growing importance of advanced scenario planning and agile decision making, which depends on accurate and timely data.

Finance leaders increasingly need visibility across the business, so they can evaluate risks, make forecasts, and quickly adapt when conditions change ("Finance Trends").

Businesses are investing in technology for better dashboards, reporting, and analytics, so data is clearer, given faster, and they can make better-informed decisions sooner.

What this means for businesses

Companies with organized, trustworthy data are often able to make decisions faster and with greater confidence.

4. Advisory Services Continue to Grow

The accounting profession is moving beyond compliance work to a 360-degree level of support.

Vanta Insights reports that accounting work is shifting more toward advisory services and away from traditional compliance ("Accounting").

Richmond Group USA also identified advisory work as becoming "core, not optional" for accounting professionals ("The Future").

Business owners are increasingly looking for advisors who can help them solve operational problems, improve profitability, and support growth, not simply prepare financial statements ("The Future") ("Accounting").

What this means for businesses

Organizations can gain more value when finance professionals help interpret the story behind the numbers.

5. The Unresolved Talent Shortage

Finding experienced accounting and finance professionals remains one of the industry's biggest challenges due to factors such as lower CPA passing and current CPAs approaching retirement in recent years.

Vanta Insights describes the accounting talent pipeline as being under "severe pressure" and identifies the talent shortage as the industry's "most pressing structural challenge" ("Accounting").

Richmond Group USA also notes that firms are rethinking compensation, career paths, and hiring strategies in response to ongoing workforce shortages.

The profession continues to compete with technology and other business fields for new talent ("Accounting") ("The Future").

What this means for businesses

Organizations should focus on developing and retaining existing employees while using technology to improve efficiency to offset the shortage.

6. Customers Expect Better Digital Experiences

Customers increasingly expect easy, personalized, and digital first services.

Salesforce surveyed more than 6,000 financial services customers and found that ineffective digital functionality continues to create customer frustration. The report also notes that customer service and digital experience are important factors in attracting and retaining customers.

As customers become more comfortable with AI, many are becoming open to AI powered experiences that improve convenience and responsiveness ("The Connected").

What this means for businesses

Customer experience is becoming just as important as the product or service itself due to customer tastes shifting to expect services to operate digitally and highly personalized from current technological capabilities.

7. Planning Ahead is Essential For Market Volatility

Economic uncertainty continues to influence financial decision making.

Mercer highlights ongoing concerns about inflation, elevated interest rates, market concentration, and geopolitical uncertainty. The report emphasizes the need for adaptable strategies that can respond to changing market conditions ("Mercer").

Deloitte similarly identifies scenario planning as one of the most important priorities for finance leaders navigating uncertainty ("Finance Trends").

What this means for businesses

Instead of planning for one future, organizations should prepare for several possible outcomes, due to the complexity of future risks.

8. Finance and Technology Working Closer Together

Finance and technology are becoming increasingly connected.

Deloitte identified the rise of "tech-fueled teams" and highlighted the growing need for finance functions that include both traditional finance expertise and technical capabilities.

Organizations are investing in cloud platforms, analytics, automation, and AI to improve performance and decision making ("Finance Trends").

What this means for businesses

Successful digital transformation is not just about technology - It's about helping people use technology effectively, hence why acquiring both financial and technical expertise is more valuable today.

9. Cybersecurity and Trust Matter More Than Ever

As AI and digital tools become more common, trust is becoming increasingly important with less human involvement.

Morgan Stanley notes that while AI is improving efficiency and customer engagement, trust, security, and accountability are key factors in adoption ("Financial Services").

Robert Half also identifies cybersecurity accountability as a growing factor in financial reporting and governance ("10").

What this means for businesses

Technology growth should be balanced with strong security and governance practices.

10. Adaptability is The Competitive Advantage

Perhaps the most consistent message across all six reports is the importance of adaptability.

Morgan Stanley describes the industry navigating changing interest rates, growing AI investment, and evolving consumer behavior ("Financial Services").

Mercer highlights a market environment shaped by uncertainty and shifting conditions, requiring organizations to remain flexible ("Mercer").

Deloitte points to the growing need for finance leaders to operate differently, hire differently, and think differently to better support growth ("Finance Trends").

What this means for businesses

The organizations best positioned for growth are often the ones that learn quickly, adapt thoughtfully, and continuously improve.

The Bottom Line

The finance function is undergoing a major transformation. AI is becoming part of everyday work. Obtaining clear data quickly is essential for decision-making. Finance professionals are taking on broader strategic roles for greater vision and support. And businesses are learning that adaptability is vital for long-term success ("The Future") ("Finance Trends") ("Financial Services").

For business owners and finance leaders, the goal is not to chase every new trend. The goal is to understand which changes can create lasting value for the organization.

The businesses that succeed in 2026 will be the ones that combine adaptable people, clear processes, reliable systems, and trustworthy data to make better decisions and support growth ("Finance Trends") ("Accounting").

For organizations that are unsure where to start, working with experienced partners can help bring clarity to complex challenges. Xwurk helps businesses align people, processes, systems, and data, so they can operate more effectively and grow with confidence. The focus is not simply on implementing technology but enabling the people using them to build a stronger foundation that supports long-term success in this new landscape.

References

"10 Finance and Accounting Trends You Can't Ignore in 2026." Robert Half, 16 Mar. 2026, www.roberthalf.com/us/en/insights/research/finance-and-accounting-trends.

"Accounting Industry Trends: Data & Market Analysis 2026." VantaInsights, vantainsights.com/insights/accounting-industry-trends. Accessed 29 July 2026.

"The Connected Financial Services Report." Salesforce, www.salesforce.com/en-us/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/Industry%20-%20Financial%20Services/Connected-FINS_Report_Final.pdf. Accessed 29 July 2026.

"Finance Trends 2026: Navigating the Expanded Scope of Finance." Deloitte Insights, Deloitte, 23 June 2026, www.deloitte.com/us/en/insights/topics/leadership/finance-trends-leadership.html.

"Financial Services Industry Trends Executive Insights 2026." Morgan Stanley, www.morganstanley.com/insights/articles/financial-services-industry-trends-executive-insights-2026. Accessed 29 July 2026.

"Mercer Investment Considerations for Financial Intermediaries 2026." People and Investments, www.mercer.com/en-us/insights/investments/market-outlook-and-trends/top-investment-considerations-for-financial-intermediaries/. Accessed 29 July 2026.

"The Future of Accounting in 2026: Trends, Skills, and Workforce Changes Shaping the Profession." The Richmond Group USA, 3 Feb. 2026, richgroupusa.com/accounting-trends-2026/.