Read full reportThis report provides comprehensive insights from over 119 Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) and senior finance executives across Australia and New Zealand, gathered between March 2024 and November 2024 via two separate surveys. The report compares responses analyses the responses of financial leaders to better understand their sentiments toward strategic alignment, economic preparedness, digital transformation, and operational aspects.
- Effective collaboration and evolving communication: Leaders prefer continuous feedback loops and collaborative workshops with business unit leaders to align department initiatives with overall financial goals of the organisation. Besides, simplification ranks first for communicating the financial impact and ROI to non-financial stakeholders. Some of the methods include simplification of financial metrics, leveraging visual aids, tools, and dashboards.
- CFOs are moderately equipped to handle economic uncertainty: Leaders see themselves “moderately” well-equipped in managing the impact of global economic shifts.
- Aligning short-term success with long-term sustainability: Most of the respondents highlighted balancing short-term gains with long-term stability and the urgent need to upskill staff as their biggest issues.
- Key concentration of major finance projects around revenue growth and profitability: The survey findings show significant emphasis on achieving top-line growth is seen in many organisations (44%) as they prioritise revenue growth and profitability.
- Digital transformation and innovation as the primary driver of financial advantage: Survey findings further highlight that finance, like many other back-office functions, offers substantial opportunities for digital transformation.
- Digital transformation is a key investment priority: Digital transformation is not only recognised as a major driver of financial advantage but also stands as a top investment priority, with 68% of respondents focusing on it.
- Majority of the respondents are risk-averse: Majority of the respondents (56%) label their organisations risk-averse. It means they would like to adopt proven solutions rather than being first movers.
- From hybrid cloud to cloud native: While a larger section of the respondents (40%) is operating in a are operating in a hybrid mode, many are still transitioning to the cloud.
- AI retains the top emerging technology investment area: For the next 6-12 months, AI is expected to remain the top technology investment focus (23%) for the finance leaders.
- Critical leadership qualities include both soft and technical skills: The top qualities identified include agility and adaptability, data technologies, empathy, strategic thinking, AI, automation, and emotional intelligence.
For more information please click "Read full Report".
Exclusive membership organisation, Factor, has launched a new Research and Advisory arm, aimed at helping both C-Suite leaders and providers in the enterprise and public sectors.
It comes after Factor rebranded at the beginning of the 24/25 financial year, with the new identity representing an expanded vision and commitment to offering top-tier thought leadership and networking opportunities to senior executives across ANZ, Singapore and a number of other countries and regions. Now, the new arm of Factor is being spearheaded by VP and Head of Research Craig Baty and VP of Advisory Partnerships Shayne Arundell.
Factor
With over 30 years of C-level experience in ICT, HR, marketing, sales, operations, market research, and international business, Craig brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to Factor.
“I’m pleased to be part of Factor’s expansion into Research & Advisory services, and I’m looking forward to sharing actionable insights with our members and providers to guide them on best practices in the market,” says Craig.
Craig has held a number of C-level roles including his own start-up, Global VP Global Marketing and VP Digital Services in Fujitsu Tokyo HQ and CTO & Head of Marketing for APAC. He also served as Distinguished Lead Analyst for ISG and established the Provider Lens research arm in AP. As Group VP and Head of Research for Gartner AP/J and CEO of Gartner Japan he earned the first AP/J Gartner Thought Leadership award, established what is now Gartner for Marketing, and pioneered the Gartner SWOT analysis methodology.
Factor
While, Shayne Arundell, a seasoned leader with a proven track record of success in the APAC region. Bringing over 15 years of Partnerships experience to Factor from FMCG, Fintech and Research and Advisory industries.
Shayne is also a Gartner alumni, previously serving as Director of Enterprise Sales, and as APAC Vice President for Intelligence Cloud at Korn Ferry, both being leading global consulting firms.
“Factor is the newest leader in advisory, backed by fiercely local insights, from an extensive market research database you won’t see anywhere else,” Shayne explains.
Within our expertise Factor will cover a range of topics, including, but not limited to:
- Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
- Cyber Security
- 5G Landscape
- Hybrid Cloud
- Technology Profitability
- AU Fintech
- Digital Transformation and Enablement
- CX, EX, UX
Both Craig and Shayne are supported by Factor’s team of experts and analysts, including Director of Insights and Value, Darren Adams, who is a highly regarded professional in the APAC data and analytics space, drawing on his experience in communications, client relations, B2B marketing, data and strategy in the technology sector.
“People are at the heart of everything we do at Factor, and data is our key in transforming their interactions into understandings. I'm excited to share cutting-edge insights and understanding with our community, to help foster deeper, lasting and beneficial connections,” Darren says.
While Factor’s Editor-In-Chief, Madeline Palmer, an expert media professional, oversees a broad range of strategic, editorial, and managerial tasks to ensure the production and dissemination off high-quality research content.
“Our new membership app will be one-stop shop for all technology leaders to connect and learn through events, advisory and multi-media content, and I am looking forward to being part of that journey,” says Madeline.
The Directions™ portal on Factor’s new membership app is a cutting-edge platform, allowing users explore a repository of reports and other content, as well as create their own research visualisations with Factor’s existing database.
Factor’s CEO and founder, Josh Heid, says this new phase for the company is something he’s been working towards for quite some time.
“After six incredible years of empowering and enabling leaders, our rebrand as Factor, coupled with the launch of our Research and Advisory arm, is about offering our members and providers with the best services and products the market can offer,” Josh explains. “I’m very proud of the team at Factor and what we have built.”
For more information about Factor’s new Research and Advisory offerings click below.
