As we continue to experience economic uncertainty, CFOs and the finance function in particular face a multitude of challenges, including pricing and cost pressures, shifting customer demand, threats to existing business models, and the ongoing shortage of key talent. In this webinar, our experts discussed the key priorities for CFOs amidst ongoing disruption, instability, and unpredictability. Participants gained insights into the challenges organizations face and the steps taken to mitigate them, the evolving landscape of Finance and Accounting (F&A) transformation, key areas driving investments, and the expected role of third-party service providers in this journey. What questions did the webinar answer for the participants? What are the key challenges organizations are facing in the current environment? What are the crucial steps taken by organizations to navigate the challenges? What is shaping F&A transformation today? Which F&A transformation approaches should enterprises follow? Which F&A areas are driving investments? What is the expected role of third-party service providers / shared services in supporting businesses?

On January 19, Everest Group hosted a webinar titled, "How is Finance & Accounting Outsourcing Evolving to Support CFOs in Future-Proofing Their Organizations?" Finance and accounting is not new to business process outsourcing. Not only is it growing at a steady pace, but it is evolving as organizations aim to use it more strategically. Everest Group speakers Shirley Hung, VP, Michel Janssen, CRO, and Vignesh Kannan, Practice Director, discuss critical trends in Finance & Accounting Outsourcing (FAO), including the role of data and analytics in building business resilience. They also touch on key findings from Everest Group’s recent Global CFO Survey, which reveals the current mindset of finance leaders as they help their businesses emerge with momentum from the global pandemic. Key takeaways: The CFO’s view on business imperatives, changes in operating models, and how the role may evolve Adoption drivers and trends that are shaping the FAO service provider landscape How FAO service providers can deliver value through data and analytics We answer the following questions: What are the key short- and long-term business imperatives according to CFOs? How will the CFO role evolve due to an ongoing environment of extreme uncertainty? What changes are expected in finance and accounting operating models? What are the key adoption drivers for FAO? What key trends are shaping the FAO service provider landscape? How are FAO service providers delivering value through data and analytics?

The threat of COVID-19 has caused unprecedented levels of global disruption, requiring businesses to reassess their priorities. CFOs are busy helping their businesses navigate through an environment characterized by extreme uncertainty. At the same time, they recognize the dire need to develop a long-term strategy to enable their businesses to remain relevant and viable as they come out of this period of disruption. To understand how CFOs’ roles and business imperatives are evolving, Everest Group conducted the Global CFO Survey 2020, whose findings we lay out in this report. Scope All industries and geographies Source: Global CFO Survey 2020, in which more than 300 CFOs and their direct reportees across North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Middle East and Africa from more than 20 industry sectors participated Contents In this study, we share key findings and insights obtained through the Global CFO Survey 2020 and present them under the following topics: COVID-19 disruption – impact and CFO reactions Emergence of a new normal Building a future-ready organization Membership(s) Finance & Accounting Outsourcing Sourcing and Vendor Management