Controllers Council recently held a CPE training webinar titled, 7 Corporate Finance Trends for 2025, sponsored by AvidXchange.
AvidXchange is a leader in automating invoice, payment and Accounts Payable processes for mid-market organizations. AvidXchange processes more than $215 billion transactions annually, with 1,600 employees, 8,800 customers and 225 system integrations.
Our expert panelists are Danny Gassaway, Senior Product Marketing Manager, and Jami Proctor, Solutions Consultant at AvidXchange.
Following are key takeaways to this discussion. If you are interested in learning more, view the full webinar archive video here.
3 Key Takeaways from AvidXchange’s 2025 Trends Survey
The top priority for 61% of finance teams is creating operational efficiencies. This is critical for organizations where resources may be limited, and every dollar saved on operational costs can be redirected toward higher-value initiatives. Automating processes, streamlining workflows, and reducing manual work can be game changers for businesses looking to optimize their impact and improve performance.
Another significant concern for 71% of finance leaders is how to measure the ROI of AI technologies. While AI holds great potential to transform operations, many leaders are still asking, “How do we prove these investments are paying off?” With budgets and stakeholder expectations in mind, organizations need clear metrics to justify AI investments and ensure they are delivering real results.
Lastly, 86% of finance departments have either adopted or are exploring ePayment methods, such as mobile payment platforms and digital wallets. This shift not only enhances operational efficiency but also ensures seamless, secure transactions with customers, partners, and stakeholders. ePayments enable faster, more secure transactions, which is essential for businesses modernizing their financial processes to meet evolving expectations.
Interested in learning more? Download the AvidXchange 2025 Finance Focus Survey Report.
What are the top priorities for Finance Departments?
As we prepare for an unpredictable 2025, finance leaders are reevaluating several key priorities that will shape their strategies for the coming year. Let’s explore the top five areas of focus.
- Operational efficiency remains crucial, with 61% of respondents identifying it as a top priority. Streamlining processes is essential for organizations to maximize resources and drive overall productivity.
- Data protection and security are equally important, also cited by 61% of finance leaders. With the increasing reliance on digital tools, securing sensitive financial information is non-negotiable in today’s environment.
- Digital transformation is another focus, with 57% of leaders investing in technology to modernize operations, make processes more efficient, and scale for long-term growth.
- Hiring and retaining talent is a challenge for 52% of finance leaders. As businesses evolve, it’s critical to attract and retain skilled professionals who can adapt to new technologies and dynamic working environments.
- Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) initiatives are gaining traction, with 38% of finance departments focusing on integrating these principles. This reflects the growing importance of aligning internal practices with broader social and environmental goals.
What are the top challenges for Finance Departments?
While the future may be unpredictable, keeping these challenges in mind will help your organization adapt to whatever the coming year brings.
- Security concerns, including fraud and phishing attempts, are at the forefront, with 52% of finance leaders identifying this as their top worry. As businesses handle more digital transactions and sensitive data, the need to protect against cyber threats is greater than ever.
- Data management, with 49% of finance departments seeing it as a key challenge. Managing and securing large amounts of data, especially financial information, while ensuring compliance with privacy regulations, is becoming increasingly complex.
- Digital skills gap, with 48% concerned about upskilling their teams. As technology becomes more integrated into operations, ensuring staff has the right digital skills will be essential to maintaining efficiency and competitiveness.
- AI bias and inaccuracies are a concern for 43% of finance leaders, highlighting the need for careful oversight when implementing AI tools to avoid errors and ensure fairness in decision-making.
- Additional challenges include regulatory compliance at 40%, economic uncertainty with 37% of leaders worried about a potential recession, and a tight labor market, which 35% see as a risk to recruiting and retaining talent.
- Sustainability is a growing priority for 31% of finance leaders, reflecting the increasing focus on environmental impact and long-term operational viability. Addressing these concerns will be critical as your finance department prepares for the future
2025 Finance Trends
We are navigating a rapidly evolving financial landscape, and staying ahead of these seven trends will be critical for success:
1.Finance Pros Embrace AI, Evaluate ROI
By focusing on these six key metrics—efficiency, accuracy, decision-making, goal alignment, scalability, and cost reduction—you’ll gain a comprehensive understanding of how AI is driving success within your finance department.
2. Security Remains a Top Concern
Enhancing security not only protects your organization from financial loss but also preserves trust with clients, partners, and stakeholders—an essential component for long-term success.
3. The Finance Function Evolves
The role of finance departments is continuously evolving, especially in response to changing technology and growing demands for digital skills. Traditional finance and accounting roles are shifting due to factors such as the ongoing talent shortage and the need for new technical expertise.
4. Tech Stacks Consolidate, Cloud Adoption Expands
This reinforces the idea that cloud adoption is no longer a luxury, but a necessity for scalability, flexibility, and enhanced collaboration across finance functions. As more businesses transition to cloud-based solutions, they are better positioned to increase their efficiency, reduce manual work, and ultimately achieve greater transparency and accuracy in financial management.
5.Electronic Payment Adoption Grows
By embracing electronic payments and integrated platforms, businesses can reduce manual efforts, minimize errors, and streamline workflows. This enhances cash flow management, strengthens vendor relationships, and ensures faster, more secure payments, supporting overall operational efficiency and financial stewardship.
6.Finance Leaders Recognize Automation Advantages
Automating finance workflows allows organizations to improve operational efficiency, reduce manual data entry, and minimize errors—all while freeing up time for teams to focus on more strategic activities.
7.Supplier Relationships are Paramount
A supplier hub or portal provides an all-in-one solution for real-time payment tracking, reducing manual tasks, and increasing transparency between organizations and their suppliers. By enhancing the ease and efficiency of managing payments, these hubs foster stronger, more reliable supplier relationships, ensuring timely payments and higher satisfaction.
Dive deeper into the 2025 Finance Trends by watching the complete webcast here.
Download AvidXchange 2024 Finance Focus Whitepaper here.
ABOUT THE SPONSOR:
AvidXchange is a trusted, leading provider of accounts payable (“AP”) automation software and payment solutions for middle market businesses and their suppliers. AvidXchange’s Software-as-a-Service (“SaaS”) based, end-to-end software and payment platform digitizes and automates the AP workflows for over 8,000 buyer customers, and it has made payments to more than 1,200,000 supplier customers over the past five years. Additionally, AvidXchange, Inc. is a licensed money transmitter for US B2B payments, licensed as a Money Transmitter by the New York State Department of Financial Services, as well as all other states. For more information, visit: www.AvidXChange.com.
