Global CFOs re-focus on cashflow over geopolitical risk planning
With economic and geopolitical challenges persisting, global finance leaders are pulling back from attempting to plan for every external shock – and refocusing on the financial fundamentals they can control, according to new research from American Express.
The annual American Express CFO survey, which polled 999 senior finance executives from large organisations across 14 countries, found a marked shift in responsibilities over the past year. Focus on cash flow and finance management has risen from 65% in 2025 to 74% in 2026, while responsibility for geopolitical and economic risk planning has fallen 12 percentage points (from 42% to 30%), and scenario modelling has dropped 17 points (from 41% to 24%).
That shift looks set to continue; finance leaders’ attention is moving instead to levers they can directly control – cashflow management was the top area expected to demand their attention over the next 12 months, cited by half (50%) of respondents.
Working capital puts forecasting and automation in spotlight
Working capital remains a widespread challenge for finance leaders, with more than half (55%) of finance leaders surveyed citing ‘growing working capital’ as a strategic priority.
In response, CFOs are increasingly turning to better forecasting and automation. The proportion prioritising improved forecasting to address a lack, or potential lack, of working capital has risen from 32% to 44% year-on-year, while those increasing automation has grown from 32% to 43%.
More than eight in ten (82%) respondents say their organisation is making significant investment in automating B2B payments. Finance leaders report tangible benefits from payment automation; improved liquidity, greater efficiency, faster payments and cost reductions ranked as the main benefits.
Ruchi Sharma, vice president, UK Commercial at American Express, said: “Economic and geopolitical headwinds aren’t going away, but finance leaders are changing how they respond to them. CFOs have spent the past few years strengthening their ability to navigate uncertainty and are now putting greater emphasis on the areas where they can have the most direct impact – cash flow, working capital and forecasting. It’s not about ignoring external risk; it’s about building resilience by focusing on what businesses can control and improve.”
AI adoption accelerates, but confidence yet to catch up
Artificial Intelligence is becoming an increasingly important part of this push to strengthen finance operations. The proportion of respondents citing AI implementation as a top digital transformation priority has risen from 39% to 57% year-on-year, while three-fifths (59%) say AI is already delivering tangible improvements to cash flow, forecasting accuracy and working capital management.
Yet growing adoption is being accompanied by caution; AI tops the list of areas CFOs feel least confident adapting to, and the rapid evolution of AI technology is also cited by over a third (38%) as the top barrier to achieving their strategic goals.
Ruchi Sharma continued: “Technology is becoming central to how CFOs strengthen the fundamentals of finance. The research demonstrates they are seeing tangible benefits from AI but also taking a pragmatic approach – firstly proving its value in core finance processes, building confidence and governance around it, and progressing from there.”
The American Express CFO report can be downloaded here.