Skill trends in Finance

This week, I am attaching an interesting report that we developed, highlighting skill trends in Finance.

Key Takeaways – Finance Skills & Transformation Trends (2025)

Summary:

• Dual Transformation in Finance: Core skills like governance, compliance, risk, and analysis remain essential, while digital capabilities driven by AI, automation, and analytics are accelerating across all finance sub-functions.
• Functional Shifts:
  
  • Audit – Moving toward real-time monitoring, continuous auditing, and AI-driven sampling for deeper assurance.
  • FP&A – Transitioning from static reporting to advanced modeling, integrated forecasting, and scenario simulations.
  • Tax – Combining regulatory expertise with tech adoption for global compliance and automation.
  • Financial Services Operations – Standardizing processes, leveraging workflow orchestration, and enhancing fraud detection via digital tools.
  • Treasury & Controllership – Shifting from transactional work to strategic insights, real-time liquidity, and AI-assisted reconciliation.
• Skills Demand Trends:
  Core skills growing at 7–15% YoY, but emerging digital skills—like predictive analytics, anomaly detection, continuous transaction controls—are rising faster (15–25% YoY).
• SaaS Impact on Finance: Finance teams need expertise in SaaS revenue recognition, subscription metrics (ARR, MRR, CAC, CLTV), cloud cost optimization, and compliance with evolving digital regulations.
• Talent Hotspots: India’s hi-tech cities, US financial hubs, and select global markets are key locations for finance talent with strong adoption of emerging skills.
• Tool Adoption: Significant uptake of AI-enabled and digital tools in each sub-function to drive efficiency, accuracy, and strategic value creation.