Finance leaders face evolving roles and decision-making gaps

A Deloitte survey of healthcare CFOs reveals a significant gap between professional expectations and decision-making readiness. While 73% of healthcare finance chiefs are expected to be heavily involved in critical enterprise decisions—such as mergers and acquisitions, consumer affordability, and AI adoption—only 49% feel properly prepared to contribute to those determinations. This 24-percentage-point gap suggests a mismatch between expanding roles and the support systems available to finance teams.

In a separate discussion on the evolving nature of finance leadership, Rachel Wong, founder of The Finance Hybrid, advocates for a non-linear career approach. Wong suggests that modern finance leaders must move beyond traditional spreadsheet-heavy roles to gain broader operational exposure, arguing that stepping outside conventional finance lanes is essential for developing the influence required to thrive in the next decade.