Unleashing Potential: Empowering Financial Talent for Growth

In today's fast-paced financial world, the role of talent has transformed from a support function to a critical growth engine for organizations.

With projections showing average salary growth of about 2.1% year over year, the demand for skilled professionals is soaring.

This shift calls for a strategic approach to unleash potential and foster resilience in uncertain times.

The Evolving Finance Talent Landscape

Finance is no longer just about numbers; it's about driving value and insight.

Recent data reveals that 65% of companies plan to expand finance teams in 2026, highlighting its strategic importance.

This growth is concentrated in specialized roles that deliver regulatory expertise and transparency.

Companies are increasingly adopting flexible staffing models, with 70% of leaders increasing use of contract talent.

This blended workforce combines permanent experts, contract specialists, and automation to enhance agility.

• High demand in financial services, healthcare, and manufacturing for specialized skills.
• Compensation pressures with a median 5% increase in banking expenses.
• Employers offer higher pay for roles with data analytics and AI expertise.

This creates a war for specialized finance talent, where organizations must differentiate beyond base pay.

Core and Emerging Skills Driving Growth

The skills required in finance are evolving rapidly, moving from transactional tasks to strategic, tech-enabled roles.

Core competencies like financial reporting and ERP expertise remain vital, but new capabilities are emerging.

For instance, AI implementation and cybersecurity are becoming essential in digitized finance functions.

• Financial modeling for complex economic scenarios.
• Data engineering to support automation initiatives.
• Controllers with systems integration experience.

Nearly two-thirds of finance leaders plan to infuse more technical skills into their teams over the next two years.

This shift empowers professionals to contribute to digital transformation and innovation directly.

Investing in these skills ensures that talent can navigate future challenges effectively.

Leadership's Role in Talent Empowerment

Effective leadership is crucial for fostering a culture of growth and development in finance teams.

CFOs and CHROs are focusing on building capabilities through targeted strategies and investments.

For example, leaders use AI and automation, specialized training, and non-traditional talent sourcing to bridge gaps.

• Providing access to education as part of business strategy, with 88% of C-suite executives emphasizing this.
• Addressing employee dissatisfaction, as only 34% of workers are satisfied with skills development investment.
• Leveraging insourcing from other departments to enhance cross-functional collaboration.

This approach helps close the gap between investment and actual employee experience.

Empowering talent requires a commitment to continuous learning and adaptation from the top down.

Navigating Regulatory and Operational Trends

Regulatory changes and operational shifts are reshaping talent needs in finance.

Basel capital rules revisions and moves like T+1 settlement create new micro-skill requirements.

Instant payments systems like FedNow and RTP drive demand for payments operations and treasury roles.

• 73% of financial institutions have limited staff managing vendor risk, highlighting resilience needs.
• Nearly half experienced third-party cyber events, spurring hiring in risk management.
• Only 25% feel compliant with DORA requirements, indicating a skills gap in Europe.

Building deep regulatory and risk capabilities is essential for long-term success.

Professionals must stay agile to handle fast-paced settlement cycles and compliance demands.

Building a Future-Ready Finance Team

To empower financial talent, organizations must take practical steps that inspire and engage.

Start by assessing current skills gaps and aligning them with strategic goals.

Invest in platforms and infrastructure, such as data architecture, to support AI productivity gains.

• Implement blended learning programs combining formal training with on-the-job experience.
• Foster a culture of belonging to retain knowledge and reduce turnover in flexible staffing models.
• Use metrics to track progress, such as employee advancement rates from extra training.

Encourage professionals to pursue certifications and stay updated on industry trends.

This holistic approach ensures that talent is not just skilled but also motivated and innovative.

Conclusion: A Call to Action

Unleashing the potential of financial talent is a journey that requires dedication and vision.

By embracing strategic hiring, continuous upskilling, and supportive leadership, organizations can drive growth.

Remember, empowering talent is about more than numbers; it's about building a resilient and forward-thinking finance function.

Take the first step today by evaluating your team's capabilities and investing in their future.

Together, we can transform finance into a dynamic force for organizational success.