Finance chiefs say AI returns hinge on worker skills
CFOs from HPE, Prologis, J.M. Smucker and Moody’s said finance teams need training and judgment to turn AI spending into value.
By Daniel Okafor · Business Editor
3 min read
Finance leaders at several major companies said AI will reshape corporate finance only if employees learn how to use the tools well. At Fortune’s Emerging CFO webinar, held in partnership with Workday, executives from Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Prologis, J.M. Smucker and Moody’s pointed to training, judgment and communication as central to getting value from AI.
Casey Caram, principal and human capital practice leader at Deloitte, told the webinar that people will remain the deciding factor as AI tools become more common. He described finance skills as a stack: core finance work such as accounting and forecasting, AI and data literacy, and human skills such as judgment, critical thinking and asking better questions.
Deloitte’s review of client spending on AI initiatives found that companies are putting 93% of expenditures toward data, technology and infrastructure, while 7% goes toward helping people use those systems effectively, Caram said. That split, he said, points to a gap between technology budgets and the workforce capabilities needed to make AI useful.
Marie Myers, chief financial officer of Hewlett Packard Enterprise, said curiosity matters as AI changes quickly. Fortune reported that HPE’s finance organization has worked with IT and business teams on AI projects, including a revamp of internal operating reviews that reduced manual work.
Myers said companies often focus too heavily on technology implementation and too little on how employees will change their work. She said long-serving professionals with established expertise may find new work methods difficult, making broad adoption a key test for AI programs.
Tim Arndt, chief financial officer of Prologis, said the CFO job is expanding beyond oversight and reporting into business strategy, according to the webinar discussion. He said AI can automate routine finance tasks and create more time for work tied to corporate decision-making.
Arndt said the modern finance chief is expected to act as a partner in executive strategy, rather than only report financial results. That shift raises the premium on finance teams that can interpret data and connect it to operating choices.
Tucker Marshall, chief financial officer of J.M. Smucker, said the company is updating finance systems, automating workflows and investing in talent development. He cited efforts that range from early-career programs to hiring mid-level employees with data and analytics skills.
Marshall also said communication is part of the finance skill set needed for AI-era work. In his view, finance teams must be able to turn analysis into recommendations that business leaders can act on.
Noémie Heuland, chief financial officer of Moody’s, said finance leaders face pressure to deliver faster and more useful insights as data grows. She warned of “KPI overload,” saying too many metrics can blur rather than sharpen strategic priorities.
Heuland said CFOs increasingly have to connect financial measures with broader business goals and market conditions. Across the webinar, the executives framed AI adoption as a management and workforce challenge as much as a technology rollout.
This story draws on original reporting from Fortune.