Finance Teams Are Stretched Thin—And Outdated Tech Isn’t Helping
A recent survey of over 900 finance and accounting leaders has revealed a growing tension in the finance function: teams are expected to act as strategic advisers, yet they’re bogged down by manual processes and outdated systems that limit their capacity to deliver high-value work.
The findings, published by Zuora, highlight a widespread issue across industries and geographies. Every single respondent—from the UK, France, and North America—reported that manual data challenges were holding their teams back from strategic thinking. For 42% of leaders, this isn’t just an occasional frustration—it’s a constant drain on their ability to lead effectively.
The problem isn’t a lack of ambition. In fact, most finance leaders are actively investing in artificial intelligence (AI) and automation tools. A striking 93% say AI is a central focus, and 89% report that AI solutions are already part of their current tech stack. But despite these investments, the impact has yet to fully materialise. As the report puts it, “Finance teams are investing in tomorrow while drowning in yesterday’s work.”
One of the biggest roadblocks? Data reconciliation and manual workloads. These tasks continue to consume time and energy, even in tech-forward sectors like software-as-a-service (SaaS), where 97% of leaders say manual work is still a major strain. Outdated systems are compounding the issue, making it harder for automation to keep pace with business demands.
This disconnect between strategic expectations and operational reality is creating a bottleneck. Finance teams are being asked to support increasingly complex pricing models, navigate evolving revenue streams, and provide forward-looking insights—all while wrestling with legacy systems that weren’t built for today’s pace or complexity. Nearly two-thirds (64%) of leaders say the mix of revenue models has added substantial operational strain, and 74% admit that current automated systems can’t support the pricing structures needed to stay competitive.
So what’s the way forward?
The survey suggests that technology investments need to be reframed—not as operational upgrades, but as strategic enablers. Freeing up finance teams from manual tasks isn’t just about efficiency; it’s about unlocking their ability to think, advise, and lead. That means giving teams the time and tools to experiment with AI, test its impact on past projects, and refine processes before rolling them out across active workflows.
In short, the future of finance isn’t just about adopting new tools—it’s about making sure those tools actually work for the people using them. Until then, finance teams will continue to face a frustrating paradox: being tasked with strategic leadership while stuck in the weeds of manual work.
The ambition is there. The investment is happening. Now it’s time for the technology to catch up.
