Finance 2035: Return to Investment – France Market Report

The New Role of French CFOs

Finance leaders are facing a perfect storm — tariffs, inflation, geopolitical tensions, talent shortages, and legacy tech. Expectations are rising while resources are shrinking. Agility and predictability are no longer nice-to-haves—they're non-negotiables.

In France, the pressure’s especially intense. Seven in ten (69%) of French CEOs and LOB managers expect the CFO to be an ambitious driver of corporate growth.

But let’s be real—the road ahead isn’t easy:

• 66% of French business leaders believe that CFOs today are expected to be “masters of everything.”
• 81% of French CFOs identify skills gaps in the finance department as a significant obstacle to performing their role effectively.
• 77% of French CFOs identify legacy systems as a significant barrier.

To lead through 2035, CFOs must shift from stewards to strategic catalysts—leveraging AI, automation, and unified data to boost agility, performance, and smarter decision-making.

Ready to future-proof your finance function?

Download the Finance 2035: Return to Investment – France Market Report to learn what strategic CFOs must prioritize to drive growth.