The skills that finance professionals need have evolved significantly over the past decade. Data availability, automation and advanced analytics, combined with increased business expectations, have transformed finance from a primarily control- and reporting-focused function into a business advisor. While foundational accounting and financial knowledge remain critical, success in today’s world of finance requires a broader, more strategic skill set.

Modern finance professionals are expected to interpret complex data, clearly communicate insights and help guide organizations through uncertainty. However, according to research from talent solutions firm Robert Half, just 6% of finance and accounting leaders said their team has the people and skills on their team that they need to accomplish priority projects in 2026. The top areas they cited where skills gaps are most evident include financial planning and analysis, AI literacy, automation, data analytics and general accounting.

Understanding which skills you need — now and in the future — is essential to both individual career growth and organizational success.

How the Role of Finance Has Changed

Finance has always been tasked with reporting on business performance and providing insights that inform decision-making. But advances in technology have made compiling data faster and easier. Equipped with these new capabilities that free up time for interpreting data and other strategic undertakings, today’s finance teams are expected to do more than simply report on outcomes — they’re expected to influence them.

Finance professionals now work more closely with the business, a shift that requires an evolved skill set combining technical proficiency and digital fluency, finance and business acumen, and strong collaborative and communication skills.

Core Skills Needed for Finance Professionals Today

Technical and Analytical Skills for Finance

As outlined in AFP’s FP&A Handbook, the finance function’s main responsibility is to act as the steward of capital for the company. Financial analysis, planning, forecasting and budgeting remain essential to how finance brings its acumen to the business. However, the application of these skills has changed. Data fluency is now a core requirement, as finance professionals must be able to translate large, complex datasets into actionable insights.

“The ability to translate complex data into a clear business narrative is the single most valuable skill,” said Kavin Soni, Senior Financial Analyst at Google. “Providing a spreadsheet to business partners is rarely enough.”

For finance professionals, leading technical skills now also include SQL, SAP, Dynamics 365, Python and advanced analytics tools like Power BI to pull data out of core systems (such as ERPs or transactional systems) to review them. They need to level up their spreadsheet game as well. Software like Power BI expands Excel’s core capabilities, enabling automated manual processes and scalable analyses, which frees up time to focus on higher-value work.

Artificial intelligence (AI) represents the continuation of advanced tools reshaping finance. Finance today (and tomorrow) demands AI literacy for analyzing unstructured data and enabling faster, more informed decision-making. For example, leading finance teams are generating more dynamic forecasts and scenario analyses by using AI models to integrate historical performance, external variables and real-time data.

Soft skills also play a significant role in guiding and implementing AI-driven solutions. In Robert Half’s research, finance and accounting leaders cited critical thinking and problem solving, adaptability and continuous learning, creativity and innovation, communication, and emotional intelligence as the most important soft skills needed to complement AI and help ensure effective use of the technology.

Business and Strategic Skills for Finance

Finance professionals are expected to understand how the organization creates value and how financial decisions affect operational and commercial outcomes, making financial analysis, data visualization, and data and business analytics critical skills. “Finance is not just reporting the past; it’s influencing the future,” said Syed Nadeem, Director of Budgeting and Cost Management at Zain KSA. “You create value only when numbers lead to decisions.”

This work cannot be done by staring at numbers on a screen and emailing missives to operating units; it requires close collaboration and building cross-functional teams and the ability to evaluate trade-offs, assess risk and support long-term planning. Financial planning and forecasting in times of uncertainty and profitability and cost optimization — areas that Robert Half’s research shows are top strategic priorities for finance teams in 20206 — are increasingly core skills needed at all levels.

Communication and Storytelling Skills for Finance

Across interviews and research, communication consistently ranks among the most important soft skills for finance professionals. The ability to clearly explain financial information — especially to non-financial audiences — is essential.

Ashley Merritt, R&D & Portfolio Governance Finance Leader at W. L. Gore & Associates, notes that once technical skills are established, communication becomes paramount: “Your ability to communicate in an articulate, concise, non-technical manner is what allows people to understand, accept and act on the guidance you provide.”

Storytelling with numbers — framing insights in a way that resonates with business priorities — has become a defining finance skill. Whether presenting to operational leaders or executive teams, finance professionals must be able to connect the dots between data and decisions.

Leadership, Problem-Solving and Adaptability

It’s not only senior finance leaders who need strong leadership skills. Finance professionals at all levels are expected to demonstrate professionalism, accountability and problem-solving capabilities. Examples of what this looks like in practice include proactively suggesting improvements to projects, sharing learnings with colleagues and volunteering for cross-functional projects.

“My company has made a concerted effort to embed rapid problem-solving into our culture across all functions,” said Merritt. “I also find it beneficial to use the problem-solving methodologies on finance issues … Early in your career, you need to be professional, articulate, technically proficient in FP&A and have a unique business skill that sets you apart.”

Adaptability is equally critical. As finance tools, regulations and business models continue to evolve, employers are increasingly prioritizing professionals who demonstrate curiosity, resilience and a commitment to continuous learning.

What These Skills Mean for Finance Career Development

These trends have clear implications for career development. Building a strong finance skill set today means investing in both technical depth and broader strategic capabilities.

By developing data fluency, automation skills and business understanding from the beginning, early career professionals reap the benefits of spending less time on manual work and more time contributing to strategic initiatives.

“Without automation, you will spend 90% of your time cleaning data; by mastering technical skills early, you flip that ratio,” said Soni. “This efficiency is what allows an early career professional to clear their plate of the necessary number crunching and raise their hand for the high-value strategic opportunities usually reserved for senior levels.”

For experienced finance professionals, it is all about continuous learning. While the job descriptions of the future have not been written yet, the best way to prepare is to stay current with the latest developments in the profession.

From an employer’s perspective, the skills needed for finance roles are reshaping hiring and development strategies. Organizations that prioritize upskilling, cross-functional exposure and a balance of technical and soft skills are, quite simply, better positioned to attract and retain finance talent in today’s highly competitive market.