Finance leaders looking for a new job this year may need to reevaluate the strengths they plan to sell to boards and CEOs in the interview process — especially if they’re looking to be compensated above market value.
Implementing an AI tool into the finance function, using generative AI to make themselves more efficient, collaborating on developing AI guidelines or many of the other ways CFOs can involve themselves in the technology process may help a CFO candidate get more consideration but likely won’t earn them extra pay, according to new data from Datarails.
Datarails, an FP&A technology developer, analyzed 6,000 “core roles” within the finance function across the United States, including CFO roles, and found that mentions of AI experience are up 238% year-over-year for CFO job listings, while pay is down 5% ($212,000 in 2025 versus $224,000 in 2024).
AI and Excel’s value
AI demands are up across all roles. Job descriptions for open CFO listings that mentioned AI accounted for more than a quarter (27%) of all open roles in Jan. 2025 compared to 8% in Jan. 2024. Other areas that saw experience with AI or machine learning increase included FP&A roles (up 150%), controllers (up 64%) and accountants (up 23%).
Though mentions of AI are increasing in job ads across the finance function, traditional tools many finance teams rely on, like Excel, are also growing in importance in the more strategic areas of finance. Excel experience has grown in popularity among analyst roles in FP&A, which saw a 27% increase, YoY, being mentioned in 84% of all FP&A roles identified by surveyors. Meanwhile, more traditional finance function duties saw a slight dip in Excel mentions, as controller and accountant ads mentioned Excel 9% and 2% less year over year, respectively.
Compensation
Alongside the dip in CFO compensation comes a sharp rise in accountant salary ranges YoY. Salaries across the board for accounting talent, an area that CFOs across industries have said is a lingering issue, have risen an average of 25%. FP&A talent, an area where many CFOs are beginning to take more of an operational role, also saw similar compensation increases that averaged 20%.
Though compensation figures and turnover rates are highly dependent on size and industry for CFOs, their drop in pay alongside a widespread increase in pay for supporting finance roles reflects the ongoing changes to the duties a CFO role encompasses and raises questions about how the value of these growing demands is quantified within their compensation.
Educational requirements and soft skills
As changes to the 150-hour requirement roll out across different states, the educational makeup of finance teams may change for reasons outside CFOs’ control. However, MBAs and master’s degrees remain consistent YoY in their requirements. FP&A professionals saw slight increases in requests for them, up 19% YoY.
Surveyors note that soft skills are increasingly valuable among all finance roles, further highlighting the importance for business leaders of all types to develop and maintain their intangible leadership skills. Management strategies, communication tactics, critical thinking ability and problem-solving skills make up about half of all keywords in CFO job descriptions.
