More than a third (35%) of C-suite respondents believe finance and accounting (F&A) is failing to keep up with other areas of the business when it comes to digital transformation.

A global survey of 1,150 C-suite executives and finance professionals commissioned by BlackLine, a provider of financial controls and automation software, suggests that talent acquisition and retention are high on the agenda as companies seek to implement more aggressive growth strategies post-pandemic. 

However, it also identifies a major skills gap that threatens F&A’s ability to provide the consultancy, analysis, planning and due diligence required to support these broader business goals.

With close to a third (32%) of C-suite respondents saying they are planning to focus more on international markets for growth and acquisitions and a similar number (31%) planning to be more aggressive when it comes to acquisitive growth over the next 12 months, skills will be critical.