AI Talent Gap in Corporate Finance: OneStream Study

In today’s fast-evolving corporate landscape, artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer a futuristic concept—it’s a vital tool reshaping how finance teams operate, strategize, and drive business value. A recent study by OneStream, a leading enterprise finance platform, has spotlighted a growing tension in this transformation: while AI adoption in corporate finance is accelerating, a significant talent and skills gap threatens to slow progress. As we step into 2025, this gap isn’t just a minor hurdle; it’s a pivotal challenge that could determine which companies lead the pack and which fall behind. ### Unveiling the AI Talent and Skills Gap in Corporate Finance OneStream’s study, conducted between late March and April 2025, surveyed finance professionals across industries and geographies to assess their AI capabilities and readiness. The findings were eye-opening: while 82% of finance leaders acknowledged AI as critical to their future strategy, only 34% felt their teams possessed the necessary AI skills to fully harness these technologies[1]. This stark discrepancy underscores a widespread issue—companies are investing heavily in AI tools but struggle to find or cultivate talent proficient in AI-driven finance processes. Why does this gap matter so much? Because corporate finance is no longer just about crunching numbers and closing books. Today, it’s about leveraging AI for predictive analytics, scenario planning, real-time decision-making, and strategic forecasting. Without the right talent, organizations risk underutilizing these cutting-edge capabilities, leaving money on the table and strategic opportunities unrealized. ### The Context: AI’s Expanding Role in Corporate Finance To grasp the full weight of this talent gap, we need to understand how AI is revolutionizing finance functions. Traditionally, finance teams have been burdened with repetitive, time-consuming tasks—reconciliations, consolidations, and historical reporting. AI technologies, from machine learning algorithms to generative AI, are automating these processes with unprecedented efficiency and accuracy. For instance, OneStream’s Digital Finance Cloud integrates AI to unify financial and operational data, enabling CFOs to move beyond backward-looking reports and steer their businesses with forward-looking insights[1]. CFOs like OneStream’s own have highlighted generative AI as a growth driver for 2025, emphasizing its potential to make finance teams “more insightful and more analytic”[2]. By automating mundane tasks, AI frees finance professionals to focus on value-added activities like strategic analysis and business partnering. Moreover, AI-driven financial forecasting and scenario planning are becoming game changers. As detailed by OneStream in early 2025, these AI capabilities equip CFOs with agility and precision, enabling them to anticipate market shifts and optimize resource allocation dynamically[3]. This is especially critical in today’s volatile economic environment, where rapid changes demand swift, data-driven responses. ### Data-Backed Insights: The Skills Shortage in Numbers Delving deeper into the OneStream study, the skills gap isn’t just a vague concern—it’s quantifiable. Among key findings: - **Only 28%** of corporate finance teams currently use AI-powered forecasting tools regularly, despite 65% planning to adopt them within the next year[1]. - **45%** of finance professionals reported that lack of AI training and expertise is the top barrier to implementation. - Nearly **60%** of CFOs surveyed expressed concern that their teams’ AI knowledge is not keeping pace with technological advancements. - The demand for hybrid skills—combining finance expertise with AI and data science—is growing rapidly, yet supply remains limited. These numbers paint a clear picture: companies understand AI’s transformative potential but are struggling to bridge the talent divide required to realize it fully. ### Why the Gap Exists: Challenges in AI Talent Acquisition and Development Several factors contribute to this widening skills gap: - **Rapid AI Evolution:** The pace at which AI technologies evolve outstrips traditional training programs. What was cutting-edge a year ago may be obsolete today. - **Talent War Across Industries:** High demand for AI and data science skills across sectors means finance teams compete with tech giants, startups, and consulting firms for scarce talent. - **Legacy Mindsets and Systems:** Many finance organizations still operate on legacy infrastructure and processes, making AI adoption and skills integration more complex. - **Lack of Tailored Finance AI Education:** Existing AI training often focuses on generic data science, lacking finance-specific applications and context that professionals need. ### Real-World Impact: Companies Leading and Lagging in AI Adoption Some enterprises are already reaping the benefits of addressing this skills gap head-on. Take, for example, global manufacturing firms that have integrated AI into their financial planning cycles. By investing in upskilling their finance teams with AI literacy and partnering with AI vendors like OneStream, they’ve cut forecasting errors by up to 30%, improved cash flow visibility, and accelerated financial close processes[1][3]. Contrast this with companies that have delayed AI adoption or failed to train their staff properly. They often face slower month-end closes, less accurate forecasts, and missed strategic opportunities—issues that can directly impact their competitive position and investor confidence. ### How Companies Can Close the AI Skills Gap in Corporate Finance Addressing this challenge requires a multifaceted approach: - **Strategic Hiring:** Target candidates with hybrid skills in finance and AI or data science. Internships and partnerships with universities focusing on AI applications in finance can build a pipeline. - **Ongoing Education:** Invest in continuous learning platforms tailored to finance professionals, emphasizing practical AI tools like predictive analytics, scenario planning, and automation. - **Cross-Functional Collaboration:** Foster collaboration between finance, IT, and data science teams to share knowledge and co-develop AI solutions. - **Leverage AI Vendors:** Platforms like OneStream not only provide AI-powered tools but also partner with clients to offer training and best practices, helping finance teams become self-sufficient in AI usage[1]. - **Cultural Change:** Embrace a culture of innovation and agility within finance departments, encouraging experimentation with AI and rewarding data-driven decision-making. ### The Future Outlook: AI’s Strategic Role in Corporate Finance Looking ahead, AI’s integration into corporate finance is set to deepen. Analysts predict that by 2030, nearly 90% of finance processes will incorporate some form of AI, from automated compliance to sophisticated risk modeling. CFOs will increasingly act as strategic leaders empowered by AI insights, shaping company direction in real time. However, this future hinges on closing today’s talent gap. Without skilled professionals who understand both finance and AI, companies risk underleveraging their investments in technology. The talent challenge is also an opportunity—those organizations that prioritize AI education and skill-building will not only survive but thrive. ### Conclusion: Taking Finance Further with AI and Talent The OneStream study throws down a gauntlet for corporate finance leaders in 2025: AI is a critical enabler of future success, but it demands a new breed of talent. Bridging the AI skills gap isn’t optional—it’s essential for companies that want to innovate, compete, and lead. As someone who’s watched the AI journey in finance unfold over the last decade, I’m convinced that the winners will be those who combine cutting-edge technology with empowered, AI-literate finance teams. The data is clear, the tools are ready, and the time to act is now. --- **