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Finance transformation

Taking your finance department to the next level with the latest thinking, articles and case studies on finance function effectiveness, change management, and finance business partnering.

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Latest on finance transformation

Read our latest features and articles on finance transformation topics, including change management, business partnering and finance function effectiveness.
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Eight steps to build a cyber resilient finance function
  • Article
  • 29 Jul 2026
In many cases, the finance function will be cyber attackers’ first port of call. Here are eight tips for bolstering its defences.
A person holding a tablet device displaying various graphs
Four AI agent use cases for finance teams
  • Article
  • 28 Jul 2026
Finance teams who want to adopt agentic AI can start with these four practical use cases to reduce the pressure on finance teams.
The trophies presented as part of the 2026 Finance for the Future Awards on 1 June in London
Finance for the Future 2026 hails champions of resilience
  • Article
  • 02 Jun 2026
Sustainable finance innovators across an array of industries received awards on 1 June recognising their work paving the way for greater resilience across financial decision making.
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How finance leaders can drive growth with AI
  • Article
  • 29 May 2026
An ambitious health startup launched in partnership with David Beckham, supplements brand IM8 is harnessing the power of artificial intelligence to achieve dynamic growth. ICAEW Insights talks to CFO Stephen Lo about how.
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How finance teams can boost their AI skills capabilities
  • Article
  • 15 Apr 2026
Artificial intelligence technologies offer huge potential benefits to finance teams but skills deficits also present significant risks. How should finance teams gear up appropriately?
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Why value creation matters to finance teams
  • Article
  • 13 Apr 2026
The finance function is under more pressure to deliver value for organisations. But what exactly is meant by 'value creation' in the context of finance and how must the profession adapt?
Wind turbines on a wooded hillside at dusk surrounded by clouds
How this aerospace company built resilience through sustainability
  • Article
  • 08 Apr 2026
Supplier outreach, decarbonisation and circularity are just some of the core initiatives that global aerospace company Leonardo is deploying to strengthen its UK business for the long term.
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Three new roles finance teams might expect within the next five years
  • Article
  • 07 Apr 2026
Increasing automation over the past two decades has gradually been transforming finance teams. Since then, AI has taken the world by storm and businesses have been quick to leverage its capabilities, creating potential for new roles within the next five years.
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How to go from finance manager to CFO
  • Article
  • 02 Mar 2026
Adam Lancaster went from Finance Manager to CFO of the Risk Advisory Group in the space of five years. He explains how he got there, including the vital importance of communication skills and the ability to provide strategic direction.
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How has the CFO role evolved? Have your say
  • Article
  • 12 Feb 2026
The International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants (IESBA) has launched two extended global stakeholder surveys aimed at CFOs and equivalent senior finance leaders.

Webinars

Exclusive The reality of transformation – real world experiences and practical insights
  • Webinar
  • 04 Jun 2026
Discover firsthand lessons from experts who have led transformation programmes: the successes and the pitfalls.
Exclusive The human side of transformation - never forget about the people!
  • Webinar
  • 18 Mar 2026
Successful transformation in a rapidly changing world depends not just on systems and processes, but on people driving and sustaining change.
Exclusive Making system changes work for SMEs
  • Webinar
  • 04 Feb 2026
A product-neutral guide to the key steps SME leaders need to manage system changes — from discovery to implementation.
Exclusive Delivering a technology transformation to maximise areas such as AI transformation
  • Webinar
  • 06 Nov 2025
Neil Cutting explores different perspectives to consider when utilising technology and AI to drive efficiency and effectiveness improvements to the finance team.
Transformation series: Delivering a finance function transformation
  • Webinar
  • 17 Oct 2024
Practical advice on successfully delivering a finance function transformation.
Design and deliver your transformation programme
  • Hub page
  • 19 Jul 2024
Organisations are dealing with ongoing changes, and finance leaders are often tasked with leading transformation programmes that may not be related to finance, resulting in uncertainty about where to begin.
More webinars

Reports

Exclusive SR72 The aspiring CFO
  • Report
  • 2021
  • PDF (1,950kb)
A practical, realistic, hands-on and immense learning opportunity of all you need to know to become the CFO
Exclusive Off payroll working - A user guide
  • Helpsheets and support
  • 2021
  • PDF (241kb)
This practical guide explains the off-payrolling rules as they apply to medium and large businesses.
Exclusive Special Report 68: Commercial Insight
  • Report
  • 2020
  • PDF (1,761kb)
This special report explores how to be more commercial to add value and generate profit for your firm.
Internet of things and accounting
  • Thought leadership report
  • 2019
  • PDF (312kb)
To find out how businesses and accountants are approaching this powerful new technology, we partnered with the Shanghai National Accounting Institute and Inspur to talk to IT, operations and finance professionals across China, which is playing a leading role in the development of the IoT.
Exclusive Special Report 65 - Smart Reporting
  • Report
  • 2019
  • PDF (1,597kb)
This special report will be a handy go-to guide – we take you through the latest techniques and thinking behind the new smart world with which CFOs, and aspiring CFOs, must contend.
Finance business partnering - a guide
  • Thought leadership report
  • 2018
  • PDF (2,833kb)
This report provides practical advice for those considering business partnering initiatives and those looking to improve their approach.
Exclusive Special Report 59: Finance and Technology
  • Report
  • 2017
  • PDF (5,640kb)
This month’s report looks at the impact and influence that technology is having on our roles in finance.
Exclusive Special Report 58: Courageous Leadership
  • Report
  • 2017
  • PDF (1,654kb)
Courage is one of the skills that great leaders are deemed to need and perhaps the most important. This report covers the key areas that leaders might want to focus on.
More reports

eBooks

The ICAEW Library & Information Service provides full text access to a selection of key business and reference eBooks from leading publishers. eBooks are available to logged-in ICAEW members, ACA students and other entitled users. If you are unable to access an eBook, please see our Help and support advice or contact library@icaew.com.

Exclusive Chief financial officer and corporate performance: finance, governance and risk
  • eBook
  • 2024
  • Elżbieta Bukalska, Anna Wawryszuk-Misztal, Tomasz Sosnowski
  • Routledge
This book firstly provides theoretical issues on financial management and the results of previous research, while the second part is empirical, showing the methodology and results of the authors' research. The book also examines CFO power. It highlights the importance of the position of financial managers in companies.
Exclusive Being the business partner
  • eBook chapter
  • 2017
  • Sally Percy
  • Bloomsbury
A chapter on business partnering for finance professionals who want to progress in senior roles. Topics include: building relationships with other departments; working with the CEO; working with entrepreneurs; working with private equity firms; working with clients; working in the not-for-profit sector; presenting to the board; relationships with investors; relationships with the auditor, banks and credit rating agencies; media relations and managing cost-saving programmes.
Exclusive Building a resilient organisation
  • eBook
  • 2014
  • James Crask, Charley Newnham, Jack Armstrong, Paul Robertson
  • ICSA Publishing
How to build a prosperous and sustainable business.
Terms of use

You are permitted to access, download, copy, or print out content from eBooks for your own research or study only, subject to the terms of use set by our suppliers and any restrictions imposed by individual publishers. Please see individual supplier pages for full terms of use.

More eBooks

Online magazines

AB: Accounting and Business
  • Website
  • ACCA
A magazine for finance professionals produced by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA). Includes news, analysis and technical updates.
Acuity
  • Website
  • Chartered Accountants Australia & New Zealand
Bimonthly magazine from Chartered Accountants Australia & New Zealand (CA ANZ). Includes news, opinion and analysis on issues relating to accountancy, business and finance.
CFO
  • Website
  • Industry Dive
Online publication aimed at CFOs, publishing news, opinion and analysis.
Financial Accountant
  • Website
  • Redactive Publishing Ltd.
The official magazine of the Institute of Financial Accountants, published six times a year. Features news, opinion pieces and articles on general topics such as health and wellbeing.
Strategic Finance
  • Website
  • Institute of Management Accountants
Monthly magazine from the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA) in the US, written with the practitioner in mind. Includes news, opinion, analysis and careers advice aimed at accountants and financial professionals in business.
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