Only 3% of finance leaders are skeptical of future AI payoffs, survey finds

Artificial intelligence adoption inside the finance function is accelerating as investor-backed companies push CFOs to improve operational efficiency, modernize reporting environments and support an increasingly active M&A market.

Only 3% of finance leaders surveyed by an accounting software firm said they remain skeptical about future AI payoffs, while more than 75% of AI investments in finance are already generating positive returns within 12 months, according to the firm’s 2026 CFO Report released this week.

The report surveyed 102 financial leaders from venture capital and private equity investor-backed companies and found that AI adoption has reached 97% across finance departments, up from 76% in 2025.

More than two-fifths (42%) of respondents said AI is now broadly or fully embedded across their finance organizations, double the level reported a year earlier. See more findings.