Global Finance Leader Study: How Finance can Transform Risk Analytics for a Data-Rich World

Organizations face risks on multiple fronts—from regulatory change to cyberthreats—that potentially compromise the value and growth strategy of the business. Finance leaders play a critical role in ensuring the function contributes to enterprise risk management efforts, by putting in place effective and sustainable capabilities, processes, and tools. However, our recent research report, “Finance Redefined: Workday Global Finance Leader Study,” found that only 39 percent of finance leaders are highly confident in their ability to manage their top risks.

We surveyed more than 670 CFOs and senior finance leaders around the world and across multiple sectors to understand what is affecting confidence when it comes to risk. We found that data and technology were seen as the top two barriers standing between finance and better risk management. For large organizations, the top barrier was a lack of data. For medium-sized enterprises, it was the absence of up-to-date systems. Overall, the key barriers for finance leaders around the world are:

With finance leaders concerned that they lack the data and information to better manage risk, there are a number of priorities for organizations that want to improve their risk resilience:

Capitalize on today’s opportunities. For many companies, valuable data is trapped in legacy systems and organizational silos, making it difficult for finance leaders to identify risks and gain the insights needed to manage a complex risk landscape. Robynne Sisco, co-president and chief financial officer at Workday, explains that while data has always been important, “the technology hasn’t always been there to give us the access and analytics needed to make the most of it.”

Today, with increasing computing power brought on by the cloud and new analytical tools, organizations can extract valuable insights from their ever-increasing volumes of data, including:

• Risk analytics tools that draw upon both internal and external data sources can provide a unique opportunity to understand key risks, from real-time portfolio monitoring to using machine learning algorithms to identify high-risk customers.
• Organizations can utilize unstructured data as well as structured data to drive insights from new sources of information, such as social media.
• Predictive analytics can be used to evaluate patterns within different types of data and thereby identify risks. This might include assessing which customers are more likely to pay their invoices on time or identifying fraud indicators.

But, there is still a significant untapped opportunity here. Our survey found that only 31 percent of finance leaders are making extensive use of advanced data analytics to support risk management. As we have seen, many feel that their current data and systems undermine their efforts. There are also a number of other priorities they must tackle to seize this opportunity, such as finding the risk analytics skills they need and overcoming any organizational barriers or resistance.

Get timely data into the right people’s hands. Just as important is the ability to access real-time data and deliver it to the right people. Advances in technology are making this possible, as Sisco explains: “Putting finance in the cloud provides global access to real-time data, enabling both speed of processing and reaction, so finance departments can get relevant and timely data into the hands of those who need it to make business decisions.”

Rick Rodick, chief financial officer at TELUS International, is focusing closely on making better use of data within the finance function. Rodick hopes that this data will play a role in helping the company achieve more effective risk management. “My biggest concern is what we don’t know,” he comments. “The more data we have and the more informed we are, the better.”

Of course, on top of getting the data into people’s hands, you also need the talent and skills to understand its implications. As Rodick says: “Not knowing is one thing—but even when you get the data, if you’re not understanding it properly, then you’re making some wrong decisions.”

Looking at the survey overall, out-of-date technology emerged as a key barrier. However, we found some notable differences based on the profiles of the finance leaders who responded to our survey, in terms of their age and their career background:

• A group we call “next generation” finance leaders—survey respondents who are aged 39 or younger with significant business experience gained in roles outside finance—point to “a lack of systems and technology to simplify the audit process” as by far the greatest issue.
• In contrast, “traditionalists”—those who are aged 50 or more and who have spent most of their career within the finance function—regarded a broader range of factors as barriers to risk management, including knowledge, skills, and incentives not being aligned with risk objectives.

This suggests that the younger generation of finance leaders are more attuned to the impact of new technologies—and consequently keener for their organizations to take advantage of the opportunities that these technologies bring to better manage risk. This means keeping up to speed with innovative technologies that have the potential to take risk analytics efforts to the next level, such as machine learning techniques.

Our research also found some notable differences in the barriers faced by medium-sized and large enterprises. Medium-sized companies made the fact they “lack a risk culture and mindset” a top two barrier. However, for large organizations, it was the least important problem. Finance leaders in medium-sized organizations need to play a critical role in consistently communicating a clear message about the behaviors and values they expect from their people in terms of managing risk.

For a deeper understanding of the top risks on the minds of CFOs, read the companion article to this piece: “Global Finance Leader Study: Finance Leaders Share the Top Risks that Matter Most.”

For the full research findings behind the “Finance Redefined” global study, read the report here.