AI Sparks New Hope for Nordic CFOs
Updated: December 8, 2025, 09:35 AM
Published: November 3, 2025, 09:00 AM
Nordic CFOs are grappling with slow processes, manual routines, and a lack of reliable data. Simultaneously, they face increasing pressure to make real-time decisions, ideally supported by artificial intelligence. A new report from Hypergene reveals that CFOs are seeking smarter, faster, and more dependable planning solutions. Erik Thelander, CPO, emphasizes the clear desire among finance leaders to reduce manual labor and have complete confidence in their data.
As the pace of the business world accelerates, the demands on finance functions become increasingly complex. Despite the abundance of available data, many Nordic CFOs are trapped in time-consuming planning cycles and juggling multiple Excel versions, according to Erik Thelander. Hypergene’s report, “Confessions of a Nordic CFO,” surveyed 438 finance executives from Sweden, Norway, and Finland, painting a clear picture: current tools are not meeting their needs.
“Many CFOs express frustration that their systems don’t support the required speed,” Thelander states. “They want to simulate different scenarios and act proactively, but today, this often requires manual intervention.”
Uncertainty Slows Progress
The report indicates that finance functions are on the cusp of a technological shift. Nearly half of the respondents identify AI as the primary driver of change in the coming years. However, despite the immense potential, progress is hampered by uncertainty surrounding the best ways to implement this technology.
“There is a desire to use AI to predict outcomes, identify anomalies, and make faster decisions,” Thelander explains. “However, many CFOs lack clear guidelines on how to use the technology safely, effectively, and in a value-creating way. This requires both skills development and smarter system support.”
The Need for a Unified Database
Thelander highlights a recurring theme in the report: the need for shared, reliable data. Many CFOs report still managing multiple versions of the same budget, leading to errors and wasted time.
“The role of the finance function is evolving from simply reporting to driving the business forward. Therefore, decisions must be based on reliable data,” Thelander asserts. “This requires modern planning tools that integrate analysis, reporting, and follow-up into a single solution.” He emphasizes Hypergene’s conclusion: the CFO of the future doesn’t need more spreadsheets; they need better insights.
“When planning becomes faster and more intelligent, the CFO can focus on what truly creates value: guiding the business toward better decisions,” he concludes.
About Confessions of a Nordic CFO
The “Confessions of a Nordic CFO” report was created by Hypergene, a company with over 20 years of experience in financial planning and analysis (FP&A) and project and portfolio management (PPM). The study is based on responses from 438 CFOs or equivalent titles in Sweden, Norway, and Finland, who answered 16 questions about their daily routines, challenges, and perspectives on the future of financial management.
This article was produced by Brand Studio in collaboration with Hypergene.
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