The finance skills that are becoming more and more critical in the AI age

Companies are increasingly prioritizing finance skills in the AI era, according to Heidrick & Struggles' 2026 Skills Index. The top five most in-demand skills include financial controls, accounting, and audit, followed by project management, financial planning, analysis, and modeling. This reflects the need for clarity, execution, and stability during leadership changes, transactions, and transformations, as well as economic uncertainty, selective capital environments, market volatility, and rapid technological change due to AI.

Sunny Ackerman, global managing partner of on-demand talent at Heidrick & Struggles, explained that companies are navigating many competing priorities, making financial leadership critical. Notably, no AI-specific skill appears in the top 15 list, indicating AI is being integrated into every function rather than treated as a standalone initiative.

Instead, the fastest-growing skills in the index are advanced analytics (350% growth), database architecture and data management (150% growth), and process optimization and transformation (147% growth). This suggests organizations value leaders who can connect data, technology, and business operations to drive outcomes. The index also highlights a shift towards interim leadership, with finance leaders accounting for 51% of all interim leadership requests.

This underscores the critical role finance leaders play during periods of uncertainty and change, providing visibility, financial discipline, and strategic guidance to help organizations navigate complexity with confidence.