CCI staff share recent surveys, reports and analysis on risk, compliance, governance, infosec and leadership issues. Share details of your survey with us: editor@corporatecomplianceinsights.com.
Just 27% of companies using AI in connection with defined strategy
Global finance leaders are rapidly accelerating their teams’ use of AI, according to a new survey by Protiviti, which showed that 72% of finance organizations are using the technology, a dramatic increase from 34% the previous year.
The consulting firm’s survey of more than 900 finance leaders, including CFOs, vice presidents of finance and other finance directors and managers, indicated that process automation (66%), financial forecasting (58%) and risk assessment and management (57%) are the most common tasks for which companies are relying on AI.
While most finance functions are using AI, strategic planning is lagging for many, the survey found. Only 27% of respondents said their organizations are using a “pursuant to a defined strategy,” while 45% are using it but not yet in concert with a clear strategy. Additionally, publicly traded companies appear far ahead, with 23% of respondents in these firms rating their AI maturity at one of the two highest levels compared to just 9% of those in privately held firms.
A few other findings:
- Only 41% of CFOs and finance leaders express high confidence in their organization’s ability to navigate current global economic challenges.
- 39% of finance leaders say their financial planning and analysis practices need greater attention due to tariff pressures, with 64% reporting moderate impacts on forecasting capabilities.
- Organizations are responding to tariff challenges by strengthening supplier communication (60%) and enhancing supplier risk management oversight (52%).
Only 8% of US professionals stick to standard office hours as workload pressures mount
Fewer than one in 10 US professionals (8%) adhere to their core office hours, with 41% starting earlier or finishing later daily and 38% working hours dependent on workload, according to new research from recruitment firm Robert Walters. The findings highlight mounting pressure on workers as employers maintain hiring restrictions while expecting sustained productivity levels.
Catching up on work or meeting deadlines drives 64% of professionals to work beyond usual hours, while 25% cite the need to communicate with teams across different time zones. The data reveals a stark shift from traditional 9-to-5 schedules, with 32% of workers now describing their current workload as “heavy” and “demanding.”
The pressure extends beyond office hours, with 66% of US professionals checking emails during paid time off to reduce backlogs upon return, the survey showed.
Other key findings:
- 21% of US employers admit to redistributing work among existing staff due to skills shortages.
- 31% of employers are hiring less skilled professionals to fill talent gaps rather than competing for top talent.
- 44% of workers want employers to trial “power hours,” or specific blocks of interruption-free time to boost productivity.
80% of corporate employers offer hybrid work
Most corporate employers (80%) offer hybrid work schedules, reflecting a dramatic expansion in flexible work arrangements since the Covid -19 pandemic, according to a survey by the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans. The shift represents a fundamental change in workplace policies, with hybrid and fully remote options now ranking among the top three most frequently offered arrangements.
Beyond hybrid schedules, 62% of organizations offer flexible work hours, 53% provide fully remote options and 43% allow part-time schedules. The most common hybrid policy requires employees to work two days remote and three days in the office, with 83% of respondents allowing employees to work different hybrid schedules based on their roles.
Other key findings:
- Among organizations offering fully remote work, 36% report that 10% or less of employees work remotely full-time.
- Enhancing worker morale motivates 61% of employers to offer flexibility, up from 24% in 2017.
- Workplace culture concerns are among leading barriers, with 45% saying their culture values in-person interaction.
