Accounting talent shortage eases as layoff fears creep up

The increasing use of AI and offshore outsourcing to help with financial tasks, such as closing the books, is loosening the accounting labor market, experts say.

By Maura Webber Sadovi • Aug. 28, 2025

Work from home reduces ‘motherhood penalty’ in ‘family-unfriendly’ jobs

The expectation of working from home may prompt young women to pursue higher career ambitions, according to a National Bureau of Economic Research study.

By Jim Tyson • Aug. 28, 2025

Explore the Trendline➔

Top 5 stories from CFO Dive

Tarifff headwinds along with the accounting talent shortage and the promises and traps of generative AI, are among the top issues CFOs are grappling with this year.

By CFO Dive staff

Tariffs pose ‘elevated risk’ of unleashing high inflation: Atlanta Fed

“Firms with supply chains that rely on imported goods have revised up their year-ahead [price] expectations markedly,” economists at the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta said.

By Jim Tyson • Aug. 27, 2025

One in four firms report losing above $1M in a fraud attack

Generative artificial intelligence has lowered the barrier for attackers to run sophisticated campaigns at scale, cybersecurity firm Trustmi said.

By Alexei Alexis • Aug. 27, 2025

Consumer confidence dips on anxiety about jobs, income: Conference Board

The average 12-month expectation for inflation jumped to 6.2% this month from 5.7% in July, the Conference Board found in a consumer survey.

By Jim Tyson • Aug. 26, 2025

Jack Daniel’s maker CFO to retire after 4 years in seat

Leanne Cunningham plans to retire from Brown-Forman on May 1. The Louisville, Kentucky-based spirits maker faces pressures from tariffs and changing alcohol consumption habits.

By Maura Webber Sadovi • Aug. 26, 2025

AI agents spark mix of anticipation, skepticism and fear: Workday

Most survey respondents were open to working with AI agents, but only 30% were comfortable with being managed by them.

By Alexei Alexis • Aug. 26, 2025

AI startup reaped millions using bogus claims, FTC suit says

Consumers were told they could earn back tens of thousands of dollars in a matter of days or months, according to the complaint.

By Alexei Alexis • Aug. 26, 2025

Most economists see inflation persisting above 2% through 2026: NABE

Six out of 10 economists deem fiscal policy as “too stimulative,” the largest share in seven years, the National Association for Business Economics found in a survey.

By Jim Tyson • Aug. 25, 2025

Powell clears path for Fed rate cut, flagging labor market weakness

A speech by Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell prompted futures traders to increase the odds that policymakers will trim borrowing costs on Sept. 17.

By Jim Tyson • Aug. 22, 2025

Solid manufacturing, services signal rebounding Q3 growth: S&P Global

Economic growth will likely quicken during the third quarter and expand at a 2.3% annualized rate, the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta said.

By Jim Tyson • Aug. 21, 2025

Cybersecurity startup Horizon3.ai taps new CFO

Founded in 2019, San Francisco-based Horizon3.ai in June completed a $100 million Series D funding round. 

By Maura Webber Sadovi • Aug. 20, 2025

IRS underreports wait times for taxpayers phoning in for help: TIGTA

“More transparency is needed when reporting IRS telephone level of service and average wait time,” the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration said.

By Jim Tyson • Aug. 20, 2025

Rare earth CFO’s financing strategy hinges on auto contracts

The Canada-based mining company Aclara's finance chief is priorizing securing contracts from customers who will use its products in order to secure more than $1 billion in financing.

By Maura Webber Sadovi • Updated Aug. 20, 2025

State data highlight stability in US labor market: San Francisco Fed

Release of a report on gauging employment by the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco precedes an annual Fed meeting in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, titled “Labor Markets in Transition.”

By Jim Tyson • Aug. 19, 2025

State AI rules trigger rising small business angst

Nearly two-thirds of survey respondents said they were worried about potential compliance and litigation costs related to state laws on privacy, AI and technology.

By Alexei Alexis • Aug. 19, 2025

Lax IRS review opened way for Form 941 business fraud: Inspector General

The report identifies errors that preceded a historic agency shakeup this year under the Trump administration.

By Jim Tyson • Aug. 18, 2025

Retail sales rise despite persistent inflation, soft labor market

After robust buying in July, consumer sentiment faltered in August for the first time in four months, according to a University of Michigan survey.

By Jim Tyson • Aug. 15, 2025

CFOs must take ownership of managing culture risks: AuditBoard

When it comes to hedging against cultural risks, CFOs need to “keep their eye on the ball” and make sure the critical players have the resources they need, AuditBoard’s Richard Chambers said.  

By Grace Noto • Aug. 15, 2025

Producer prices rise as high tariff costs trickle through supply chains

“It’s going to take another two to three quarters for tariffs to play through” the inflation data, St. Louis Federal Reserve Bank President Alberto Musalem said.

By Jim Tyson • Updated Aug. 15, 2025

AI cuts monthly financial close time by 7.5 days: MIT/Stanford study

Accounting firms that adopt artificial intelligence can yield “remarkable improvements in productivity, task allocation and reporting quality,” researchers said.

By Jim Tyson • Aug. 13, 2025

Why CFOs must stop treating compensation as a cost

Today’s economic uncertainty presents an opportunity for CFOs to get ahead of competitors struggling with the whiplash of boom-and-bust pay tactics, Payscale’s Philip Watson writes.

By Philip Watson • Aug. 13, 2025

Core inflation heats up to 3.1%, fueled by resurgence in services prices

Despite higher-than-forecast price pressure data, traders in interest rate futures held to their bet that the Federal Reserve will trim the main interest rate next month.

By Jim Tyson • Aug. 12, 2025

Why the EU AI Act could be a wake-up call for US CFOs

Staggered effective dates and uncertainty about which companies must comply could yield fresh financial pressures for CFOs, according to an attorney who specializes in cybersecurity.

By Suman Bhattacharyya • Aug. 12, 2025

Fed to cut rates next month as tariffs give prices one-time spur: survey

A handful of Fed officials have voiced optimism since July that the highest U.S. tariffs since the 1930s will stoke just short-term price pressures.

By Jim Tyson • Aug. 11, 2025