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A recent study by BlackLine has revealed that delays in digital transformation within finance and accounting departments are negatively impacting organisations' growth ambitions, and potentially harming their corporate reputation.
Despite concerns among UK-based C-suite and senior finance and accounting leaders, two thirds admitted their organisations had delayed or postponed transformation initiatives due to the US Presidential Election in November 2025.
This insight comes from a survey of more than 1,300 C-suite executives and senior finance and accounting professionals, including 151 from the UK.
The survey found that 37% of these professionals in the UK believe that delays in digital transformation are hindering their ability to compete.
Meanwhile, 34% feel such challenges limit their agility in a volatile global economy.
Furthermore, 44% of respondents indicated that these delays make them susceptible to errors that could damage their corporate reputation.
Four in ten finance leaders also expressed concern that such delays could undermine their organisation’s financial resilience.
BlackLine Europe SVP and GM Philippe Omer Decugis said: "Transformation delays are not just a minor setback; they pose a significant risk to both competitiveness and corporate reputation. But with many organisations choosing to delay or stall initiatives in recent months, they risk leaving themselves being left behind.
“There is no time like the now to modernise and enact on full-scale digital transformation, including across the Office of the CFO. Despite the complex external landscape around us, global businesses need to be agile and resilient enough for whatever may be around the corner. Only by prioritising and accelerating digital transformation efforts to build future-ready financial operations can this be ensured.”
Looking forward, nearly 30% of senior finance and accounting leaders emphasise the importance of investing in scalable technology for business success this year, surpassing the 28% who prioritise the effective implementation of AI initiatives.
Moreover, previous research by BlackLine has shown that nearly 40% of CFOs globally lack complete trust in the accuracy of their organisation's financial data, posing significant challenges for strategic decision-making.
Additionally, low confidence in cash flow visibility compounds the difficulty for organisations to adapt to unforeseen market shifts.
"Digital delays in finance and accounting affect growth" was originally created and published by International Accounting Bulletin, a GlobalData owned brand.