One in 3 finance professionals do not want to become CFOs

Robert Walters research finds work-life balance, skills gaps and pressure are turning many finance professionals away from the CFO path, even as the role becomes more attractive to others. The findings raise fresh concerns about how companies will build the next generation of finance leaders.

Why it matters: - Robert Walters’ research points to a potential pipeline problem for future finance chiefs. - Nearly half of finance professionals say their current roles are not building the experience needed for a CFO post. - Companies may need to rethink how they develop, expose and retain future finance leaders.

What happened: - Robert Walters surveyed finance professionals and found 32% do not want to become CFOs. - Just 36% said they definitely want the top job. - The research was released Oct. 13, 2026, from New York.

The details: - Work-life balance is the biggest deterrent, cited by 49% of respondents. - Skills and experience requirements are a barrier for 25%. - Pressure and accountability were named by 21%. - 47% said their current role is not giving them the experience needed to become a CFO. - 30% said they are gaining the required experience. - Board-level exposure and leading transformation were the hardest capabilities to build, cited by 39%. - Commercial strategy was next at 16%. - Only 7% pointed to AI and technology as hard-to-build capabilities. - More than a third, 36%, said mentoring from leaders would best prepare them for a CFO role. - Cross-functional career moves followed at 35%. - Broader responsibilities were selected by 22%. - Just 7% chose formal training. - The company said traditional routes into CFO roles are broadening, with leaders now coming from internal finance leadership, investment banking, private equity and broader commercial roles. - More than half, 56%, said the CFO role has become more attractive over the past five years. - 42% said it has become less attractive. - Robert Walters is a global talent solutions firm with more than 2,900 people in 29 countries. - The company offers recruitment, recruitment process outsourcing, talent advisory and consultancy services. - Robert Walters’ website is more information.

Between the lines: - The data suggests the CFO job is becoming more visible and strategic, but also more demanding. - The biggest gaps are not classroom skills; they are exposure, judgment and leadership experience. - That means employers may need to create earlier pathways into board interaction and business-wide responsibility.

What's next: - Robert Walters is urging employers to give rising finance leaders mentoring, cross-functional moves and broader responsibilities earlier. - Companies that do that may widen the pool of candidates ready for CFO roles when vacancies open. - Businesses that do not may face a thinner and less prepared leadership bench.

The bottom line: - The CFO role still attracts many finance professionals, but work-life balance and missing experience are weakening the talent pipeline.