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Corporate Finance Faces Growing AI Skills and Gender Gaps Amid Rising Tech Demands, Study Finds

A OneStream study reveals a growing AI skills gap in corporate finance, with confidence dropping as professionals advance. Gender and generational divides also affect AI adoption.

3 min read
Finance
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AI Skills Gap in Corporate Finance: A Growing Concern

A recent study by enterprise finance management platform OneStream highlights a significant AI talent and skills gap in corporate finance. The research shows a clear decline in AI readiness from college-age finance students to senior finance professionals, raising alarms at a time when AI-driven finance is crucial for business growth.

The study surveyed 2,504 participants across the U.S. and the U.K., including both finance students and current professionals. It found that while AI adoption is increasing, experience and confidence in AI use drop sharply as professionals advance in their careers. This divide threatens the ability of finance teams to leverage AI effectively.

Key Findings on AI Use and Readiness

  • Two-thirds (66%) of corporate finance professionals currently use AI at work.
  • 86% of all respondents expect to use AI tools somewhat often in their careers, with 33% anticipating heavy reliance.
  • Despite growing AI engagement among college grads, only 57% of finance professionals believe new hires should have tech skills beyond accounting.
  • 11% of professionals wish they had AI and machine learning skills when they started their careers.

Confidence in AI readiness varies significantly by experience level. Nearly 9 in 10 finance students feel prepared to use AI, but this confidence drops to 63% among young professionals and just 54% for senior professionals with over 10 years of experience.

Generational Technology Divide and Its Impact

More than half (57%) of current finance professionals report a technology divide between generations in their organizations. The main issues include:

  • AI skills gap (44%)
  • Rapid pace of technology changes (44%)
  • Concerns about AI replacing finance tasks (40%)

Gender Gap in AI Adoption

The study reveals a notable gender gap in AI adoption and confidence. Men report higher AI usage and preparedness compared to women in finance roles.

  • 71% of men use AI at least somewhat often at work versus 61% of women.
  • Among young professionals, 69% of men feel ready to use AI compared to 56% of women.
  • 30% of young women see automation and AI as major career challenges in the next decade.

This divide extends to finance students:

  • 68% of male students expect to rely heavily on AI, while only 12% of female students expect the same.
  • 91% of male students anticipate using AI somewhat, versus 81% of female students.
  • 65% of female students feel they have enough AI experience, compared to 93% of male students.

Career Appeal vs. Reality in Finance

Despite economic uncertainties, finance remains an attractive career path. Top motivators include:

  • Job stability (63%)
  • High salary (57%)
  • Clear career growth roadmap (55%)

However, perceptions about workload and burnout differ between students and professionals.

  • 79% of students expect to work less than 40 hours per week.
  • Only 15% of students associate finance careers with long hours, and 16% with burnout.
  • In contrast, 58% of professionals work 40+ hours weekly, and 57% have experienced burnout.
  • Work-life balance (44%) and burnout (35%) are top reasons for turnover on finance teams.

Only half of current professionals believe new graduates are prepared for the realities of finance roles. The most sought-after skills for new hires include:

  • Technical acumen (22%)
  • Strong work ethic (21%)
  • Business strategy and problem solving (20%)

Addressing the AI Skills Gap

Closing the AI readiness gap requires focused investment in training and modern finance tools. Early training programs can empower finance professionals to manage AI confidently and focus on strategic decision-making.

For finance professionals looking to enhance their AI skills, exploring targeted courses can be a practical step. Resources like Complete AI Training’s latest AI courses offer focused learning paths that bridge knowledge gaps and boost workplace readiness.

Equipping finance teams with the right AI skills is not just about technology adoption—it’s about preparing professionals to lead effectively in a changing landscape and reduce burnout through smarter workflows.

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