OCFO Focus: Driving Digital Transformation
By Chris Stock, Percipient
Chris Stock, Managing Director of Percipient, looks at the importance of the right digital platform, people, and mindset in driving a new intelligence-led future focused on innovation and value creation.
The Evolving Role of the OCFO
The Office of the CFO (OCFO) has undergone a dramatic shift. Once the custodians of spreadsheets, today’s CFOs are expected to be value creators, intelligence gatherers, and strategic leaders. Their focus has moved beyond simply reporting numbers; now it’s about leveraging real-time insights to inform strategy, accelerate decision-making, and steer the business through constant change.
This evolution opens up enormous opportunities, but it also introduces significant challenges. Success depends on three critical pillars: the right platform, the right people, and the right mindset.
The Right Platform
Trying to manage digital transformation on spreadsheets or outdated systems is like attempting space travel in a propeller plane. Purely transactional accounting software can no longer keep pace with the demands of the modern finance function.
Today’s OCFO needs technology that not only processes data but also delivers fast, actionable insights. A connected finance platform — integrated with core business systems — is essential for visibility, confidence, and intelligent decision-making.
The Right People
Technology alone won’t deliver transformation. People are the driving force behind change. Without a team equipped and motivated to embrace new ways of working, transformation will stall.
Building the right team starts with clarity. Define new roles, set expectations early, and involve people in the journey. Transparency, feedback, and celebrating quick wins all help secure buy-in. Collaboration is key: when finance and the wider business work together, transformation accelerates.
The Right Mindset
The pace of disruption is relentless. To succeed, CFOs must embrace change with a forward-thinking mindset. Outdated processes and legacy thinking no longer fit the needs of today’s market.
With the right mindset, technology, and people, CFOs can unlock enormous benefits: greater efficiency, improved performance, and more fulfilling roles within finance teams. Collaboration and visibility fuel this shift, enabling CFOs to take a proactive role in board-level decision-making, supported by real-time analytics across the organisation.
Elevating Potential
Transformation isn’t just about tools and systems; it’s about unlocking human potential. With the correct methodology and change management plan, CFOs can successfully align digital platforms, people, and culture to drive innovation and deliver measurable business value.
The modern OCFO represents a shift in focus: from number-crunching to strategic empowerment. It’s about automating the routine, elevating people’s contributions, and ensuring finance plays a central role in shaping the future of the business.
Take the Next Step
At Percipient, we help CFOs and finance teams lead with confidence by combining cutting-edge digital platforms with the expertise and support needed to drive meaningful transformation.
Get in touch or call us today on 01606 871332, or visit our customer success stories to see how we can help you transform your finance function. The future of finance is already here — let’s build it together.