The gap between perception and reality

489 CFOs and finance leaders from Sweden, Norway and Finland share what their reality looks like in this year’s Confessions of a Nordic CFO 2026.

The report shows how finance functions handle a world that keeps shifting: how prepared they feel, what they do when things get serious, what role data and AI play and how open they are with the board. One thing is clear – there is a gap between perception and reality.

• 98% feel affected by the world around them. Only 3 in 10 act in time.
• 1 in 3 lack better data to act quickly.
• 95 percent use AI, but few for better decisions.
• 1 in 3 CFOs are fully open with the board.