OneStream Global Study Finds Women Take Longer to Reach CFO Seat; But, Once There, Deliver Performance Returns, Lead in Digital Adoption
OneStream (NYSE:OS) has released a comprehensive global study revealing significant insights about women CFOs and their impact on business performance. The study, analyzing data from 1,146 finance leaders, shows that companies led by women CFOs deliver an impressive 4.5% annualized shareholder return, outperforming industry benchmarks by 0.2% annually across Europe, the UK, and US.
Key findings show women take 3+ years longer to reach CFO positions, with 35% following non-linear career paths. The research highlights that 83% of women CFOs believe automation is enabling new expertise in finance leadership, though only 24% currently rely significantly on AI tools. Underperforming firms have experienced a 10% performance uplift after appointing women CFOs, demonstrating their positive impact on business outcomes.
OneStream (NYSE:OS) ha pubblicato uno studio globale approfondito che rivela importanti informazioni sulle donne CFO e sul loro impatto sulle performance aziendali. L’analisi, basata su dati di 1.146 responsabili finanziari, mostra che le società guidate da donne CFO offrono un notevole rendimento azionario annualizzato del 4,5%, superando i benchmark di settore di 0,2% all’anno in Europa, Regno Unito e Stati Uniti.
I principali riscontri indicano che le donne impiegano oltre 3 anni in più per raggiungere la posizione di CFO, con il 35% che segue percorsi di carriera non lineari. La ricerca evidenzia che l’83% delle donne CFO ritiene che l’automazione stia favorendo nuove competenze nella leadership finanziaria, sebbene solo il 24% faccia attualmente un uso significativo di strumenti di IA. Le aziende con performance insoddisfacenti hanno registrato un aumento del 10% delle performance dopo la nomina di donne CFO, dimostrando il loro impatto positivo sui risultati aziendali.
OneStream (NYSE:OS) ha publicado un estudio global exhaustivo que revela datos relevantes sobre las mujeres CFO y su impacto en el rendimiento empresarial. El análisis, basado en datos de 1.146 líderes financieros, muestra que las empresas dirigidas por mujeres CFO generan un impresionante retorno anualizado para los accionistas del 4,5%, superando los referentes del sector en 0,2% anual en Europa, Reino Unido y Estados Unidos.
Las conclusiones clave indican que las mujeres tardan más de 3 años en alcanzar puestos de CFO, con un 35% que sigue trayectorias profesionales no lineales. La investigación destaca que el 83% de las mujeres CFO considera que la automatización está posibilitando nuevas competencias en el liderazgo financiero, aunque solo el 24% utiliza actualmente herramientas de IA de manera significativa. Las empresas con bajo rendimiento han experimentado una mejora del 10% en su desempeño tras nombrar a mujeres CFO, demostrando su impacto positivo en los resultados empresariales.
OneStream (NYSE:OS)는 여성 최고재무책임자(CFO)와 이들의 기업 성과에 대한 중요한 통찰을 밝히는 포괄적 글로벌 연구를 발표했습니다. 1,146명의 재무 리더 데이터를 분석한 결과, 여성 CFO가 이끄는 기업은 연간 4.5%의 주주 수익률을 기록해 유럽, 영국 및 미국 전역의 업계 벤치마크를 연간 0.2% 포인트 상회하는 것으로 나타났습니다.
주요 결과에 따르면 여성은 CFO 직위에 오르기까지 3년 이상 더 오래 걸리며, 35%는 비선형 경력 경로를 밟았습니다. 연구는 여성 CFO의 83%가 자동화가 재무 리더십에서 새로운 전문성을 가능하게 한다고 믿는 반면, 현재는 단지 24%만이 AI 도구에 크게 의존하고 있다고 강조합니다. 실적이 저조했던 기업들은 여성 CFO 임명 이후 실적이 10% 향상되어 이들의 긍정적 영향을 보여주었습니다.
OneStream (NYSE:OS) a publié une étude mondiale approfondie révélant des informations significatives sur les femmes directrices financières (CFO) et leur impact sur la performance des entreprises. L’étude, analysant les données de 1 146 responsables financiers, montre que les entreprises dirigées par des CFO femmes offrent un impressionnant rendement annualisé pour les actionnaires de 4,5%, dépassant les références du secteur de 0,2% par an en Europe, au Royaume‑Uni et aux États‑Unis.
Les conclusions principales indiquent que les femmes mettent plus de 3 ans supplémentaires pour accéder au poste de CFO, 35% d’entre elles suivant des parcours professionnels non linéaires. La recherche souligne que 83% des CFO femmes estiment que l’automatisation permet de développer de nouvelles compétences en leadership financier, bien que seulement 24% s’appuient actuellement de manière significative sur des outils d’IA. Les entreprises en sous‑performance ont connu une amélioration de 10% de leurs résultats après la nomination de CFO femmes, démontrant leur impact positif sur les performances commerciales.
OneStream (NYSE:OS) hat eine umfassende globale Studie veröffentlicht, die bedeutende Erkenntnisse über weibliche CFOs und ihren Einfluss auf die Unternehmensleistung liefert. Die Untersuchung, die Daten von 1.146 Finanzverantwortlichen analysiert, zeigt, dass Unternehmen, die von weiblichen CFOs geführt werden, eine beeindruckende annualisierte Aktionärsrendite von 4,5% erzielen und damit die Branchen-Benchmarks in Europa, Großbritannien und den USA um 0,2% pro Jahr übertreffen.
Wesentliche Ergebnisse zeigen, dass Frauen über 3 Jahre länger benötigen, um CFO-Positionen zu erreichen, wobei 35% nichtlineare Karrierewege einschlagen. Die Forschung hebt hervor, dass 83% der weiblichen CFOs glauben, Automatisierung ermögliche neue Fachkompetenzen in der Finanzführung, obwohl derzeit nur 24% erheblich auf KI-Tools setzen. Unterdurchschnittlich performende Unternehmen verzeichneten nach der Ernennung weiblicher CFOs eine Leistungssteigerung von 10%, was deren positiven Einfluss auf Geschäftsergebnisse belegt.
- None.
- Women take 3+ years longer to reach CFO positions compared to industry average
- Only 24% of women finance leaders currently rely significantly on AI tools, showing a technology adoption gap
- Women face structural barriers including workplace politics and limited access to mentorship
- Economic downturns disproportionately affect women's advancement to CFO positions
Study finds women CFOs delivered
- Women take ~3+ years longer to reach CFO seat, and over a third follow a non-linear path to the role
- Companies led by women CFOs delivered ~
4.5% annualized shareholder return during their tenure - Underperforming firms have seen a
10% performance uplift after appointing a woman CFO 83% of women CFOs say automation, particularly AI, is enabling new expertise and pathways into finance leadership75% of women finance leaders identify digital literacy and strategic leadership as important skills for the future CFO role; yet only24% rely significantly on AI tools today.
The report – entitled "The Glass Chair" -- shows that women CFOs are not only driving strong business results but are also helping shape the skills and capabilities required for the future of finance leadership. Companies led by women CFOs deliver an average
Notably, these findings are consistent with earlier independent research from S&P Global Market Intelligence study which found that companies appointing women CFOs generated
Part of the ongoing Finance 2035 Initiative, the study found that women are prioritizing the capabilities most critical for tomorrow's CFO role. Eighty-three percent of women CFOs say automation – especially AI -- is enabling different types of expertise to enter the role, and three-quarters identify digital literacy and strategic leadership as essential skills for the future.
"The data is clear: advancing women into CFO roles enhances innovation, competitiveness and modernizes a critical business function," said Pam McIntyre, Senior Vice President, Corporate Controller, OneStream. "At a time where CFOs are being asked to do more and navigate increasing complexity, women leaders are accelerating digital transformation, outperforming benchmarks and bringing strategic and leadership skillsets businesses need to thrive in an uncertain future."
Broader Experience, Deeper Impact
The research reveals that women take longer and less linear routes to the CFO seat — averaging 18 years at Global Fortune 500 and 20 years in the FTSE 100. Along the way, they change roles and companies more frequently, and according to the LinkedIn analysis in the study,
As a result, women often have a broader enterprise-wide perspective, deeper operational acumen, and stronger leadership experience for the CFO role. This positions them to balance financial strategy with people development, risk management, and cross-business collaboration — all qualities critical to the modern CFO.
Skills that Define the Future CFO
The research shows that women CFOs are more likely to align with leadership personas that emphasize financial governance, strategic planning, and team development, defined as:
- The Strategic Architect – balancing long-term finance planning with executive team development
- The Financial Guardian – emphasizing transparency, governance, and risk management
These qualities align directly with the skills most needed for today's CFOs, as today's finance leaders embrace AI and automation to free up capacity for strategic guidance and decision-making.
Women are also helping lead in digital adoption. Most cite (
The study highlights powerful opportunity: While
The Rising Value of Women in Finance Leadership
While women CFOs bring the diverse skillsets, resilience, and enterprise-wide perspective that the modern CFO role demands, many cited several structural barriers that slowed their progression, despite them being capable for the CFO role. These include economic downturns disrupting organizational structures, complex workplace politics, limited access to mentorship, challenges balancing work and personal life, and skills gaps within finance teams.
These barriers delay advancement and in doing so, postpone the value businesses could be capturing sooner. Companies that prioritize breaking down these obstacles will unlock leaders who not only deliver higher returns, but also bring broader skillsets needed to steer finance into the future
To access the full findings of the research and download a complimentary copy of The Glass Chair report, please visit www.onestream.com/women-in-finance.
About the Study
The Glass Chair study is the latest installment in OneStream's research exploring the future of finance leadership. Following the global Finance 2035 study – conducted with 1,500 business leaders and 500 investors across six countries – The Glass Chair builds on those insights with a focused examination of women in senior finance roles. Conducted between February and July 2025 in partnership with Man Bites Dog, the study combines economic analysis of more than 100 publicly traded companies, opinion research among 700 senior finance professionals across the US,
To enrich these findings, OneStream convened an advisory board of senior women in finance to provide context and perspectives to contribute a qualitative dimension to the research. Together, these findings offer a comprehensive view of the progress of women CFOs, the pathways to leadership and the business value of diversity in finance leadership.
To access more detailed findings of the research and download a complimentary copy of the report, please visit www.onestream.com/women-in-finance.
About OneStream
OneStream is how today's Finance teams can go beyond just reporting on the past and Take Finance Further™ by steering the business to the future. It's the leading enterprise Finance platform that unifies financial and operational data, embeds AI for better decisions and productivity, and empowers the CFO to become a critical driver of business strategy and execution.
We deliver a comprehensive cloud-based platform to modernize the Office of the CFO. Our Digital Finance Cloud unifies core financial and broader operational data and processes and embeds AI for better planning and forecasting, with an extensible architecture, so customers can adopt and develop new solutions, achieving greater value as their business needs evolve.
With over 1,600 customers, including
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SOURCE OneStream, Inc.
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