Chief Accounting Officers Assume Strategic Operational Leadership

Chief accounting officers are increasingly adopting strategic operational roles as CFOs delegate tactical tasks, the Journal of Accountancy reported in December 2025. Automation and AI accelerate the shift—over 10,000 CAOs existed globally by October 2024, controllers expect major role changes, and CAO salaries averaged $198,728 in 2025, prompting firms to prioritize ERP modernization and AI governance.