Mindset Matters: CFO challenges and tech insights with Becca Durrant

After launching The CFO Mindset Report 2.0, we sat down with Becca Durrant, Senior Manager at Saffery, to explore the findings and what they reveal about the evolving role of finance leaders. Drawing on her experience helping organisations digitise their finance systems and implement smarter, more sustainable ways of working, Becca shares her perspective on the pressures CFOs face, the growing frustration with overcomplicated technology and how mid-market businesses can reclaim time through better systems and strategy.

The CFO Mindset Report 2.0 reveals some striking insights about mid-market finance teams. From your perspective, what do these findings tell us about the current state of finance leadership and attitudes to technology adoption?

The CFO Mindset Report 2.0 really brings into focus the pressures CFOs and their teams are under. Finance leaders are expected to manage costs, maintain accurate reporting, face unpredictable markets, and still find time for strategy and team leadership. Yet the findings show that the very tools meant to make work easier are often adding to the challenge and becoming more of a hindrance than a help.

According to the report, 94% of mid-market finance leaders who have implemented an ERP said they experienced some form of regret, while 95% faced hidden costs such as unexpected fees or additional third-party support when using any kind of finance software. These findings are a real wake-up call to the industry and to software vendors; it shows that many of the systems businesses rely on are not always fit for purpose, and that the wrong choice can have tangible consequences for productivity and morale.

Which statistic from the report did you find most surprising, and what does it reveal about the challenges CFOs and finance teams face today?

The figure that really stood out to me from the report was that 60% of finance teams use less than half of the functionality available in their systems. It is staggering when you think about the investment these organisations make - the report found the average ERP costs a mid-sized company around £100,000 a year. That’s a significant outlay, and yet half of that spend can effectively be wasted on unused features.

What it tells me is that there’s often a disconnect between what CFOs are being sold and what their teams actually need. It’s so important to ask the right questions from the very first demo. This allows finance leaders to quickly identify whether a system is unnecessarily complex or simply not the right fit for their organisation.

From your experience working with clients, what are the most common challenges CFOs face with their finance systems?

I see similar patterns across clients of all sizes - scale-ups, established businesses, charities, partnerships and so on. Many feel pressured to adopt large, complex software to ‘future-proof’ their organisation, only to find that implementation is lengthy, expensive and often overwhelming for the team.

Challenges such as training gaps, hidden costs and underutilised functionality are all too common. Teams end up spending valuable time managing the system rather than using it to streamline processes, generate insights, or support key decisions. This keeps many CFOs stuck in ‘firefighting’ mode, rather than focusing on growth and strategic planning.

How can CFOs identify the ‘golden middle ground’ when it comes to finance technology - balancing functionality, scalability, and simplicity?

The key is understanding your organisation’s real needs and prioritising tools that align with them. It’s about finding a platform that can scale as the business grows - handling multi-entity reporting, multi-currency transactions and automation - but without overwhelming teams with features they’ll never use.

I often help clients conduct a full health check of their current systems, migrate data onto cloud-based platforms where appropriate, and provide training so teams can extract meaningful, real-time insights. The CFO Mindset Report 2.0 highlights the importance of this ‘golden middle ground’ - software that gives CFOs in the mid-market control and visibility, without unnecessary complexity or cost.

Based on your experience, what practical steps can CFOs and finance teams take to reclaim time, improve efficiency, and ensure technology genuinely supports growth?

Start by reviewing your current systems critically: are you paying for features that aren’t used? Are teams able to access accurate data quickly? From there, consider cloud-based, mid-market-focused platforms that offer automation, integrated reporting, and real-time insights.

Training and ongoing support are essential - the best systems are only as good as the people using them. By simplifying processes, automating routine tasks, and prioritising functionality that supports both today’s needs and tomorrow’s growth, CFOs can reclaim time, reduce stress, and focus on strategic priorities.

Final thoughts

This report shows just how much impact technology decisions can have - on cost, efficiency and leadership capacity. The right tools give CFOs the chance to step out of reactive problem-solving and focus on strategic decision-making.

“I’d urge finance leaders to really look at these stats and ask the hard questions,” says Becca. “If your systems aren’t saving time, improving visibility, or making life easier for your team, it’s time to act. Don’t be afraid to challenge vendors, check customer reviews, and tick off everything on your requirements list. The right technology should support growth, not create headaches.”

She adds: “I’m excited to see next year’s CFO Mindset findings and how finance leaders continue to innovate, problem-solve, and lead with clarity. The more we use these insights, the better positioned mid-market CFOs will be to drive real growth.”

Want to find more insights from the latest report? Download your free copy of The CFO Mindset Report 2.0 today.  

About Becca Durrant
Becca Durrant is a Senior Manager at Saffery, specialising in helping organisations improve and automate their finance systems. She works closely with entrepreneurs and finance teams to enhance efficiency, implement sustainable processes and support growth through smarter technology and data-driven insights.

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