The Evolving Role of the CFO: IESBA Extended Survey 2026

The role of CFOs has continued to rapidly evolve over recent times, from being financial stewards to being strategic leaders overseeing not only finance but also other functions, including risk, performance, sustainability/ESG reporting, and data governance. These changes can introduce increased responsibilities, complexity, and associated ethical challenges.

The International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants (IESBA) has launched a new Workstream to understand better the evolving role of CFOs (or equivalent senior finance roles)* within business or the public sector and the ethical challenges they face today. The Workstream will also explore whether the IESBA International Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants (including International Independence Standards) (IESBA Code), which serves as a global ethical baseline for individuals who belong to a professional accounting body that is a member of the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC), needs to evolve in response to these challenges.

Following the 2025 CFO Pulse Survey**, the IESBA is conducting this Extended Global Survey to build a deeper and more globally representative understanding of:

• The ethical challenges CFOs (or equivalent senior finance roles), whether in business or in the public or non-profit sector face;
• How effectively the IESBA Code supports ethical responsibilities and expectations; and
• Potential actions the IESBA could take, including guidance or other resources it could commission, to support and strengthen ethical leadership in finance functions.

The survey is anonymous, takes approximately 10–15 minutes to complete, and is open to all CFOs (or equivalent senior finance roles), regardless of whether you are a member of a professional accounting body or not.

The survey consists of the following:

• Section 2 requests details about your jurisdiction, current role, length of time in a CFO role, and the sector in which you work.
• Section 3 focuses on your professional background and any ethical standards that apply to you.
• Section 4 requests input on the ethical challenges arising from the evolving role of the CFO.
• Section 5 requests your input into hiring trends.
• Section 6 requests your input on potential future actions that the IESBA could undertake.

Thank you for contributing your perspective to this important initiative. Your insights will directly inform the IESBA’s Workstream and help shape any future revisions to the IESBA Code or the development of ethical guidance or other resources for CFOs worldwide.

* The Workstream will address the most senior finance leader within organizations’ finance function and the ethical responsibilities of that role, which could be a CFO, Finance Director, Controller, Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), or some other title. Whilst the role of CFO (or equivalent senior finance role) might not exist separately within a smaller organization, it could form part of the CEO’s role.

**Thank you to those who participated in the 2025 CFO Pulse Survey. This survey extends from the Pulse Survey. Please note that some questions are intentionally repeated to validate findings and track shifts in perspectives. We value your continued participation.


Warm regards, IESBA CFO Project Team


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