Why 40% of CFOs Don’t Trust Their Data

The Trust Crisis in Finance and What Data Teams Can Do About It

Despite all the dashboards, automation, and analytics tools available, many CFOs still don’t trust the numbers in front of them. In this session, we’ll dig into why that is, and more importantly, what data teams can do about it. We’ll unpack the real reasons behind data mistrust and walk through practical ways to build credibility, from better data definitions to smarter reconciliation and communication. Attendees will leave with concrete ideas, a demo of what “good” looks like, and a checklist they can start using straight away to help finance teams trust and act on their data.

Learning Outcomes

By attending this session, participants will:

Identify the Root Causes of Data Mistrust: Pinpoint the most common reasons why finance leaders distrust data.
Outline a Framework to Build Credibility: Describe the four essential pillars for building trust in financial data: Transparency, Governance, Control, and Proactive Communication.
Describe How to Embed Reconciliation into Analytics: Explain techniques for embedding automated reconciliation and variance checks directly within analytics dashboards to enhance user trust
Formulate an Action Plan to Enhance Data Credibility: Translate the framework from the session into immediate, practical steps for assessing and improving the trustworthiness of financial data.

Target Audience:

This masterclass is designed for any data professional - from analyst to leader - who creates reports and solutions for finance stakeholders. If you face challenges with data credibility or a lack of trust from your finance partners, this session provides a clear path forward.

The session is also highly relevant for data specialists working directly within finance functions, governing data quality, governing data quality, or supporting financial planning in dedicated teams.

This masterclass is part of our ‘Member Masterclass’ series delivered by our member organisations on a monthly basis. If you or your organisation would like to run your own masterclass for the benefit of our community, please get in touch.