
Healthcare Insight
Beyond the balance sheet: the expanding role of Healthcare CFOs
February 17th 2025
In today’s complex healthcare landscape, the role of the CFO has evolved far beyond managing budgets.
As outlined in The Forward-Thinking CFO report by Compass Carter Osborne, today’s finance leaders are pivotal to organisational strategy, transformation, and resilience.
A broader leadership role
CFOs now have one of the widest remits on the board. Beyond financial oversight, they’re addressing rising care demands, managing regulatory pressures, and guiding digital and workforce transformations, all while keeping the business on a sustainable path.
With healthcare providers caring for patients with increasingly complex needs, CFOs are tasked with ensuring facilities, systems, and staffing models are fit for purpose, despite budget constraints and shareholder expectations.

Navigating change and risk
Regulatory scrutiny is rising, and political shifts are reshaping healthcare funding and oversight. CFOs are leading the response, ensuring compliance, realigning business models, and pursuing growth through private revenue streams and M&A activity.
Driving transformation with technology
Digital transformation is now a core part of the CFO’s role. From automating processes to enabling smarter clinical decisions through data, finance leaders are championing the tools that enhance both care and efficiency. Building digital literacy across teams is also a growing priority.

People, cost, and culture
Labour remains the sector’s biggest cost and biggest challenge. CFOs are tackling this head-on, redesigning pay structures, supporting flexible working, and investing in long-term recruitment strategies to reduce dependency on expensive agency staff.
Conclusion: strategic, not just financial
CFOs are no longer behind the scenes. They are key strategic players driving change across finance, operations, and care delivery. In a sector where financial health directly influences patient outcomes, their leadership has never been more vital.
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