As we approach 2026, financial leaders across the industry are facing a stark reality: uncertainty is becoming a constant. From economic headwinds and a slowing labor market to the accelerated adoption of AI and automation, today’s finance professionals are expected to do more than manage numbers—they’re expected to help drive business strategy in real time. For accounts payable (AP) managers and clerks, controllers, and CFOs working within financial institutions, the path forward requires agility, clarity, and a commitment to modernization.
In September 2025, AvidXchange conducted a survey of more than 100 financial institution professionals to offer an inside look at how teams are planning, prioritizing, and adapting as they prepare for another year of transformation. Here’s what they’re seeing, and why it matters for your finance team.
Finance Leaders Are Bracing for Economic Shifts
Economic strategy is about anticipating headwinds and staying agile. For AP teams, it’s about ensuring systems and teams are flexible enough to support larger business goals.
Looking at the big picture, an overwhelming 89% of finance leaders are concerned about the current economy according to our survey, with specific fears around:
- Inflation (56%).
- Tariffs (56%).
- Labor market conditions (39%).
Nearly half of respondents (48%) expect a moderate negative impact on their business over the next 12 months, while an additional 14% believe that impact will be significant. Notably, 32% believe that impact will intensify in the second half of 2026, while another 31% say they’ll feel it in the next six months.
For financial institutions—where capital management, compliance, and operational control are critical—these findings reinforce the need for agile planning cycles and real-time visibility into spend. Finance leaders will need to regularly reassess budgets and forecasts, while AP teams will need to maintain tight control over outgoing payments and optimize cash flow management wherever possible.
Doing More with Less is the New Normal
If you’re an AP pro, this likely isn’t news. You’ve probably already felt the pressure of smaller teams and growing workloads. For finance leaders, the focus must shift to sustainable productivity, not just short-term survival.
If you’re feeling the weight of increased responsibilities, you aren’t alone. A full 81% of finance departments are being asked to “do more with less” due to labor challenges.
According to our survey, top strategies to manage this include:
- Cross-training employees (62%).
- Investing in technology/automation (52%).
- Reprioritizing projects (50%).
For AP teams specifically, this means that the manual processes of yesterday—invoice approvals, payment scheduling, vendor inquiries—are becoming unsustainable at scale. Automation and streamlined workflows are crucial for meeting SLAs and controlling costs. At the same time, finance leaders will need to balance these changes with employee well-being, as 38% of teams have increased overtime or workloads for existing staff.
Recession Readiness is in Motion
Finance leaders are at the forefront of building more resilient, data-driven organizations. AP leaders play a critical role in optimizing cash flow and managing spend with care. While balancing “doing more with less,” they must also prepare for the worst-case scenario: a recession. The economic shifts seen in 2025 have set the stage for this possibility, and finance leaders are doing what they can to get ready.
Our survey found that:
- 42% of respondents are re-evaluating budgets and cutting discretionary spending.
- 42% are building cash reserves.
- 41% have implemented hiring freezes or slowed recruitment.
- 30% are delaying capital investments.
- 28% are planning to reduce workforce headcount through layoffs or attrition.
These actions point to a growing trend: finance teams are becoming the stewards of organizational resilience. This includes AP, where controlling vendor payments and optimizing disbursement timing can make a meaningful difference to overall liquidity. In banks and credit unions already operating on thin margins, managing cost centers like AP more strategically is becoming a board-level priority.
AI Investment is Accelerating, but Caution Remains
AI helps improve decision-making and reduce costs. For finance leaders, it’s also about automating routine tasks and minimizing human error to prepare for further economic shifts while increasing efficiency. But unlocking ROI from these tools takes more than just adopting software—it requires training and change management, as well as a healthy dose of expert oversight.
According to our survey, 72% of finance departments are currently investing in AI or machine learning tools, and 53% plan to increase that investment in 2026. When asked what’s driving this push, 40% say their top goal is improving operational efficiency, followed by 25% who want deeper data insights to improve decision-making.
So far, the returns look promising:
- 48% of finance teams report increased efficiencies from AI tools.
- 40% have achieved faster or deeper insights.
- 38% have seen improved accuracy and fewer errors.
- 22% are already reducing operational costs.
- 24% have uncovered new revenue opportunities.
For AP teams, AI adoption often translates into automated invoice processing, intelligent exception handling, and fraud detection. However, the desire for ROI is matched by a sense of caution—only 30% of finance leaders feel “very confident” that their organization can maximize ROI from AI investments, while 60% say they are only “somewhat confident.”
Payment Modernization Is Underway, But Security Concerns Persist
AP professionals handle some of the most sensitive financial data and transactions in the organization. This makes modernizing payments more than just convenience; this process is a critical step in mitigating fraud and improving control.
Our survey found that finance teams are beginning to move away from legacy payment methods, but paper checks remain stubbornly common. According to the survey:
- 35% still use paper checks to pay vendors.
- 55% use ACH.
- 56% use credit cards.
- 25% use virtual credit cards.
- 43% use mobile payment options.
When asked how extensively they use electronic payment methods, only 19% said they use ePayments exclusively, while 41% use them primarily and 30% say they split usage between electronic and traditional methods.
Also worth noting: the federal government’s plan to phase out paper checks is prompting action. Nearly three quarters of respondents (71%) said they plan to change their payment methods within the next two years, with top drivers including:
- Improved payment efficiency (32%).
- Reduced costs (20%).
- Enhanced fraud prevention (24%).
However, barriers remain. Nearly half (45%) of finance leaders cite fraud and security concerns as the biggest obstacles to increasing ePayment adoption, followed by internal resistance to change (36%) and implementation costs (18%).
These concerns are not without merit. In 2025 alone:
- 30% of organizations experienced at least one successful check fraud attack, while 25% experienced at least one successful phishing attack.
- 40% detected and stopped attempted check fraud, and 47% detected and stopped attempted phishing.
- 49% of successful check fraud and/or phishing incidents triggered compliance or regulatory reporting.
All told, these numbers make a clear case for payment modernization—while more phishing attempts were detected and stopped, there were more successful cases of check fraud. Payment modernization with a focus on security, then, is not just an efficiency driver, but as a risk mitigation strategy as well.
2026 Priorities Are Clear: Technology is at the Center
As finance departments prepare for the year ahead, their investment strategies reflect a balanced approach between innovation and control. When we asked survey respondents about their top priorities for 2026:
- 20% said maximizing ROI of technology investments.
- 19% cited operational efficiency.
- 14% pointed to AI adoption as a top goal.
- 11% are focusing on digital transformation more broadly.
Security also remains a high priority. In response to rising threats—especially AI-enhanced phishing and fraud—finance departments are bolstering their defenses:
- 52% are enhancing cybersecurity monitoring.
- 51% are increasing employee fraud training.
- 47% are strengthening payment security controls.
Spending plans align with the goals respondents identified. Most teams expect to increase or maintain their investments in:
- AI and machine learning (53%).
- Automation and workflow tools (43%).
- Data security and regulatory compliance (45%).
- Modern payment systems (30%).
Finally, as technology reshapes the finance function, hiring priorities are evolving, too. Teams are placing greater emphasis on technology proficiency (53%), data analysis skills (38%), and adaptability and continuous learning (38%) in their hiring processes.
The Road Ahead Requires Confidence and Control
Finance professionals in the financial services space are navigating a complex, changing landscape. But the trends are clear: leaner teams, smarter tools, stronger systems. The organizations that succeed in 2026 will be those that invest in efficiency, security, and adaptability today.
Whether you’re managing accounts payable or leading finance strategy or anywhere in-between, now is the time to modernize your operations with automation and intelligence so your team can focus on what matters most.
Ready to make 2026 your most efficient year yet?
Learn more about how AvidXchange can help your team stay ahead of the competition with automation.