Sage launches “High-Performance Finance Software”

AI-powered tools, a new Sage High-Performance Academy, and peer-driven insights form the foundation of Sage’s bold new brand mission.

Mark Hickman, Managing Director North America at Sage. Portal ERP South Africa. 

Sage, the leader in accounting, financial, HR, and payroll technology for small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs), unveiled “High-Performance Finance Software”, a new brand mission to empower modern CFOs with the tools, skills, and community they need to lead in today’s economy.

In an era defined by tighter margins, speed of business, faster tech shifts, and higher expectations, the role of the CFO is evolving. No longer just financial stewards, CFOs are now expected to shape strategy, fuel growth, and lead transformation. According to new Sage research, 90 % of CFOs say their role has expanded significantly, and many are setting their sights on the CEO seat.

Launching in June, High-Performance Finance Software will combine AI-powered solutions, upskilling opportunities, and peer collaboration to help CFOs move from managing numbers to making business-critical decisions with confidence.

“Today’s CFOs aren’t just financial managers ; they’re catalysts of growth for businesses, which is especially crucial to position their businesses to lead in tomorrow’s economy,” said Mark Hickman, Managing Director North America at Sage. “With High Performance, we’re providing the advanced technology, executive-level training, and dynamic peer network that will empower them to lead boldly from the front.”

Sage’s research also reveals that CFOs are ambitious about their careers, with three quarters (72 %) prioritizing progression over pay. Despite this, almost all (85 %) acknowledge they need better tools to meet rising expectations, while less than a third (31 %) are currently leading their organisation’s digital transformation.

In addition to a new ‘High-Performance Finance Software’ creative campaign, Sage will launch a CPE accredited training program for high-potential finance leaders, providing them the strategic tools and competencies to be the catalysts of growth.

Created in partnership with GrowCFO, the programme is designed to build the skills, behaviours, and confidence required to lead in a high-growth, high-expectation environment. Accessed via Sage University, Sage customers will gain a seamless learning experience within the Sage ecosystem.

"High-performance leadership isn't just about what you know, it's a whole mindset. It's about how you show up each day, how you enable your peers, and how you lead your teams to amazing outcomes," said Dan Wells, CEO at GrowCFO. "We're proud to partner with Sage to bring the experience, knowledge and toolkits finance leaders need to take their careers to the next level".

A technology platform built for growth

With 82 % of CFOs directly responsible for driving profitable growth and 77 % involved in shaping enterprise strategy, they need more than basic automation. They need financial software built to enable their high performance.

Sage’s platform helps finance teams bring together operational and financial data, automate routine tasks, and surface reliable insights faster. Now customers can take advantage of Sage Copilot, the first accounting-trained, embedded, generative AI assistant. This combination will enable businesses to improve accuracy, speed up decision-making, and give CFOs more time to focus on strategic leadership. The result is a finance function that drives impact across the organisation, not just in the numbers.

“Sage has transformed the way the finance department runs, but the impact has been huge across the organisation,” said Kathleen Ruiz, CFO, LA Opera House. “With its ease of use, other departments have become less dependent on the finance department. This means that spending a lot less time doing the things none of us like to do and stepping back and looking at the data and drawing some insights. This is what high-performance looks like to me.”?

With almost all (94 %) CFOs believing they could do more to impact business growth, Sage’s High-Performance mission is designed to help them unlock that potential, through smarter technology, deeper insight, and continuous leadership development.

About the research

Research conducted by Edelman on behalf of Sage with 1707 CFOs and senior finance leaders globally between November 2024 and January 2025.