As CFO of Soldo, I spend a lot of time talking to finance leaders about productivity, efficiency, and driving growth. We pore over the numbers, analyse processes, and implement strategies to optimise every aspect of our financial operations. But sometimes, the biggest obstacles to progress are the things we think we know.
Soldo’s 2025 “Productivity at Work” report shone a light on one such misconception: the “spend perception gap.” This gap represents the disconnect between what senior leaders believe about employee empowerment and the reality experienced by employees on the ground.
Are You Aware of the Gap?
Here is where the disconnect lies: 86% of senior leaders say they trust employees with company money, but 76% admit their businesses have missed growth opportunities because employees lacked direct access to budgets. This isn’t just a minor discrepancy; it’s a significant chasm that can have serious consequences for productivity and, ultimately, your company’s financial performance.
Many CFOs and finance leaders aren’t fully aware that this gap exists within their own organisations. They might assume that because they trust their employees, those employees feel empowered to make spending decisions that benefit the business. However, inefficient systems, outdated processes, and a lack of readily available funds can create significant roadblocks, hindering employees’ ability to act quickly and decisively.
The Implications for Your Business
So, what does this spend perception gap actually mean for your business? The consequences are far-reaching:
- Missed Growth Opportunities: When employees can’t access funds quickly, they’re unable to seize fleeting market opportunities, respond to urgent customer needs, or invest in innovative ideas. The report highlights that 39% of leaders acknowledge missed growth opportunities due to these inefficiencies.
- Reduced Productivity: When employees are hamstrung by bureaucratic processes and delays, their productivity suffers. 40% of employees believe productivity would increase with easier access to company money. This wasted time and effort directly impacts your bottom line.
- Decreased Morale: Employees who feel trusted but aren’t given the tools to act autonomously can become frustrated and disengaged. This can lead to decreased job satisfaction and even higher employee turnover.
- Strategic Limitations for Finance Teams: Slow, outdated processes prevent finance teams from acting strategically. Just under a fifth of senior leaders (19%) believe that improving the speed of financial processes would increase the value of the finance team to the wider business.
The Implications for Finance Professionals
Beyond the general business implications, the spend perception gap has specific consequences for us as finance professionals:
- Undermining Our Strategic Role: We strive to be strategic partners, but cumbersome processes keep us mired in administrative tasks, preventing us from contributing to key business decisions.
- Creating a Negative Perception: Employees may view finance as a hindrance rather than a support system leading to frictions between teams. The report indicates that 43% of employees say finance delays have held up their work or delayed projects.
- Increased Risk of Errors: Rushed manual work and a lack of real-time visibility can lead to errors and unexpected surprises at month-end.
Bridging the Gap: A Path Forward
The good news is that the spend perception gap is not insurmountable. By acknowledging its existence and taking proactive steps to address it, we can unlock significant productivity gains and empower our employees to drive growth. Here are some key strategies to consider:
- Embrace Spend Management Solutions: Implement modern spend management platforms like Soldo to automate processes, provide real-time visibility, and grant controlled budget access to employees.
- Decentralise Spending with Control: Give employees autonomy while maintaining oversight through pre-set spending limits, clear policies, and robust approval workflows.
- Foster a Culture of Trust and Transparency: Communicate openly with employees about your commitment to empowerment and provide them with the training and support they need to manage their budgets responsibly.
- Regularly Evaluate and Optimise: Continuously monitor the effectiveness of your spend management processes and make adjustments as needed to maximise productivity and employee satisfaction.
By bridging the spend perception gap, we can transform finance from a gatekeeper to a growth enabler, empowering our employees, increasing productivity, and driving sustainable success for our businesses.
For further insight download our Productivity at Work report.
