As lease portfolios grow in scale and complexity, the role of the CFO has expanded far beyond periodic reporting. Modern finance leaders can no longer rely on spreadsheet-based lease management for accurate data, compliance, strategic asset use, and audit readiness. Especially for organisations managing tens, hundreds, or even thousands of leases, centralising lease management is no longer optional.
Decentralised or spreadsheet‑based lease management exposes organisations to compliance failures, data inaccuracy, and escalating audit risk. Our guide below breaks down why CFOs are prioritising centralised lease management platforms and what the research indicates about their impact on compliance, cost control, and financial performance.
With leases spanning real estate, vehicles, equipment, and embedded arrangements, finance teams now face continuous data collection and reporting demands. Manual processes are time-consuming, compliance-heavy, and prone to material misstatements, making automation increasingly essential.
The latest data from our most recent Kantar independent market survey of finance professionals shows that 26% of respondents find their IFRS 16 process slow and time-consuming.
"My biggest frustration with the current IFRS 16 compliance process is the complexity of tracking and managing all the lease data across different systems. It takes up a lot of time and sometimes feels like there's a lot of manual work involved."
And here's what other research shows:
A modern lease management platform centralises all of your data, keeps it compliant and accurate, and minimises wasted resources to get your data audit-ready.
Research from PwC post-implementation of IFRS 16 showed that companies were lagging in their adoption of the standard, with over half still using spreadsheets in some capacity for IFRS 16 management, and only 40% expecting to adopt a dedicated IT solution within the next two years.
But here's the key insight:
Only 40% of companies manage lease processes centrally on an ongoing basis, meaning the majority lack consistent controls, process automation, and full visibility.
Centralisation enables:
Our independent research showed that 23% of respondents experienced difficulties in data collection and management.
"I'm asked to collect detailed information about each lease contract, such as lease terms, payment plans, lease components, discount rates, etc. Collecting this comprehensive data from different departments and systems is time-consuming and error-prone."
Modern lease management software:
PwC’s research reveals that organisations with centralised lease management benefit from:
Today’s compliance environment demands more than a one-time implementation. Ongoing compliance is a discipline, not a project that can be handled in quarterly sprints or projects, and requires updated timelines, continuous training, and ongoing detection of embedded leases.
CFOs must ensure:
Deloitte’s leasing roadmap reinforces that IFRS 16 guidance continues to evolve, making robust systems and controls essential for staying ahead of changes.
Audit costs rise when data is decentralised. Auditors need:
A high-performing centralised lease platform should offer:
From contract ingestion to journal entries and reporting.
Ensuring compliance accuracy across impairments, remeasurements, variable payments, and renewals.
Integrating lease data prevents redundant entry, inconsistencies, and outdated information.
For portfolio visibility, cost control, and strategic planning.
To ensure every change is logged and traceable.
Handling multiple asset classes without manual workarounds.
For today’s CFO, centralised lease management is not simply about compliance, it’s about control, efficiency, and strategic value.
As regulatory expectations continue to evolve and portfolios grow in complexity, the strategic CFO will ensure their organisation has the technology foundation required to stay compliant, agile, and efficient. Book a demo with LOIS Leasing today to find out more.