University CFOs in 2025 are balancing more than just budgets. They’re leading the charge in transforming how institutions operate, stay compliant, and serve digitally native students. With growing financial scrutiny, evolving regulations like 1098-T, and mounting pressure to modernize outdated systems, CFOs are shifting focus from traditional financial management to strategic innovation. So, what’s topping the priority list for higher education’s financial leaders this year?
1. Automating Administrative Compliance, Especially Around Tax Filings
As digital expectations grow, so does the complexity of compliance. Among the most pressing challenges is the accurate and timely filing of IRS Form 1098-T, which reports tuition and educational expenses. Despite its annual recurrence, this process is still a source of friction for many institutions. Filing mistakes, late submissions, or incomplete data can lead to substantial IRS penalties and erode student trust.
University CFOs are increasingly prioritizing the automation of compliance processes to avoid these issues. Instead of relying on manual systems, they’re adopting fintech solutions that handle eligibility tracking, real-time data validation, and secure student communications, cutting both costs and risks. Automating compliance doesn’t just ensure accuracy; it creates a scalable financial foundation that supports long-term growth.
According to a 2024 IU Campus Finance Report, universities that adopted fintech solutions for tax compliance saw a 43% reduction in 1098-T filing errors and a 60% cut in manual processing time.
2. Eliminating Silos Through Technology Integration
Legacy systems continue to plague many university finance offices. Data scattered across the SIS, ERP, and student portals makes it hard to track the full financial picture or respond quickly to audits and student requests.
University CFOs in 2025 are prioritizing fintech platforms that unify tax, payment, and aid data into one integrated workflow. These systems reduce cross-department friction, enable real-time updates, and simplify compliance documentation. Unified platforms also prepare institutions to adapt more quickly to policy changes, something increasingly important as federal regulations continue to evolve.
Indiana University, which serves over 90,000 students across multiple campuses, eliminated financial silos by implementing a centralized fintech platform in 2023. So, with a real-time API integration across the bursar, registrar, and financial aid offices, it unified its financial data flow, cutting filing time in half and reducing form correction requests by 35%.
3. Building Audit-Proof, Data-Driven Processes
University finances are under more scrutiny than ever. Whether it’s audits from external regulators or internal governance boards, transparency and traceability have become non-negotiable.
CFOs are prioritizing data centralization, audit-ready reporting, and digital recordkeeping. Fintech tools are being used not just for daily operations, but also to establish real-time visibility into student payments, tax document history, and compliance flags. By eliminating data silos and automating workflows, finance teams are reducing audit stress and ensuring they can respond swiftly and accurately when under review. This is especially relevant for institutions managing multiple campuses, hybrid learning models, or international programs, where complex data chains require airtight processes.
A 2024 study by the National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO) found that universities using fintech platforms to automate their 1098-T filing processes experienced a 40% reduction in audit-related discrepancies and a 30% decrease in IRS penalties, showcasing the significant benefits of building audit-proof, data-driven financial processes.
4. Making Every Dollar Count Through Operational Efficiency
Higher education institutions are operating on thinner margins. Declining enrollment in some regions, inflationary pressures, and shifting federal funding rules are forcing CFOs to reevaluate spending.
Administrative inefficiencies, especially around redundant processes or outdated tech stacks, are being actively targeted. One area ripe for savings is tax documentation and compliance. According to internal case studies, universities that have transitioned to automated 1098-T filing systems have reported reductions of up to 30% in administrative overhead and a 40% improvement in processing time.
For example, the University of California, Berkeley, implemented a fintech solution to streamline its 1098-T filing process, which led to a 30% reduction in administrative costs. By automating data validation and filing, they eliminated manual errors and delays, enabling the university to reallocate those savings to critical student services, like expanding financial aid programs, ultimately enhancing both operational efficiency and student satisfaction.
5. Leading Digital Transformation from the Finance Office
In 2025, digital transformation is no longer just the CIO’s job. CFOs are emerging as key players in pushing modernization across institutional systems. Therefore, from budgeting platforms to tax compliance and student billing, the finance office is often where digital change begins.
Modern CFOs are choosing platforms that integrate smoothly with student information systems (SIS), financial aid tools, and ERP suites. The goal: create a unified, efficient financial ecosystem that supports everything from student engagement to long-term strategic planning. The leadership shift is clear. Which is today’s university CFO is a digital decision-maker, tech evaluator, and innovation enabler.
A 2023 NACUBO survey found 65% of CFOs believe digital tools enhance financial reporting accuracy and reduce non-compliance risks, particularly with 1098-T filings. Automation ensures faster submissions, mitigates penalties, and allows CFOs to focus on strategic financial planning. This eventually optimizes cash flow and improves the overall student experience.
Why It Matters Now
The urgency to act is growing. As more universities adopt fintech to streamline financial operations, those still relying on legacy systems risk falling behind, both in compliance performance and student satisfaction.
Institutions like UC Berkeley and Harvard have already seen measurable results from automating their 1098-T filing processes: fewer errors, faster turnaround, and higher satisfaction scores. For smaller or mid-sized institutions. So, invest in technology that reduces the burden, improves compliance, and enhances the student experience. 2025 is not the year to wait and see. University CFOs are moving swiftly to adopt tools that secure compliance, serve students better, and protect institutional integrity. Whether it’s automating 1098-T filings or streamlining financial workflows, the strategic CFO of today is building a digital, resilient, and student-centered finance office. If your institution is still handling tax filings the old way, now is the time to reconsider.
Get a closer look at how top universities are automating compliance and transforming finance operations. Join Jeffery Cronin, Chief Strategy Officer at Zenwork, for a live webinar on automating 1098-T tax filings and building audit-proof compliance workflows for higher education. Register Now – Limited Spots Available
FAQs
- We’ve struggled with 1098-T accuracy in the past. Will the webinar cover how automation reduces errors and IRS penalties?
Yes. The webinar will walk through real use cases where automation not only eliminated manual errors but also helped institutions avoid late fees and compliance risks. Jeffery Cronin will detail how universities are using fintech to validate data in real time and streamline IRS submissions.
- How can we assess if our current tax compliance workflows are audit-proof?
That’s one of the key takeaways from the webinar. You’ll learn how to identify weaknesses in your current filing process and what an “audit-ready” system should look like in 2025, from documentation trails to secure data access and reporting best practices.
- Will the webinar include tools or frameworks we can use to evaluate automation platforms for 1098-T?
Absolutely. Jeffery will share a checklist and decision-making criteria based on what’s worked for both large institutions and mid-sized universities. The session will help you compare platforms beyond feature sets, focusing on scalability, integration, and compliance performance.
- Can this solution scale across multiple campuses or hybrid models?
This will be directly addressed in the webinar. Zenwork’s approach is built for institutions with complex operations. You’ll see how automation can handle distributed data sources while maintaining a unified compliance process, even across multiple locations.
- Will there be a demo or real-world results discussed during the session?
Yes. The webinar will include a behind-the-scenes look at how leading universities modernized their tax filing operations. Expect real performance metrics, like time savings, cost reduction, and audit-readiness improvements, that you can benchmark against your institution.
