Financial executives are eyeing economic uncertainty and market volatility as they look ahead this year, according to a new report.
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Over half the survey respondents (51%) cited revenue growth and market expansion as their top financial priority, followed by cost management and optimization (23%), and strengthening liquidity and cash flow management (14%).
“Financial executives spent 2024 building the fundamentals for what is to come,” said FEI and FERF president and CEO Andrej Suskavcevic in a statement. “This year financial executives navigated a complex landscape of economic and market disruptions that tested resilience and innovation. We are pleased to share that our report found that with the lessons of 2024 as a foundation, financial executives and their teams are poised to lead with renewed confidence, aligning financial resilience with innovation for sustainable growth in 2025.”
Attracting the right mix of personnel and resources to support aggressive growth goals is a top priority for financial execs. Nearly three-fourths (73%) of the respondents ranked financial planning and analysis, and 59% ranked data management, technology and AI as one of their two most sought-after skills to acquire. In addition, 60% said attracting and retaining qualified employees was one of their two top priorities. Over half (56%) of the respondents intend to match wage increases to remain the same or above inflation to reduce turnover, while 45% plan to increase or significantly increase headcount.
“Addressing uncertainty, especially across global markets, will clearly be the primary focus for financial executives in the year ahead, with more than a third citing it as their biggest challenge,” stated Anthony Reggiannini, partner for CFO and business consulting services with Forvis Mazars, which sponsored the report. “Leaders are planning to increase their investments in both technology and talent to ensure they have the capacity and skills necessary to further the growth of their businesses regardless of what 2025 may bring.”
Financial leaders are increasingly taking advantage of advanced technology, AI and digital tools to get deeper insights, streamline processes and drive agility in their decision-making.
Over one-third (38%) of the survey respondents admitted they’re undecided about artificial intelligence, emphasizing significant uncertainty or a lack of clear strategies. Cybersecurity threats pose a tangible challenge to financial operations, according to 28% of the survey respondents. A larger proportion (50%) indicated they’re “somewhat concerned,” suggesting that while it’s not critical to them, cybersecurity is still viewed as a key operational risk requiring attention and resources.
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