CFO STRATEGIES:
As enterprise transformation initiatives continue to accelerate CFOs are often leading the charge, driving operational improvements, adopting technology and upskilling talent to seize opportunities and manage risks in 2025 and beyond.
As we enter 2025, many CFOs worldwide are playing a critical role in steering their organizations through uncertainty and transformation. The CFO’s role has shifted beyond traditional financial stewardship, becoming more strategic in navigating technological advancements, economic challenges and evolving business models. This year, 56% of surveyed CFOs are prioritizing business model optimization, underscoring the importance of adapting to market shifts and maintaining competitiveness in a fast-paced global economy.
The FTI 2025 Global CFO Survey endeavors to shed light on the key global trends for CFOs in 2025. Through in-depth analysis, expert insights, and forward-looking projections, we aim to equip financial leaders with the knowledge and perspective they need to navigate the year ahead with confidence in a time of promising potential and evolving uncertainty.
72%
of CFOs predict double digit growth
86%
are investing in finance technology
85%
of CFOs are looking to enhance forecasting accuracy
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2025 CFO Highlights and Observations
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Revenue Growth Optimism
Page 18
Regional Insights
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Improved Financial Forecasting
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Digital Finance Transformation
FTI Consulting is an independent global business advisory firm dedicated to helping organizations manage change, mitigate risk and resolve disputes: financial, legal, operational, political & regulatory, reputational and transactional. In this report, we detail business leaders’ insights on the challenges they face, their expectations for 2025 and the strategies and tactics they will undertake over the next 12 months to maximize financial performance and protect the bottom line.
Outsourcing can help drive efficiencies CFOs are looking for
CFOs are particularly focused on digital finance transformation, with 84% prioritizing finance technology and automation to streamline processes. This trend underscores the continued recognition that robust digital infrastructure is essential to enhance decision-making processes and improving operational efficiency.
About The Survey
Our survey explored the challenges CFOs and finance leaders face, alongside their expectations for 2025. In collaboration with CFO Dive, we gathered insights from senior finance executives worldwide on the strategies and tactics they plan to implement to enhance financial performance and safeguard the bottom line. 655 responses were collected from executives across North America, APAC, and EMEA, with participation evenly distributed across the regions.
Strategic CFOs are reshaping the finance function, driving enterprise value through innovation, efficiency, and informed decision-making.
Discover the key challenges and exciting opportunities CFOs see ahead—explore the full report now.
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2025 CFO Outlooks & Expectations
ABOUT THE REPORT
Trends and Perspectives
The decision to expand the scope of back-office outsourcing, particularly in finance, has emerged as a key trend, with the overall percentage of outsourced functions increasing by over 11% from 2024 to 2025. This increase highlights the growing reliance on external capabilities as CFOs seek to enhance operational efficiency, reduce costs and improve access to both technology and skills, without sacrificing capacity.
42% of CFOs believe the average tenure for a CFO is now 5 years or more at a single organization, up 5% from 2024, indicating CFOs seem to be staying with their organizations longer. This shift towards longer-term CFO leadership potentially suggests that they are valued for their deep understanding of the business and their ability to drive strategic, enterprise-wide initiatives. These longer-tenured CFOs often position themselves as key players in steering transformational change within their organizations, aligning financial strategies with broader corporate objectives.
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January 30, 2023
2025 GLOBAL CFO REPORT
AN FTI CONSULTING REPORT
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CFO tenure is increasing, suggesting more influential role in enterprise strategy
David White
Senior Managing Director
Office of the CFO Solutions West Leader
david.white@fticonsulting.com
gina.gutzeit@fticonsulting.com
Gina Gutzeit
Senior Managing Director
Office of the CFO Solutions Global Leader
Key Contacts
Turnaround and Restructuring
Actively managing working capital delivers valuable business insights that help CFOs better manage their business and create a competitive advantage.
Strategic Financial Communications
Leveraging expertise in growth, finance, operations, technology and transactions, we help drive change across the enterprise.
Alan Numsuwan
Senior Managing Director
Office of the CFO Solutions
alan.numsuwan@fticonsulting.com
gina.gutzeit@fticonsulting.com
Gina Gutzeit
Senior Managing Director
Office of the CFO Solutions Global Leader
Key Contacts
3
North America Highlights
EMEA Highlights
APAC Highlights
KEY FINDINGS
Business Transformation Consulting
Drawing on our expertise in growth, finance, operations, technology, and transactions, we enable transformative change across the entire enterprise.
Alan Numsuwan
Senior Managing Director
Office of the CFO Solutions
alan.numsuwan@fticonsulting.com
gina.gutzeit@fticonsulting.com
Gina Gutzeit
Senior Managing Director
Office of the CFO Solutions Global Leader
Key Contacts
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AI and ML are revolutionizing finance with scalable, automated solutions for today’s dynamic business environment.
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