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Insights on Financial Executive Priorities for 2025

As the financial landscape continues to evolve, the Financial Education & Research Foundation (FERF) has unveiled significant findings in its latest report concerning the priorities of financial executives for 2025. This research outlines the fundamental shift towards aligning financial resilience with innovation, underscoring a strategic approach necessary for sustained growth.

Key Findings of the Report

The 2025 Financial Executives Priorities Report, released in collaboration with Forvis Mazars, an esteemed accounting and consulting firm, reveals a renewed sense of optimism among finance professionals. The report consolidates survey data from executives across various sectors, highlighting their expectations and challenges as they navigate through economic fluctuations.

Strategic Priorities

Key takeaways from the survey indicate that the pillars of financial strategy for 2025 revolve around the dual focus on technology and financial resilience. Financial executives are inclined toward fostering innovation while simultaneously managing risks in an effort to drive growth within their organizations. This reflects a robust commitment to adapting to the changing market dynamics.

Confidence Amidst Uncertainty

Despite persistent global economic concerns, respondents express strong confidence in local and industry performance. This confidence is evidenced by plans for increased hiring and wage adjustments, pointing to a strategic shift towards growth-oriented leadership amidst caution regarding overall economic stability.

Top Challenges Ahead

Financial executives identify economic uncertainty and global market volatility as pressing challenges, with 35% acknowledging it as their primary concern for planning in 2025. Additionally, a significant portion of executives list revenue growth and market expansion as top financial priorities, illustrating a common goal of driving profitability in a competitive environment.

Workforce Considerations

The report further highlights the crucial need for qualified personnel to support organizational goals:

• - 73% of executives prioritize improving their Financial Planning and Analysis capabilities.
• - 59% are focusing on Data Management, Technology, and AI skill acquisition.
• - Over half, 56%, plan to adjust wages accordingly to prevent turnover, indicating a keen awareness of workforce dynamics.

Employing advanced technologies, particularly AI, is increasingly viewed as essential to gaining insights and enhancing operational agility. However, 38% of respondents remain uncertain about integrating AI into their frameworks, pointing to a significant opportunity for clarity and education on the benefits that AI can offer.

Addressing Cybersecurity Threats

The document also underscores the importance of addressing cybersecurity, with 28% of respondents identifying it as a notable operational risk. This concern aligns with the global trend of increasing cyber threats, prompting financial leaders to dedicate resources towards effective risk mitigation strategies.

Conclusion

Andrej Suskavcevic, President and CEO of FERF, emphasizes that financial leaders are primed to leverage the experiences of the past year as foundational knowledge for navigating 2025 successfully. This proactive stance toward aligning financial resilience with innovation is indicative of a sector committed to not only sustaining but also enhancing their operational frameworks in the year to come.

The full report offers an in-depth exploration of these findings and can be accessed via FERF’s website, furthering the dialogue on how financial executives can best prepare for the evolving challenges ahead.