Financial Executives Prioritize Technology, Financial Resilience In 2025

This year, financial executives will focus on initiatives that align financial resilience with innovation for sustainable growth, according to a new FERF report.

Technology and financial resilience are key pillars of financial executive strategic priorities in 2025, reflecting a desire to innovate while managing risks effectively as enterprises push for growth, according to a new report by The Financial Education & Research Foundation (FERF).

The 2025 Financial Executives Priorities Report is based on survey results from finance executives about perceptions for 2025, including the most important priorities for management teams, top financial priorities, and the biggest challenges in the planning process. It delves into plans around headcount, wage adjustments, and the needed skills for talent in 2025 as well as artificial intelligence acceptance, and AI and cybersecurity risks.

Financial Resilience
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FERF, the independent non-profit research affiliate of Financial Executives International (FEI), released the report in partnership with public accounting and consulting firm Forvis Mazars.

Other key findings from this year’s report include: 

  • Confidence in local and industry-specific performance remains strong, despite a wary eye toward the global economy.
  • Plans for hiring and wage increases signal optimism about workforce growth, but concerns about economic uncertainty and cybersecurity indicate a careful approach to 2025 planning.

“Financial executives spent 2024 building the fundamentals for what is to come,” said Andrej Suskavcevic, CAE, President and CEO of Financial Executives International and Financial Education & Research Foundation. “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.”

“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,” said Anthony Reggiannini, Partner for CFO & Business Consulting Services with Forvis Mazars. “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.”

Planning And Financial Priorities

The following are the top challenges for planning and financial priorities for the coming year, According to the report:

  • 35% cited mitigating economic uncertainty and global market volatility as a top challenge for planning in 2025.
  • Half of survey respondents (51%) cited revenue growth and market expansion as the top financial priority, followed by cost management and optimization 23%, and strengthening liquidity and cash flow management 14%.

Attracting the correct mix of personnel and resources to support aggressive growth goals is also a top priority. 

  • 73% ranked Financial Planning & Analysis and 59% ranked Data Management / Technology / AI as one of their two most sought-after skills to acquire
  • 60% said attracting/retaining qualified employees was one of their two top priorities
  • 56% intend to match wage increases to remain the same or above inflation to reduce turnover
  • 45% plan to increase or significantly increase headcount

Financial leaders are increasingly leveraging advanced technology, AI, and digital tools to gain deeper insights, streamline processes, and drive agility in decision-making. 

  • 38% of survey respondents are undecided about AI, emphasizing significant uncertainty or a lack of clear strategies. This suggests an opportunity for education and clearer communication on AI’s tangible benefits, combining and adapting existing regulations and frameworks with AI-specific guidance, as well as risk mitigation strategies to address hesitation.
  • The survey shows cybersecurity threats pose a tangible challenge to financial operations with 28% of respondents and the largest group, 50%, is “somewhat concerned.” This suggests that while not critical, the issue is still viewed as a key operational risk requiring attention and resources.

Survey responses were collected from 326 FEI executive-level members across public, private, non-profit, and government sectors. In-depth interviews with financial leaders provided additional context and insights into the findings. The full report can be viewed here.

Read more about business continuity and financial issues on Continuity Insights.

Artificial Intelligence, Business Continuity, Cyber, Employees, Enterprise Risk, Featured, Financial, Productivity, Professional Development, Technology

2025 Financial Executive Priorities Report, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Business Resiliency, Cybersecurity, Financial Education & Research Foundation (FERF), Financial Executives, Financial Executives International (FEI), Financial Resilience, Forvis Mazars, Survey, technology

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