US corporate finance leaders have firmly pivoted their focus from revenue growth to cost control as they navigate through an uncertain economic environment and rapidly changing business landscape, according to the "2023 US Bank CFO Insights Report."
The survey of more than 1,400 senior finance professionals nationwide revealed that the top two priorities are cost controls within the finance function—up from the eighth highest priority in 2021—and cost controls across the entire business, a shift from 2022.
Meanwhile, driving revenue growth has been deprioritized compared to 2021 when it was a top priority for finance leaders.
Key survey findings include:
Top risks
Rising interest rates, while still not a top risk, jumped from the least concerning risk last year to middle of the pack this year (23%). Similarly, regulatory changes (25%) moved up in the risk rankings this year.
Finance leaders ranked talent shortage (43%), pace of technology change/digital disruption (40%) and high inflation (38%) as the top risks facing their businesses. California finance leaders said high inflation is their top business risk, much higher than finance leaders across the country.
Only 33% of finance leaders are more than somewhat confident in their company’s ability to manage inflation risks; Only 6% are highly confident.
Cuts versus growth
Cost cutting and driving efficiencies within the finance function is the top priority (38%), compared with 30% in 2022 and a mere 23% in 2021; cost cutting and driving efficiencies across the business is the second highest priority (33%).
Driving revenue growth was the fifth-highest priority (23%), up slightly from 2022 but down from the second-highest priority (35%) in 2021.
56% of finance leaders currently struggle to balance cost cutting and building resiliency with investment in future growth, up from 46% in 2021.
Areas for efficiencies
Despite the increasing need to control costs, CFOs are not turning to layoffs, as the competition for talent remains tight. Only 19% plan to reduce headcount, compared with 40% in 2021.
Instead, CFOs ranked investing in technology in order to cut costs first, followed by restructuring their workforce and outsourcing business functions and processes. Data analytics (53%), artificial intelligence (52%) and cloud computing (48%) are the top priorities for technology investments.
Within the healthcare sector, about six in 10 believe AI could completely redefine how the finance function is operated. In other sectors, it was only about half of finance leaders.
Increased appetite for digital payments
68% of respondents intend to use instant payments (RTP® Network, FedNow Service) two years from now. The survey found that 42% currently use real-time payments, up from 38% in 2022.
Respondents from consumer and retail (56%) and hospitality and leisure (54%) were more likely to say they used instant payments today than industries such as oil and gas (34%) and aerospace and defense (30%).
Improved working capital (46%) resulting from faster payments processing, and improved customer and supplier experiences (43%) are the two primary drivers for adoption of instant payments.
To view the full report, CLICK HERE.
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