New DFIN Survey Reveals Cautiously Optimistic CFOs Planning Increased M&A Activity for 2025 Amid Economic Uncertainty
DFIN's new survey reveals 94% of finance decision-makers rate their company's performance as strong, with 76% planning increased M&A activity in 2025. Key findings include:
1. 84% report a positive outlook on macroeconomic trends
2. Over 52% have invested in new technology to scale their business
3. AI is a top priority, with many planning to use it for data analysis and improving internal controls
4. 75% have taken steps to comply with proposed SEC climate-related disclosures
5. ESG is the second most prioritized compliance technology after AI
However, concerns persist about inflation, cybersecurity threats, and potential recession. The survey highlights a shift towards modernization and increased performance in finance offices, with companies leveraging AI and other advanced technologies for strategic growth and ESG compliance.
Il nuovo sondaggio di DFIN rivela che il 94% dei decisori finanziari valuta la performance della propria azienda come positiva, con il 76% che prevede un aumento delle attività di M&A nel 2025. I principali risultati includono:
1. l'84% riporta un outlook positivo sulle tendenze macroeconomiche
2. Oltre il 52% ha investito in nuova tecnologia per far crescere il proprio business
3. L'AI è una priorità assoluta, con molti che prevedono di utilizzarla per analisi dei dati e per migliorare i controlli interni
4. il 75% ha intrapreso azioni per conformarsi alle proposte di divulgazione relative al clima della SEC
5. L'ESG è la seconda tecnologia di conformità più prioritaria dopo l'AI
Tuttavia, persistono preoccupazioni riguardo all'inflazione, alle minacce informatiche e a una potenziale recessione. Il sondaggio mette in evidenza un passaggio verso la modernizzazione e l'aumento delle performance negli uffici finanziari, con le aziende che sfruttano l'AI e altre tecnologie avanzate per una crescita strategica e la conformità ESG.
La nueva encuesta de DFIN revela que el 94% de los responsables de decisiones financieras evalúan el rendimiento de su empresa como fuerte, con el 76% planeando un aumento de actividades de M&A en 2025. Los hallazgos clave incluyen:
1. el 84% reporta una perspectiva positiva sobre las tendencias macroeconómicas
2. Más de el 52% ha invertido en nueva tecnología para escalar su negocio
3. La IA es una de las principales prioridades, con muchos planeando usarla para el análisis de datos y la mejora de controles internos
4. el 75% ha tomado medidas para cumplir con las divulgaciones relacionadas con el clima propuestas por la SEC
5. El ESG es la segunda tecnología de cumplimiento más prioritaria después de la IA
Sin embargo, persisten preocupaciones sobre la inflación, las amenazas cibernéticas y una posible recesión. La encuesta destaca un cambio hacia la modernización y un aumento en el rendimiento de las oficinas financieras, con las empresas aprovechando la IA y otras tecnologías avanzadas para un crecimiento estratégico y el cumplimiento del ESG.
DFIN의 새로운 설문조사에 따르면 94%의 금융 의사 결정자들이 자사의 성과를 강하게 평가하고 있습니다, 76%는 2025년에 M&A 활동을 증가시킬 계획이라고 합니다. 주요 발견 사항은 다음과 같습니다:
1. 84%가 거시 경제 트렌드에 대해 긍정적인 전망을 보고했습니다
2. 52% 이상이 비즈니스를 확장하기 위해 새로운 기술에 투자했습니다
3. AI는 주요 우선 사항으로, 많은 기업들이 데이터 분석 및 내부 통제 개선을 위해 이를 사용할 계획입니다
4. 75%가 SEC의 기후 관련 공시에 부합하기 위한 조치를 취했습니다
5. ESG는 AI 다음으로 두 번째로 중요한 준수 기술입니다
그러나 인플레이션, 사이버 보안 위협, 잠재적 경기침체에 대한 우려는 여전히 남아 있습니다. 이 설문조사는 재무 부서의 현대화 및 성과 증가로의 전환을 강조하며, 기업들이 전략적 성장 및 ESG 준수를 위해 AI와 기타 첨단 기술을 활용하고 있음을 보여줍니다.
Le nouveau sondage de DFIN révèle que 94% des décideurs financiers évaluent la performance de leur entreprise comme solide, avec 76% prévoyant d'augmenter leurs activités de M&A en 2025. Les principales conclusions incluent :
1. 84% rapportent une perspective positive sur les tendances macroéconomiques
2. Plus de 52% ont investi dans de nouvelles technologies pour développer leur entreprise
3. L'IA est une priorité absolue, beaucoup prévoyant de l'utiliser pour l'analyse des données et l'amélioration des contrôles internes
4. 75% ont pris des mesures pour se conformer aux divulgations relatives au climat proposées par la SEC
5. L'ESG est la deuxième technologie de conformité la plus prioritaire après l'IA
Cependant, des préoccupations persistent concernant l'inflation, les menaces de cybersécurité et une éventuelle récession. L'enquête met en lumière un passage vers la modernisation et une amélioration des performances dans les bureaux financiers, les entreprises tirant parti de l'IA et d'autres technologies avancées pour une croissance stratégique et une conformité ESG.
Die neue Umfrage von DFIN zeigt, dass 94% der Finanzentscheidungsträger die Leistung ihres Unternehmens als stark bewerten, wobei 76% eine erhöhte M&A-Aktivität für 2025 planen. Zu den wichtigsten Ergebnissen gehören:
1. 84% berichten von einer positiven Perspektive hinsichtlich makroökonomischer Trends
2. Über 52% haben in neue Technologien investiert, um ihr Geschäft auszubauen
3. KI hat hohe Priorität, viele planen, sie zur Datenanalyse und zur Verbesserung interner Kontrollen zu nutzen
4. 75% haben Schritte unternommen, um sich an die vorgeschlagenen SEC-Offenlegungen zu klimabezogenen Themen anzupassen
5. ESG ist die nach KI am zweithäufigsten priorisierte Compliance-Technologie
Es bestehen jedoch Bedenken hinsichtlich Inflation, Cyberbedrohungen und möglicher Rezessionen. Die Umfrage hebt den Übergang zur Modernisierung und die Steigerung der Leistung in den Finanzbüros hervor, wobei Unternehmen KI und andere fortschrittliche Technologien für strategisches Wachstum und ESG-Compliance nutzen.
- None.
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They will Leverage AI and Other Advanced Technologies for Strategic Growth as well as Continue Investing in Global ESG Compliance
Inflation and Cybersecurity will Remain Top Concerns, with Companies Cautiously Balancing Risks
"Our survey findings highlight a significant shift toward modernization and increased performance in the finance office," said Craig Clay, President of Global Capital Markets, DFIN. "We are encouraged by CFOs' optimistic business outlook for 2025 and the pivotal role that innovative technology, such as DFIN's ActiveDisclosure, will play in helping public and private companies scale with confidence."
2025 Survey Top Trends
An Optimistic Company Outlook is Prevalent. Finance decision-makers overwhelmingly rate their company's performance as strong and have a positive outlook for 2025.
- 84 percent of finance decision-makers report a positive outlook regarding the current macroeconomic trends and their impact on business.
- Neary three-fourths of CFOs, a subset of the total respondents surveyed, plan to increase M&A activity in 2025.
- Over 52 percent of finance decision-makers say they have invested in new technology to help scale their business.
AI Investment Is Essential for Finance Decision-Makers. Finance decision-makers increasingly prioritize AI investments to boost company efficiency and modernization, with over half planning to use AI for data analysis and improving internal controls.
- AI is a top priority for driving efficiency with a majority of respondents planning to invest in AI in the next six months.
- Over half of survey respondents plan to use AI to automate processes and improve data analysis.
- Similarly, nearly half of survey respondents will use AI to enhance internal controls.
Funding ESG Compliance Efforts Strengthens Stakeholder Trust. Over half of all CFOs plan to continue funding ESG compliance efforts despite the SEC's stay on climate disclosure.
- Three-fourths of survey respondents have already taken steps to comply with the SEC's proposed climate-related disclosures.
- Finance decision-makers are proactively complying with
California's climate disclosure bills, with 60 percent establishing an internal ESG committee and 60 percent developing an ESG reporting framework. - Following AI, ESG is the second most prioritized compliance technology, with nearly 60 percent of respondents planning to invest in 2025.
Market-related concerns persist. Inflation, unpredictable economic conditions, and the looming threat of a recession (real or perceived), are top of mind for finance decision-makers. Cybersecurity threats, such as phishing, also remain significant concerns.
- 49 percent of CFOs are worried about inflation impacting business performance.
- 47 percent of CFOs are concerned about cybersecurity threats.
- 39 percent of CFOs are wary of threats from AI but overwhelmingly choose to invest in it while proceeding with caution.
- Private company CFOs are more concerned than their public company counterparts regarding AI and cybersecurity.
- To download the Survey Whitepaper, CFO Outlook 2025: Strategic Growth, Tech & ESG in Focus, visit https://info.dfinsolutions.com/cfo-survey-whitepaper/.
The survey findings will be discussed during a CFO Panel at DFIN Activate, the company's annual executive summit held September 11 at the Fairmont Grand Del Mar Resort in
About the Survey
The DFIN CFO Survey was commissioned to gain a deeper understanding of the macrotrends impacting finance decision-makers. Conducted online from July 2-11, 2024, by business intelligence leader Morning Consult, the survey targeted finance and accounting decision-makers with titles such as CFO, Controller, SVP, or VP. Respondents were required to have decision-making authority in one or more of the following areas: financial reporting, corporate audits, developing proxy materials, SEC filing, virtual data rooms, ESG reporting, ESG policy and procedure, or deal due diligence.
About DFIN
DFIN is a leading global provider of innovative software and technology-enabled financial regulatory and compliance solutions. We provide domain expertise, enterprise software, and data analytics for every stage of our clients' business and investment lifecycles. Markets fluctuate, regulations evolve, technology advances, and through it all, DFIN delivers confidence with the right solutions in moments that matter. Learn about DFIN's end-to-end risk and compliance solutions online at DFINsolutions.com, or you can also follow us on X (formerly Twitter) @DFINSolutions or LinkedIn.
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SOURCE Donnelley Financial LLC
FAQ
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