Deloitte CFO Survey
Spring/Summer 2025 Report
Navigating volatility, leading with insight
CFOs feeling less optimistic about Irish economy
Winter
Spring
The world has changed significantly since we launched our last survey back in December. The global economy has continued to shift and evolve, with rising geopolitical tensions and a renewed focus on competitiveness across Europe.
Back in December, our Winter CFO Survey survey detected a rising sense of caution among Irish finance leaders, and we can now see that the impact of these market headwinds is becoming tangible for Irish businesses, with forecasted revenues and financial prospects falling sharply as a result.
Our latest report, which surveyed over 1,500 senior finance leaders across 14 European countries, shows that CFOs are bracing themselves for the impact of this external disruption – with the economic outlook and geopolitical risk cited as the top risks to business, alongside cyber threats. Both sales and supply chains are expected to be impacted, with over 60% of those surveyed facing high levels of uncertainty.
Despite this, Irish businesses are continuing to focus on remaining competitive in the marketplace – with a planned increase in capital investment above the European average. CFOs are also prioritising retaining and growing their workforce, with less than 14% planning to decrease headcount in Ireland, compared to 35% across Europe.
Amid continued volatility, finance leaders must remain future-focused and balance immediate cost-led measures with strategic investment to drive growth and build resilience.
Download the full report here for analysis from our experts on:
- Economic outlook and global trade
- Cost optimisation and value creation
- Strategic investment and tech transformation
- Building a sustainable business
CFO Snapshot:
Tom Hynes, Partner in Finance Transformation, shares his insights on the current sentiment and future outlook for Irish CFOs:
“Trade protectionism and renewed geopolitical risk are clearly weighing on CFO sentiment. The vast majority of Irish CFOs now expect tariffs and global tensions to directly affect their operations, and optimism has fallen sharply compared to last year.
That said, Ireland still presents opportunity. A significant number of CFOs believe there’s more scope to grow foreign direct investment, and we are seeing resilience in capital investment and ESG spending.
But the slower pace of digital transformation in Ireland compared to other European countries is a concern – this is an area where companies need to act now to remain competitive. For any business to not only survive but thrive, digital transformation needs to be a top priority and investment.”
Explore the European CFO Survey Spring 2025 report here.
