CFO Signals™: Quarterly CFO survey
What CFOs are thinking—and doing
The CFO Program’s quarterly CFO Signals surveys track the thinking and actions of leading CFOs. The surveys conducted are “pulse surveys” intended to provide CFOs with quarterly information regarding their CFO peers’ thinking across a variety of topics. Our goal is to explore top-tier CFO issues, in four predominant areas: business environment, company priorities and expectations, finance priorities, and personal priorities.
4Q 2024: The year in preview: Chief financial officer confidence soars heading into 2025.
View the full survey results here.
3Q 2024: US finance chiefs appear cautious headed into the 2024 election. Here’s what surveyed CFOs are watching.
View the full survey results here.
2Q 2024: The results of the quarter’s survey can be characterized by caution. A large proportion of surveyed CFOs may be waiting for more tangible, quantifiable, evidence that the economy is on the right track.
View the full survey results here.
1Q 2024: In this quarter, CFOs see North America’s economic conditions improving and potential for higher productivity with GenAI despite concerns over GenAI skills.
View the full survey results here.
4Q 2023: In this quarter’s survey CFOs diminished their 12-month outlook for economic conditions falling in most regions tracked by CFO Signals. They also indicated lower year-over-year (YOY) growth expectations for earnings, revenue, and other key metrics. Little wonder their 2024 priorities are financial performance, growth—both organic and inorganic—and cost management.
View the full survey results here.
Library
View the collection of CFO Signals available below, and check back as new editions are routinely added
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A bi-weekly thought leadership series
CFO Insights tackles the portfolio of issues finance executives face in today’s dynamic environment. It provides an easily digestible and regular stream of perspectives on those challenges—with plenty of practical advice to help you stay ahead of the competition.
About the survey
Participation
The survey seeks responses from client CFOs across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The sample includes CFOs from public and private companies that are predominantly over $3 billion (USD) in annual revenues. Respondents are nearly exclusively CFOs. Participation is open to all sectors.
Survey execution
At the opening of each survey period, CFOs receive an email containing a link to an online survey hosted by a third-party service provider. The response period is typically two weeks, and CFOs receive a summary report approximately two weeks after the survey closes. Only CFOs who respond to the survey receive the summary report for the first 30 days after the report is released.
Nature of results
This survey is a “pulse survey” intended to provide CFOs with information regarding their CFO peers’ thinking across a variety of topics; it is not, nor is it intended to be, scientific in its number of respondents, selection of respondents, or response rate – especially within individual industries. Accordingly, this report summarizes findings for the surveyed population but does not necessarily indicate economy- or industry-wide perceptions or trends.
More Information?
For more information about CFO Signals, please contact NACFOSurvey@deloitte.com.
