Nearly Three-Quarters of CFOs Project Double Digit Growth in 2025: FTI Consulting’s Global CFO Report

London, 24 January 2025 — FTI Consulting, Inc. (NYSE: FCN) today announced the release of its 2025 Global CFO Report, which reveals almost three-quarters (73%) of Chief Financial Officers in the UK expect revenue growth of 10% or more over the next 12 months.

The survey, which collected the views of 655 senior finance executives across North America; Europe, the Middle East and Africa; Asia; and Australia, was conducted by the firm’s Office of the CFO Solutions practice in collaboration with CFO Dive.

Despite this optimism, talent retention and financial forecasting remain challenging. In the UK, more than 1 in 5 respondents reported struggling to retain their finance talent, while 86% believe enhanced forecasting accuracy could improve the function. This highlights challenges stemming from a reliance on manual processes in the finance department, with 80% of respondents reporting having outdated technology and tools.

Compared to their peers at larger companies, those with revenues greater than $5 billion, CFOs in the mid-market globally, firms with revenues between $100 million and $1 billion are adjusting their expectations. Only 67.5% of CFOs surveyed from this group predicted double-digit growth for 2025, down from 76% in 2024. The decrease is likely to stem from rising costs, increased competition and talent shortages.

“Our recent data shows the undeniable confidence of CFOs at larger organisations in their business prospects, when compared to peers in the mid-market,” said Christopher Ruell, EMEA Leader of Office of the CFO Solutions at FTI Consulting. “However, it remains to be seen whether this optimism will hold as new geopolitical imbalances arise, alongside ongoing inflation and energy volatilities. A notable trend among CFOs in the UK and Europe is growing frustration with outdated technology and manual processes, which are seen as obstacles to efficiency and productivity. Addressing these issues is critical.”

Additional UK insights from the global survey include:

• Freeing Finance Teams to Focus on Value
  Accelerating the adoption of finance technology to enable higher-impact activities remains a priority, with 88% of UK CFOs highlighting they would benefit from finance technology and automation. Additionally, 90% believe the finance function could be significantly improved through added value business partnering.
• Talent Conundrum
  Whilst 84% of UK CFOs report that limited access to finance talent has a negative impact on their teams, only 12% said this was due to a talent shortage, pointing to recruitment challenges rather than availability. Notably, despite the desire to see the pace of finance technology adoption increase, a lack of technological skills are not a significant barrier, with only 20% of respondents citing this as a challenge in the UK.
• CFOs on the Move
  Globally, 54% of respondents believe the average tenure of a CFO at one company to be between three to five years, with the figure rising to 63% amongst UK respondents. Meanwhile, 31% of UK respondents think CFOs have longer tenures, typically exceeding five years.
• Eyes on Cybersecurity
  Cybersecurity ranked among the top three strategic priorities for CFOs across all surveyed regions, including the UK. This heightened focus is likely to drive investment in robust defences to safeguard the organisational assets.
• The Future of the Finance Function
  Thirty-three percent of UK CFOs identified cost accounting as a key area for outsourcing, reflecting the growing reliance on external expertise to enhance operational efficiency, reduce costs and gain access to advanced technology and skills, without compromising capacity.

“These insights highlight CFOs as pivotal drivers of transformation in a rapidly changing world,” continued Mr. Ruell. “From outsourcing to streamlining costs to leveraging automation for higher-value activities, today’s finance leaders are not just adapting—they are reimagining their roles to deliver greater value and foster innovation.”

For more information, read the full survey report here.

About FTI Consulting
FTI Consulting, Inc. is a global business advisory firm dedicated to helping organisations manage change, mitigate risk and resolve disputes: financial, legal, operational, political & regulatory, reputational and transactional. With more than 8,300 employees located in 34 countries and territories, FTI Consulting professionals work closely with clients to anticipate, illuminate and overcome complex business challenges and make the most of opportunities. The Company generated $3.49 billion in revenues during fiscal year 2023. In certain jurisdictions, FTI Consulting’s services are provided through distinct legal entities that are separately capitalised and independently managed. More information can be found at www.fticonsulting.com.

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Investor Contact:
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Media Contact:
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Source: FTI Consulting, Inc.