News & Insights

5 Existential Questions Every CFO Must Ask in 2025

The role of the Chief Financial Officer has been stretched, reshaped, and redefined. Gone are the days of the finance chief as a retrospective scorekeeper. Today, in a landscape of economic ambiguity and rapid technological disruption, the CFO is a forward-looking strategist and a critical partner to the CEO. As a recent CFO.com survey highlights, 82% of finance leaders report facing increased responsibilities over the last five years, expanding into corporate strategy, risk management, and digital transformation. In this demanding new environment, having the right answers is secondary to asking the right questions.

Navigating Disruption with Data, Strategy, and Vision

Strategic planning has become a critical skill for CFOs. According to Travelers’ 2024 CFO study, 62% of CFOs consider strategic planning their most valued skill, highlighting its importance in future-proofing organizations. This shift underscores the CFO's role in managing not just finances, but also in shaping the company’s direction amid economic uncertainties.

How Uncertainty Can Be a Competitive Business Advantage

Uncertainty is not just a challenge; it can be an opportunity. While many organizations stall or retreat when markets become volatile, others sometimes adapt, accelerate, and gain market share. The key difference often lies in leadership and strategies. Resilient leaders do not wait for clarity, they navigate through the fog.

According to KPMG 2024 report, 72% of CEOs indicate that the current economic environment is the most volatile they have ever experienced. Yet, some of the most successful companies of the past two decades such as Airbnb, Uber, and Slack were launched or scaled during economic downturns. This is not a coincidence, it clearly illustrates that effective leadership in uncertain times can create lasting competitive advantages.

From Financial Steward to Strategic Powerhouse

The role of the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) has transformed significantly. CFOs are no longer limited to traditional financial stewardship; instead, they have become central figures in driving strategic growth and innovation within organizations.

Historically, CFOs were primarily responsible for financial reporting and risk management. Today, they play a critical role in strategic decision-making. According to Gartner, CFOs are increasingly expected to align their organization's cost structure with unique capabilities and to act as executive champions in enterprise-wide data and analytics governance.

This shift is further illustrated by the rising number of CFOs transitioning into CEO roles. A 2023 survey by Heidrick & Struggles revealed that nearly one-third of FTSE 100 CEOs were former CFOs, an increase from 21% in 2019.

Mental Health Challenges Facing Women Entrepreneurs

Women entrepreneurs are increasingly shaping the business landscape, with approximately 13 million women-owned businesses in the U.S., representing 42% of all companies, according to Psychology Today. However, the entrepreneurial journey often presents unique mental health challenges for women, stemming from societal expectations, systemic biases, and the various roles they undertake.

Discover the Phoenix area's fastest-growing banks by deposits

The banks operating in the Phoenix area hold more than $8 trillion in total combined deposits as of Dec. 31, 2024, marking a 1.46% increase over what was reported in the year-earlier period.

The online version of this ranking expands beyond what appears in print; another 36 banks are included in our digital rankings, in addition to the 20 featured in this week's print edition.

How Small Businesses Overcome Inflation, Cash Flow, and Workforce Challenges

Small businesses serve as the backbone of the economy, employing nearly 61.6 million Americans and driving innovation across various industries, according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. However, they often face economic challenges that disproportionately affect them due to their limited resources.

Beneficial Ownership Transparency Safeguards Businesses and Global Financial Integrity

Beneficial ownership refers to the individuals who ultimately own, control or benefit from a business or legal entity. This can occur either by exercising substantial control or by holding at least a 25% ownership stake according to GreenBurgTraurig. Unlike nominal ownership, which may only be reflected in official documents, beneficial ownership offers transparency regarding who truly benefits from or directs the entity’s activities. This distinction is crucial in preventing the misuse of legal structures for illicit purposes.

How Small Business Saturday is Transforming Communities

According to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), Americans spent an estimated $17 billion on Small Business Saturday in 2023, highlighting its significant impact. Celebrated annually after Thanksgiving, Small Business Saturday was launched in 2010 by American Express and has been supported by the SBA since 2011. This event emphasizes the vital role that small businesses play in the U.S. economy.

Protect Yourself from Fake Deals and Phishing Scams this season

Scammers defrauded thousands of holiday shoppers through online scams, non-delivery schemes, and fake listings, resulting in substantial financial losses. The FBI reported almost 12,000 victims resulting in losses of over $73 million last holiday season due to scams, with thousands of victims falling prey to phishing emails, fake online stores, and fraudulent social media ads designed to deceive consumers into disclosing personal and financial information.