Many U.S. CFOs maintain a rosy three-year outlook

In the face of several crises around the globe, American finance chiefs are still largely optimistic, according to surveys by U.S. Bank, Deloitte and others.

By Dan Niepow • Sept. 29, 2026

CFO optimism held steady in Q3, but ‘warning signs’ emerge: Duke-Fed

In the latest quarterly survey, finance chiefs showed concern for rising interest rates and inflation despite general optimism for the U.S. economy.

By Dan Niepow • Sept. 23, 2026

CFOs expect AI costs to rise through 2027

In a Deloitte survey, nearly two-thirds of respondents expect AI-related costs and operational complexity to rise in the new year. Many are still prioritizing the technology anyway.

By Dan Niepow • Sept. 9, 2026

How the U.S. has avoided a recession over the last 5 years

Speaking to the Illinois CPA Society on Thursday, Fifth Third Bank's Chief Economist Jeffrey Korzenik suggested baby boomers have likely played a role in keeping the economy afloat, for now.

By Dan Niepow • Aug. 28, 2026

Accounting and finance pros hold dim view of global economic conditions

An uptick in confidence in the second quarter can’t disguise the overall dark mood.

By David McCann • July 30, 2026

Both consumers and execs are delaying financial moves amid uncertainty

A new PwC report surveying economic sentiment among consumers and financial services leaders revealed that both groups are reconsidering important decisions due to market volatility.

By Dan Niepow • July 15, 2026

A third of companies look to increase finance and accounting hires

In a recent survey of CFOs and other top finance leaders, 38% of respondents say they plan to increase hiring this year, while just 4% plan to decrease it.

By Dan Niepow • July 8, 2026

Most investment analysts want to retain quarterly financial reporting

Cutting reporting frequency in half, as proposed, may dilute investors’ ability to compare different kinds of companies

By David McCann • June 29, 2026

CFO sentiments on world economy ‘decreased substantially’ in Q2

Deloitte’s second-quarter CFO Signals survey showed notable dips in finance chiefs’ assessments of several key regional economies.

By Dan Niepow • June 25, 2026

EY-Parthenon shows diverging M&A outcomes for corporate and PE buyers

The company’s latest M&A outlook report for the remainder of 2026 predicts a “tale of two markets.”

By Dan Niepow • June 3, 2026

CFO optimism dims in the short term, U.S. Bank survey shows

Though U.S. finance chiefs believe they have better prospects over the next three years, their optimism in the near term has “cooled,” according to U.S. Bank.

By Dan Niepow • May 6, 2026

CFOs fear health benefit costs are ticking up unsustainably

In a recently released survey by consulting firm Mercer, 80% of finance chiefs said their organizations couldn’t tolerate health care cost hikes above 6%.

By Dan Niepow • April 24, 2026

Tariffs become a ‘permanent planning assumption’ for US execs

Despite a major legal setback from the U.S. Supreme Court earlier this year, tariffs are still a big consideration in executives’ scenario planning, according to a recent PwC survey.

By Dan Niepow • April 22, 2026

Private equity-backed CFOs earned average of $604K per year in 2025

A new report by executive search firm Heidrick & Struggles shows rising cash compensation and shorter tenure for top financial talent at private equity-owned businesses.

By Dan Niepow • April 15, 2026

CFO optimism, while dipping slightly, is still ‘high’, Deloitte says

The Big Four’s quarterly survey of North American CFOs reveals that many remain bullish on the economy at large and their own companies’ prospects.

By Dan Niepow • April 14, 2026

Big M&A deals roar back to the forefront

A surge of deals valued at $10 billion-plus closed in this year’s first quarter, although smaller deals may be in vogue for the rest of the year.

By David McCann • April 13, 2026

For CFOs, SEC’s semiannual reporting proposal may not change much

Lenders and investors may still demand quarterly reports from companies even if the federal government does not, experts say.

By Dan Niepow • April 10, 2026

Oak Park CFO reflects on a career in public-sector finance

Kevin Bueso talks through leading municipal finances at a time where local governments are being asked to “do more with tighter margins for error.”

By Dan Niepow • April 9, 2026

M&A deals need at least two years to reach expected ROI, CFOs say

But full-scale “cultural integration” is likely to take much longer, according to a survey by consulting firm RGP.

By Dan Niepow • April 7, 2026

Despite war and tariff uncertainty, CFOs are confident in economy: Duke-Fed survey

In the first quarter of 2026, finance chiefs’ optimism for their own business and the U.S. economy ticked up slightly.

By Dan Niepow • March 25, 2026

CFOs and private equity sponsors diverge on IPO timing and approach

While most CFOs surveyed by consulting firm Accordion said boards and sponsors should control IPO timing, more than half of PE sponsors said it’s the finance chief’s job.

By Dan Niepow • March 10, 2026

Despite volatile global conditions, finance leaders are optimistic: AICPA-CIMA survey

In the organizations’ latest economic outlook survey of CPAs and other business leaders, 39% said they’re optimistic about the U.S. economy.

By Dan Niepow • March 6, 2026

3 headwinds and tailwinds facing US economy: Goldman Sachs vice chair

From the persistence of tariffs to the promise of artificial intelligence, Robert Steven Kaplan outlined his take on the state of the American economy today.

By Dan Niepow • Feb. 27, 2026

Private equity deals hit $2.6T in 2025

New research by McKinsey & Company points to bigger deals, longer hold periods and the continued rise of “niche” methods of returning liquidity to investors.

By Dan Niepow • Feb. 19, 2026

Average enterprise business handles 40-plus bank accounts

A survey of finance leaders by fintech provider Adyen and Boston Consulting Group aims to quantify the complexities of running a large business.

By Dan Niepow • Jan. 28, 2026