CFO Survey

Our bi-annual CFO survey collects input from over 1,100 Chief Financial Officers across Europe. This report provides an overview of the Netherlands-based CFOs’ financial outlook, as well as their views on critical business risks, inflation, strategic priorities and other factors they currently consider to be vital to success. Finally, it contains a section on supply chain and measures taken to curb issues that have arisen in this area over the past year.

Dutch CFO Survey Autumn 2022

Summary Dutch CFO Survey Autumn 2022

Compared with the previous edition of our survey, the Autumn 2022 results reveal the persisting worries and carefulness among Dutch CFOs. External forces continue to bear down on companies: the talent crunch is real, as is the constant stream of global disruptions, from geopolitics to social unrest and instability in key supply chains. The recorded downward trend of expectations regarding operating margins and other corporate indicators reflect this economic uncertainty. Hence, the overall data shows CFOs are relatively more likely to act with heightened levels of precaution. CFOs across Europe favor strategies that focus on talent attraction and retention, cost considerations and – to an extent – digitalization. While CFOs expect inflation to curb after 2023, its impact is estimated to be felt through at least the end of 2024. Much will depend on the speed with which global and local economies are able to stabilize. In the meantime, cost controls need to be supplemented by drives to realise additional market leverage through, for example, better pricing models. Simultaneously, treating cash with care is recommended in times in which interest rates are expected to harden around economies. Now more than ever, sound scenario planning and agility are required to enable firms to move fast, embrace good over perfect and swiftly be able adjust to the latest strategic insights.

About the report

The Dutch CFO survey provides an overview of the financial attitudes of Chief Financial Officers and Group Finance Directors of major companies based in the Netherlands. Published bi-annually, the Dutch Survey is aligned to the European CFO survey, including a mix of questions relevant to the CFO at a business environment, company and operational level.

Key findings CFO Survey Autumn 2022

Financial outlook

The latest Deloitte CFO survey reveals an even more negative perception of financials across the majority of industries in the Netherlands compared to the Spring 2022 survey.

On the CFO Agenda

Dutch CFOs indicate that hiring new talent, reducing existing costs, and organic growth are among their top priorities for the year to come, shying away from higher risk options.

Strategies to mitigate inflation

Dutch CFOs indicate that they are attempting to curb the effect of inflation on their business by passing on their costs while simultaneously also improving their energy efficiency and their own cash flow management.

Financial outlook

The latest Deloitte CFO survey reveals an even more negative perception of financials across the majority of industries in the Netherlands compared to the Spring 2022 survey.

On the CFO Agenda

Dutch CFOs indicate that hiring new talent, reducing existing costs, and organic growth are among their top priorities for the year to come, shying away from higher risk options.

Strategies to mitigate inflation