Core Insights - Corporate finance leaders are in consensus that changes are necessary in response to the current economic environment, with 98% of surveyed financial leaders indicating plans to alter their business strategies [1] Group 1: Economic Adjustments - 57% of middle-market financial leaders anticipate making significant changes due to the economic landscape [2] - Companies are reevaluating budgets and cutting discretionary spending (55%), implementing hiring freezes or slowing recruitment (38%), and building cash reserves (31%) [2] Group 2: Workload and Pressure on Finance Teams - 96% of finance leaders reported being asked to "do more with less," with 28% feeling this pressure "to a great extent" and 52% "to a moderate extent" [3] - Approximately 20% of companies are reducing investment in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives and capital investments [3] Group 3: Workforce Management - 29% of CFOs plan to reduce their workforce through layoffs or attrition by 2026 [4] - Companies are addressing labor pressures by cross-training employees (55%) and implementing new technology/automation tools (49%) [4] Group 4: Technology Investment - Half of the surveyed finance leaders plan to increase investment in AI and machine learning next year, while 39% will invest more in non-AI technology and automation [5] Group 5: Payment Processing Strategies - 74% of CFOs plan to handle vendor and supplier payments primarily in-house, while 22% will outsource this process to third-party providers [6] Group 6: Check Fraud Trends - Check fraud incidents have significantly declined, with only 22% of surveyed companies reporting attacks, down from 63% in 2024, attributed to the U.S. government's shift away from paper checks for federal payments [7]