Manage Your Finances Wisely

Hungarian CFOs are responding to economic difficulties and skills shortages not only with short-term cost optimization, but also with long-term technological modernization. Last year, 57% of CFOs introduced cost-cutting measures, while 62% are planning automation and digitalization developments over the next three years.

This is stated, among other things, in PwC's 7th Hungarian CFO Survey. At the presentation of the survey, interested parties were able to learn about real-life corporate examples from participating economic actors, including mature digitization solutions, financial team competency development, and EPM systems.

Hungarian financial managers are increasingly seeking opportunities for development, while the economic environment and regulatory changes are forcing them to constantly adapt. 57% of the managers surveyed tightened their corporate belts, while 39% were involved in organizational restructuring or acquisitions in the past year. Their situation has been complicated by a number of factors, and this year has seen a significant increase in all risk factors compared to the outstanding optimism of 2024. 83% of respondents cited the unfavorable economic environment as a major obstacle, 79% cited geopolitical risks and protectionism, and an equal 74% cited the shortage of skilled professionals and increasing overregulation. Almost all values are 10 percentage points higher than in the previous year.

As Roland Balogh, director of PwC Hungary's CFO advisory team and head of the research, points out, "financial leaders are working under increasing pressure, while external uncertainty, skills shortages, and regulatory burdens are also intensifying. These challenges fundamentally influence CFOs' decisions, focus areas, and development priorities, as well as the strategies they use to adapt to the ever-changing environment."

Among the biggest challenges over the next three years, they cited maintaining and increasing team motivation (78%), finding and retaining skilled employees (75%), and managing pressure to reduce costs (78%).