Study: CFOs think the job's becoming more difficult

Thanks to skyrocketing health costs, tighter financial regs and unstable economic conditions, finance chiefs are facing an unprecedented set of demands today.

A recent Robert Half Management Resources study found that 80% of CFOs believe it’s more difficult to be a company leader today than it was just five years ago.

The study asked around 1,400 chief finance officers of U.S. companies with 20 or more workers the following question: “Do you think it’s more or less challenging to be a company leader in today’s business environment versus five years ago?” Here’s how your peers responded:

• 50% said it was somewhat more challenging
• 31% said it was significantly more challenging
• 14% said there was no change
• 3% said it was somewhat less challenging
• 1% said it was much less challenging, and
• 1% said they didn’t know.

So how are finance chiefs responding to the increasing challenges? The study found that more CFOs are bringing in consultants to help them tackle critical tasks.