Screen Reader Mode Icon Check SCREEN READER MODE to make this survey compatible with screen readers. CFO Forecast Question Title * 1. How many years have you served in a senior financial executive role? Less than 1 year 1-2 years 3-5 years 6-10 years 11-15 years 16-20 years 21 or more years OK Question Title * 2. Which of the following best describes your current job title/function? (Select one only.) CFO Controller/Comptroller Treasurer Chief Accounting Officer Sr VP, VP of Finance Other (please specify) OK Question Title * 3. Which of the following best describes your company or organization’s industry or service sector? Accounting Services Firm Ad Agency/Marketing/Public Relations Co. Architectural Firm Banking/Finance/Credit Cards Insurance Securities Brokerage/Asset Management Business Services Co. (Delivery, Printing, etc.) Construction/Contractor Co. Consulting Services Firm Digital Technology (Social Media, Web 2.0, Information Services) Technology (Search Engine, Software or Hardware) Co. Education Energy/Utilities Entertainment (Film/TV Production, Sports Teams, etc.) Co. Food/Beverage/Restaurants Non-Profits (Arts, Culture, Charity) Org. Executive Search/Recruitment/Staffing Co. Government/Social Services Hospitality (Hotels, Event Venues, Meeting/Event Planning, Tourism) Co. Hospitals and Health Care Scientific/Technical Services (Pharmaceutical/Bio-Tech/Research) Labor Union Law Firm (Legal Services) Manufacturing/Industrial Equipment Co. Media Real Estate Retail/E-Commerce Co. Telecommunications Co. Transportation/Logistical Services Co. Wholesale Trade/Distribution/Import/Export Co. Other (please specify) OK Question Title * 4. What was your company or organization’s approximate 2018 total revenue? Less than $500,000 $500,000 - $999,999 $1 million - $9.9 million $10 million - $49.9 million $50 million - $99.9 million $100 million - $499.9 million $500 million - $999.9 million $1 billion - $2.99 billion $3 billion or more I don't know OK Question Title * 5. Over the last 1-2 years and in addition to your day-to-day duties and responsibilities, what one or two particular issues, challenges, or opportunities have you devoted the most time to addressing? OK Question Title * 6. What made this/these issues/challenges or opportunities priorities for you? OK Question Title * 7. To what extent do you believe the following areas will be (or will not be) priorities for your company or organization over the next 12-24 months? Not at all Important Not Very Important Somewhat Important Important “Mission Critical” Cybersecurity Cybersecurity Not at all Important Cybersecurity Not Very Important Cybersecurity Somewhat Important Cybersecurity Important Cybersecurity “Mission Critical” Other Risk Management Issues Other Risk Management Issues Not at all Important Other Risk Management Issues Not Very Important Other Risk Management Issues Somewhat Important Other Risk Management Issues Important Other Risk Management Issues “Mission Critical” Budgeting and Forecasting Budgeting and Forecasting Not at all Important Budgeting and Forecasting Not Very Important Budgeting and Forecasting Somewhat Important Budgeting and Forecasting Important Budgeting and Forecasting “Mission Critical” Talent Retention Talent Retention Not at all Important Talent Retention Not Very Important Talent Retention Somewhat Important Talent Retention Important Talent Retention “Mission Critical” New Tools/Technology Systems New Tools/Technology Systems Not at all Important New Tools/Technology Systems Not Very Important New Tools/Technology Systems Somewhat Important New Tools/Technology Systems Important New Tools/Technology Systems “Mission Critical” Agile Continuous Planning Agile Continuous Planning Not at all Important Agile Continuous Planning Not Very Important Agile Continuous Planning Somewhat Important Agile Continuous Planning Important Agile Continuous Planning “Mission Critical” Growth Strategy/ M&A Growth Strategy/ M&A Not at all Important Growth Strategy/ M&A Not Very Important Growth Strategy/ M&A Somewhat Important Growth Strategy/ M&A Important Growth Strategy/ M&A “Mission Critical” Blockchain Blockchain Not at all Important Blockchain Not Very Important Blockchain Somewhat Important Blockchain Important Blockchain “Mission Critical” Regulatory Compliance Regulatory Compliance Not at all Important Regulatory Compliance Not Very Important Regulatory Compliance Somewhat Important Regulatory Compliance Important Regulatory Compliance “Mission Critical” Readiness for ASC 606 Readiness for ASC 606 Not at all Important Readiness for ASC 606 Not Very Important Readiness for ASC 606 Somewhat Important Readiness for ASC 606 Important Readiness for ASC 606 “Mission Critical” OK Question Title * 8. To what extent has the scope of your duties and responsibilities expanded in recent years? They have expanded considerably They have expanded somewhat They have expanded slightly They have not expanded OK Question Title * 9. Please briefly describe what new duties/ responsibilities you have taken on in recent years. OK Question Title * 10. Nearly two years after the 2017 tax reform, have you found it to be: Positive for your company Negative for your company Having no impact on your company OK Question Title * 11. Do you consider data privacy and security a strategic risk to your organization? Yes No OK Question Title * 12. Have you created a robust and sustainable cybersecurity program? Yes No OK Question Title * 13. Does your cybersecurity program include the following elements: (select all that apply) Includes the right cyber talent (both tactical and strategic) Tests from the hackers perspective (not just a periodic penetration test) Monitors for threats inside your network Monitors network traffic for suspicious activity None of the above OK Question Title * 14. What is the biggest challenge you face regarding recruiting and retaining talent? (please select one only) Generational shifts make it common for employees to move in less than 2 years at a company Employees exploring entrepreneurship and moving away from full-time positions Lack of culture fit for both the company and the employee Lack of quality candidates, especially for higher level roles Increased competition between larger organizations with status and stability versus smaller start-ups offering unique benefits and higher salaries More competitive job market as a result of low unemployment rates OK Question Title * 15. What is your company or organization’s current strategy for employee retention in today’s competitive labor market? Creative total rewards structure Work/life balance through flexible work schedules Investment and focus on career development Positive work culture A mix of two or more of the above Other (please specify) OK Question Title * 16. What investments are you most likely to make in your employees in the next 12 months? Training (technical specific) Training (leadership specific) Recruiting resources Increase compensation Other (please specify) OK Question Title * 17. What types of expenses, if any, are currently trending higher than US rate of growth? Select all that apply: Health care Other types of insurance Taxes Payroll Inventory, materials and supplies Real estate Technology T&E Professional services None of these Don’t know Other (please specify) OK Question Title * 18. Over the next 12-24 months, do you expect your company or organization’s spending on business-related travel will: Increase significantly Increase moderately Increase slightly Stay about the same Decrease slightly Decrease moderately Decrease significantly I don’t know OK Question Title * 19. To what extent, if any, are confusion and uncertainty regarding various US governmental/ regulatory issues slowing, delaying, or stopping major initiatives or investments your company or organization planned to make over the next 12-24 months? None Slight Impact Moderate Impact Significant Impact Tariffs and Other Trade Issues Tariffs and Other Trade Issues None Tariffs and Other Trade Issues Slight Impact Tariffs and Other Trade Issues Moderate Impact Tariffs and Other Trade Issues Significant Impact Overall Economic Outlook Overall Economic Outlook None Overall Economic Outlook Slight Impact Overall Economic Outlook Moderate Impact Overall Economic Outlook Significant Impact Impeachment Proceedings Impeachment Proceedings None Impeachment Proceedings Slight Impact Impeachment Proceedings Moderate Impact Impeachment Proceedings Significant Impact Regulatory Reform Regulatory Reform None Regulatory Reform Slight Impact Regulatory Reform Moderate Impact Regulatory Reform Significant Impact OK Question Title * 20. How have the U.S. trade tariffs affected your company’s financial situation? Extremely negatively Somewhat negatively No effect Somewhat positively Extremely positively OK Question Title * 21. How has your company responded to the new tariffs? Select all that apply Raised prices Absorbed price increases Accepted smaller margins Eliminated products Added new products Laid off staff Hired additional staff Not applicable Other (please specify) OK Question Title * 22. Which of the following best characterizes your company or organization’s involvement with the following advanced data/information/decision tools: Currently we have no plans use it We are considering using it We are just starting to use it We make moderate use of it We make heavy use of it Predictive Analytics Predictive Analytics Currently we have no plans use it Predictive Analytics We are considering using it Predictive Analytics We are just starting to use it Predictive Analytics We make moderate use of it Predictive Analytics We make heavy use of it Artificial Intelligence Artificial Intelligence Currently we have no plans use it Artificial Intelligence We are considering using it Artificial Intelligence We are just starting to use it Artificial Intelligence We make moderate use of it Artificial Intelligence We make heavy use of it Machine Learning Machine Learning Currently we have no plans use it Machine Learning We are considering using it Machine Learning We are just starting to use it Machine Learning We make moderate use of it Machine Learning We make heavy use of it Data Visualization Data Visualization Currently we have no plans use it Data Visualization We are considering using it Data Visualization We are just starting to use it Data Visualization We make moderate use of it Data Visualization We make heavy use of it Cloud-Based Solutions Cloud-Based Solutions Currently we have no plans use it Cloud-Based Solutions We are considering using it Cloud-Based Solutions We are just starting to use it Cloud-Based Solutions We make moderate use of it Cloud-Based Solutions We make heavy use of it OK Question Title * 23. What role is Robotic Process Automation (RPA) playing in your firm and how do you anticipate this to change? We have implemented some RPA within our organization We have not implemented any RPA but we discuss doing it in the future RPA is not in our long term plans at the moment OK Question Title * 24. Over the last two years to what extent has the financial side of your company or organization relied on the following types of outside service providers Our use of outside service providers has declined significantly Our use of outside service providers Our use of outside service providers has remained about the same Our use of outside service providers has expanded somewhat Our use of outside service providers has expanded significantly Accounting Accounting Our use of outside service providers has declined significantly Accounting Our use of outside service providers Accounting Our use of outside service providers has remained about the same Accounting Our use of outside service providers has expanded somewhat Accounting Our use of outside service providers has expanded significantly Financial Analysis Financial Analysis Our use of outside service providers has declined significantly Financial Analysis Our use of outside service providers Financial Analysis Our use of outside service providers has remained about the same Financial Analysis Our use of outside service providers has expanded somewhat Financial Analysis Our use of outside service providers has expanded significantly Tax Tax Our use of outside service providers has declined significantly Tax Our use of outside service providers Tax Our use of outside service providers has remained about the same Tax Our use of outside service providers has expanded somewhat Tax Our use of outside service providers has expanded significantly Treasury Treasury Our use of outside service providers has declined significantly Treasury Our use of outside service providers Treasury Our use of outside service providers has remained about the same Treasury Our use of outside service providers has expanded somewhat Treasury Our use of outside service providers has expanded significantly Risk Analysis Risk Analysis Our use of outside service providers has declined significantly Risk Analysis Our use of outside service providers Risk Analysis Our use of outside service providers has remained about the same Risk Analysis Our use of outside service providers has expanded somewhat Risk Analysis Our use of outside service providers has expanded significantly OK Question Title * 25. Overall, how optimistic or pessimistic are you about the business climate over the next 12-24 months? Very optimistic Optimistic Somewhat optimistic Neither optimistic nor pessimistic Somewhat pessimistic Pessimistic Very pessimistic OK Question Title * 26. How likely is the US to experience a significant economic downturn in the next 12-24 months? Highly likely Somewhat likely Not anymore likely or unlikely than usual Somewhat unlikely Highly unlikely I don’t know OK Question Title * 27. How does your current level of confidence in the economy and regulatory environment impact your budgetary decision-making for 2020? I'm very optimistic – I may make a significant increase my budget (possibly 10% or more) I'm somewhat optimistic – I may make a moderate increase in my budget (possibly 1-9%) I’m somewhat uncertain - I may make little or no change in our budget I'm somewhat pessimistic – I may make a moderate reduction in our budget (possibly 1-9%) I'm very pessimistic – I may make a significant reduction our budget (possibly 10% or more) My level of confidence has no impact on our budgetary decision-making OK Question Title * 28. With unemployment levels at record lows, do you expect to increase wages in 2020? Yes No Uncertain OK Question Title * 29. What are your capital investment plans for 2020? Less than 2019 Same as 2019 More than 2019 OK Question Title * 30. Is your company deferring investments and capital expenditures until the 2020 Presidential election is decided? Yes No OK Question Title * 31. What factors are influencing your capital investment plans? (check all that apply) The impact of tariffs Overall economic environment Domestic political climate Global political climate Sector- or industry-specific factors OK Question Title * 32. How do you plan to handle your debt level in 2020? Pay it down Maintain current level Borrow more Debt is not a significant part of our financial structure (skip to end) OK Question Title * 33. If debt is an important part of your financial structure, where are you currently accessing funds? Bond issues Commercial bank Private equity Other lenders (please specify): OK DONE