Deloitte · 14 Oct, 05:26 · Finance briefing

Deloitte CFO Survey Q3: Economic and political uncertainty seen as the greatest constraint on UK competitiveness

Deloitte’s latest quarterly survey of Chief Financial Officers reveals that economic and political instability remains the primary obstacle to UK business competitiveness.

What it means for you ↓ Courses for this story

28%average pay gap between certified and uncertified finance staff

2.4xfaster promotion with a professional credential

83%of finance leaders rank upskilling a top-3 priority

20days to your first credential

The briefing

The story
in brief.

What happened, who it affects, and why it landed on our intelligence desk — in plain English, sixty seconds or less.

Deloitte’s latest quarterly survey of Chief Financial Officers reveals that economic and political instability remains the primary obstacle to UK business competitiveness. Respondents identified these macro-environmental factors as the most significant constraints on growth and investment decisions. The data suggests that organisations are prioritising resilience and cost control over expansion. This report highlights a cautious corporate mood, with finance leaders bracing for continued volatility. For professionals, this underscores the shifting focus towards stability, risk mitigation, and strategic agility in an unpredictable market landscape.

Employer demand for Risk Management Strategies skills — indexed growth since 2019
Indicative index of skill mentions in professional job postings for the field this story moves (2019 = 1)

Your move

What this means
for your career.

Every headline redistributes opportunity. Here is who this one rewards — and how to be on the right side of it.

This shift demands that you prioritise risk management and financial resilience in your career strategy. Professionals skilled in navigating uncertainty will see increased demand. Focus on developing expertise in risk assessment, regulatory compliance, and strategic financial planning. If you are in finance, deepen your knowledge of scenario planning and capital allocation under pressure. For other roles, demonstrate how your work contributes to organisational stability and efficiency. Update your CV to highlight experience in crisis navigation or cost optimisation. Seek training in risk management strategies to future-proof your profile. Engage with thought leadership on economic resilience. By positioning yourself as a stabilising force, you become indispensable during turbulent times. Proactive learning in these areas ensures you remain competitive regardless of external market conditions.

For this story, the fields that convert it into pay are Risk Management Strategies, Finance and Accounting, Compliance And Governance and Business And Management — exactly the programmes matched below. The chart shows the indicative salary uplift certified professionals report in each of those fields; every one of them is a click away, from £79, finishing in as few as 20 days.

Indicative salary uplift in the fields matched to this story
Indicative ranges from published continuing-education salary studies, by field — each field is a recommended course below

Matched to this story

Enrol in these
to benefit.

These programmes position you for exactly this shift — online, self-paced, and finishing with a verifiable certificate you can share the day you pass.