Corporate Finance

CFO Insights

Explore McKinsey's latest insights to help CFOs create value amid uncertainty across finance leadership, finance function excellence, capital markets and investor management, planning and performance management, and corporate and portfolio strategy.

Topics

Finance leadership
Finance function excellence
Capital markets and investor management
Planning and performance management
Corporate and portfolio strategy

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Article

Your budget is killing your strategy—here are four ways to fix it

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Traditional budgeting can undermine performance. Today, leading CFOs use budgets to turn strategy into action.

Finance leadership

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Survey

CFOs have been concerned about geopolitical impacts for months

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To cope with uncertainty, surveyed CFOs have been doubling down on performance and building cash and liquidity buffers.
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Podcast
The CFO as growth leader: A conversation with Levi’s Harmit Singh
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Levi Strauss & Company’s chief financial and growth officer, Harmit Singh, discusses growth, transformation, and the...
The camera captures CEO Anna Manz's serene smile, framed by her short blonde hair and bright blue eyes. She is wearing a dark blue top with a circular pattern.
Podcast
How Nestlé’s CFO sharpens focus across a global portfolio
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Anna Manz shares her learnings on managing geopolitical and macroeconomic uncertainty, setting priorities, and the changing nature...
Florian Waldmann screenshot
Interview
Getting an ERP transformation back on track
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The country CFO of METRO Austria took on the company’s ERP challenge, finding success in focusing on issues that had nothing...
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Article
Four dos and don’ts for CFOs leading transformations
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In a new survey, CFOs report a continued push to transform their organizations. Here’s how they can best support those...

Finance function excellence

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Survey

Putting AI to work: The operational excellence imperative

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Our survey uncovers how operational excellence becomes the hidden accelerator of AI at scale.
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Podcast - The McKinsey Podcast
Rewiring for AI: From ambition to advantage
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Companies chase AI everywhere but often fail to capture value—because they’re missing the muscle to scale what works.
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Blog Post
McKinsey and Google Cloud launch the McKinsey Google Transformation Group to scale enterprise impact for the AI era
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McKinsey and Google Cloud today announced the McKinsey Google Transformation Group, expanding the two organizations’ long-standing...
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Article
The capex crucible: What finance teams can learn from data center builds
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The data center industry’s growth rate is pushing teams to innovate. Its tool kit offers lessons for others.
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Article
How finance teams are putting AI to work today
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Real-world examples reveal how finance functions apply AI to deliver faster insights, stronger controls, and measurable results....

Capital markets and investor management

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Article

What a new investor survey reveals about consensus estimates

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New findings show misses matter only when they signal a weaker outlook. Plus, guidance on disclosures, earnings calls, and long-term communication.
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Article
What matters most to investors in 2026 and what it means for companies
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Even before the Middle East conflict began, geopolitics surged as the foremost investor concern. AI disruption and capital allocation...
McKinsey Global Economics Intelligence
Insights Collection
McKinsey Global Economics Intelligence
Provides macroeconomic data and analysis of the world economy
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Article
Unlocking full potential: Five practices reshaping PE value creation
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The half-life of the initial deal thesis is shrinking. Private equity firms are shifting toward a more adaptive, execution-led...
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Article
How are companies valued?
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Three McKinsey experts explain what really drives valuation—and where leaders often get it wrong.

Planning & performance management

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Article

The art, science, and technology of geopolitical scenario planning

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Strategic foresight is not about predicting the future but setting strategy and building capabilities to navigate multiple potential futures. Here’s how to select and apply five instruments of foresight.
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Article
Here’s how budgets can keep up with accelerating uncertainty
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As CFOs reflect on budget seasons that come and go too quickly, it’s time to recognize the advantages of a more agile,...
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Article
Keep calm and allocate capital: Six process improvements
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The most effective resource allocation processes are radically simple.
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Article
Advanced FP&A practices for a volatile macroeconomic and business environment
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Great models help leaders understand complexity and navigate through uncertainty. Six practical steps for better financial planning...
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Survey
Tying short-term decisions to long-term strategy
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A new survey confirms the well-founded principles behind the allocation of resources for long-term value creation.

Corporate and portfolio strategy

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Article

How private equity is using M&A integrations to overcome headwinds

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Amid valuation challenges, portfolio roll-ups, combinations, and capabilities integrations, private capital firms can find strategies that deliver.
Report
2026 M&A trends: Navigating a rapidly rebounding market
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After dealmaking slowed momentarily in early 2025, global M&A activity quickly assumed a grand scale—delivering big...
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Article
What CFOs need to get right in a buy-side carve-out
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CFOs can tackle “dis-synergies” and stranded costs, among other complexities, with flexible models and well-structured...
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Article
How American business can prosper in the new geopolitical era
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In a shifting world order, US companies’ continued success will hinge on an understanding of policymakers’ intentions....
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Article
How AI is transforming strategy development
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Artificial intelligence is set to revolutionize strategy activities. But as AI adoption spreads, strategists will need proprietary...