https://www.engineeringnews.co.za
Africa|Automation|Business|Environment|Financial|Health|Innovation|Safety|Services|Technology|Products
Africa|Automation|Business|Environment|Financial|Health|Innovation|Safety|Services|Technology|Products
africa|automation|business|environment|financial|health|innovation|safety|services|technology|products

CFOs concerned about global economy, PwC survey shows

30th June 2020

By: Tasneem Bulbulia

Senior Contributing Editor Online

     

Font size: - +

As Covid-19 restrictions continue to lift in some countries while others remain in lockdown, professional services company PwC’s latest 'Covid-19 CFO Pulse Survey' reveals that CFOs are most concerned about the effects of a global economic downturn (Africa: 51%; Global: 60%), the possibility of a new wave of infection (Africa: 39%; Global: 58%) and the financial impact on their businesses (Africa: 59%; Global: 47%).

However, they are also confident that they will be able to respond effectively to a new wave of infections.

Since March, PwC has been tracking sentiment and priorities among finance leaders about the Covid-19 outbreak.

For the latest edition, PwC surveyed 989 CFOs from 41 countries, including 41 CFOs from nine countries in sub-Saharan Africa, during the week of June 1 to 8.

“Since we first surveyed CFOs about their perceptions of and responses to Covid-19, we’ve observed how they’ve focused on safety, managed health, and economic and societal crises, and adapted their business models to rapidly shifting circumstances.

"The findings of our latest survey suggest that companies are increasingly getting to grips with conducting business in this uncertain environment. Concerns over a loss of productivity due to remote working conditions have declined — from 45% in May to 27% in June among African CFOs.

"At the same time, opportunities to innovate are rising, with about half of respondents (Africa: 49%; Global: 50%) saying they’re finding new ways to serve customers,” says PwC Africa CEO Dion Shango.

There are several other themes emerging from CFOs in the countries surveyed. Some of them are the safety of employees and clients, the need for agile plans to navigate the current global economic downturn and re-engage customers, as well as the pursuit of new revenue streams through innovation, notes PwC.

It has now been several weeks since many countries began to embark on a phased reopening of their economies, slowly permitting more commerce and other economic activities.

As these steps unfold, CFOs are implementing return-to-work plans, determining when and how – and to what extent – to bring employees back. PwC says it is positive to note that confidence levels among CFOs are high regarding plans to provide a safe working environment for their employees and clients.

African CFOs continue to expect a decline in revenue this year. CFOs’ expectations of revenue decreases align with their concerns about the impact of the global downturn and with key economic indicators.

The World Bank predicts that the global economy will experience the deepest recession since the end of World War II, with a 5.2% contraction in global gross domestic product (GDP) this year

Nigeria’s economy is expected to contract by 3.2% owing to the collapse of the oil price, while South Africa’s GDP is expected to contract by 7.1%, the deepest decline in a century. Across sub-Saharan Africa, economic activity is forecast to contract by 2.8% as a result of the pandemic.

KEY FINDINGS IN AFRICA

The majority of African CFOs are feeling very confident (Africa: 83%; Global: 74%) about their companies’ ability to provide a safe working environment for their employees and to provide a clear response and shutdown protocol in response to an increase in infections (Africa: 80%; Global; 71%).

Business leaders are equally confident about their companies’ ability to provide a safe environment for customers (Africa: 78%; Global: 79%).

Ninety-five per cent of African CFOs expect a decrease in revenue, of which more than a third expect that decrease to be more than 25%. Similarly, more than half (53%) of CFOs globally expect a decrease in revenues of up to 25%.

With regard to restoring business as usual, in May, 63% of CFOs surveyed in Africa said they would be able to get their businesses back to normal within six months if the pandemic were to end today.

A month later, this level of optimism has dropped by a third to 41% (Global: 58%) with more than half of African CFOs (59%) now saying it will take more than six months to restore their businesses.

Moreover, almost a quarter (24%) expect it will take them more than a year, compared with just 11% who thought that a month ago.

With regard to staffing, 32% of African CFOs surveyed anticipate making layoffs in the next month.

In terms of remote working, more than two-thirds of African respondents (68%) say they will take steps to improve the remote work experience (Global: 52%) and to make remote work a permanent option (Africa: 63%; Global: 52%).

More than two-thirds in Africa (68%) also plan to accelerate automation and new ways of working, compared with 50% globally.

In terms of better resilience and agility, 80% of African CFOs believe the current situation will make their companies better in the long run. Seventy-eight per cent (compared to 75% global) stated that they have achieved flexibility in the workplace.

Companies are eager to rebuild or enhance revenue streams. Most CFOs (Africa: 61%; Global: 63%) cite offering new or enhanced products or services as most important to this pursuit. Another area of importance identified by CFOs is changing price strategies by increasing or decreasing prices or offering different payment terms (Africa: 49%; Global: 48%) and exploring alternative distribution strategies, such as changing from in-person to virtual sales or delivery (Africa: 44%; Global: 36%).

As companies settle into stabilisation, cost containment remains a favoured strategy among CFOs, with 90% of African CFOs (compared with 81% globally) saying they will consider it in response to the crisis.

Almost two-thirds of respondents (Africa: 66%; Global: 56%) are considering deferring or cancelling planned investments.

On the positive side, only 26% of African CFOs (Global: 14%) say they will consider cancelling or deferring planned investments in research and development.

Nearly two-thirds of CFOs (Africa: 63%; Global: 62%) expect their technology-related spend in the next 12 months to be focused on growth, cost reduction and compliance. For the 27% of African CFOs (Global: 28%) investing for growth, this includes investment in e-commerce, and new products and services.

Edited by Chanel de Bruyn
Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor Online

Comments

Showroom

Goodwin Submersible Pumps Africa (Pty) Ltd
Goodwin Submersible Pumps Africa (Pty) Ltd

Goodwin Submersible Pumps Africa is sole distributors for Goodwin electrically driven, submersible, abrasion resistance slurry pumps.

VISIT SHOWROOM 
Flameblock
Flameblock

FlameBlock is a proudly South African company that engineers, manufactures and supplies fire intumescent and retardant products to the fire...

VISIT SHOWROOM 

Latest Multimedia

sponsored by

Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):

Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format

Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):

All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.

Already a subscriber?

Forgotten your password?

MAGAZINE & ONLINE

SUBSCRIBE

RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA

SUBSCRIBE

CORPORATE PACKAGES

CLICK FOR A QUOTATION







sq:0.248 0.301s - 178pq - 2rq
Subscribe Now