Strategies for CFOs to Navigate Tariffs and Global Disruptions

In today’s landscape, the phrase “unprecedented times” has become a cliché, yet the reality remains: the World Uncertainty Index has been steadily rising since 1990. Recent global events—such as COVID-19, the Ukraine war, inflation, and tariffs—have left CFOs grappling with heightened uncertainty about the impact of external pressures on their organisations. 

Many executives describe this era as “the end of predictability,” where established trends give way to sudden disruptions in an increasingly complex environment. Alarmingly, two in five executives still feel unprepared for future market interruptions.¹ 

"In four weeks’ time anything might happen. Or even four hours. This dramatically increases demand for scenario-based analysis and decision-making.” - Dr. Carl-Christian von Weyhe, CFO Middle & Eastern Europe, SAP

To tackle these challenges, CFOs must adopt new methodologies tailored to their organisations. This guide explores how forward-thinking finance leaders are effectively managing uncertainty by: 

• Rethinking traditional forecasting methods. 

• Embracing AI to enhance insights. 

• Improving data quality for better decision-making. 

• Weighing tough choices regarding supply partners, expense management, and pricing strategies.