Deltek: CFOs Expect Profits to Rise Despite Economic Doubt

Deltek has published research from its seventh Annual Clarity Study highlighting shifting attitudes from 375 senior leaders across the UK, Germany and Australia. 

Profits are expected to increase in 2026 according to 78% of respondents from architecture, engineering and consulting firms. 

The report notes that finance leaders in particular are expected to shape business results with greater pressure, looking to technology investments to help achieve expectations. 

Data, analytics and AI 

Data was also noted in the report, as while data and analytics serve an important role in any finance leader’s day-to-day, fragmented data can hinder almost as much as help deliver 

Join us at our CFO Summit, where like-minded leaders in finance will gather to discuss how data and analytics is one of the most important tools a CFO can use. 

Deltek’s data notes that 91% of firms surveyed state that AI is “critical” to company success, over half have not yet seen productivity or cost savings. 

Heather Larkin, CFO at Deltek, comments: “The role of the CFO has fundamentally changed. Today’s finance leaders aren’t simply reporting on performance, they’re shaping it. The highest-performing firms in our study share common characteristics. 

“They’re all connecting financial data to project data, embedding AI to deliver measurable returns, treating cyber risk as a financial exposure, and building KPI discipline that enables early intervention rather than late reporting. They understand that it’s not a case of having the most resources or the biggest teams, but about moving fast and demonstrating control.”

Rewriting the CFO playbook at the CFO Summit

AI is not the only thing that has  fundamentally transformed the way that organisations and Chief Financial Officers work. 

Core priorities are meandering away from simple finance functions as the technology promises a more efficient way of working. 

At our CXO Summit, the constantly-evolving role of the CFO is also discussed, as executives refresh their knowledge of leadership during troubled times. 

The CFO Summit, nestled inside BizClik Media’s inaugural CXO Summit taking place on 7-8 October, will bring further insights into the essentials of the CFO. 

Join us at the CFO Summit, with tickets available here. 

As Deltek research points out, improving profitability in times of economic uncertainty is a much-needed strategy. In fact, 34% of firms highlight that stronger control on purchases and approvals is their single biggest driver of profitability. 

Join us at the CFO Summit to learn more about capital strategy digital finance, risk management, compliance and leadership in uncertain markets.

Deltek is based in Virginia, US. The software development company is led by CEO Bob Hughes, who has been in the role since 2024, succeeding Mike Corkey, who moved on to be President and CEO of Deltek’s parent company Roper Technologies.

Deltek is currently used  by 30,000 organisations in a range of sectors, including aerospace, architecture, construction, consulting, engineering, defense and government contracting. 

Deltek partners:

Cognizant: Technology provider Cognizant is headquartered in New Jersey, US. CEO Ravi Kumar S has been leading the company since his appointment in 2023 and leads a team of what he terms as “350,000 super-motivated associates”. Cognizant was founded in 1994, and pulled in a net revenue of US$21.1bn in FY2025. On the Forbes Global 2000 list, it is ranked at 605, as of June 2025. The company provides consulting services with top rated companies also on the Global 2000 list, including 30 out of the 30 top pharmaceutical companies. 

Corpay: Corpay is a global S&P500 corporate payments company that aims to bring simplicity to payments through modern fintech. It aims to improve cash flow visibility, empowering customers to save time and ultimately spend less. The range of sectors it provides solutions to covers automotive, construction, education, hospitality, government and manufacturing. It is based in Atlanta, Georgia in the US, and has been under CEO Ron Clarke for 26 years

Experian: Established in 1980 and based in Dublin, Ireland, Experian plc is a global information services leader. The firm utilises advanced analytics and data solutions to assist companies with fraud prevention, credit risk management, automated decisioning and targeted marketing. Additionally, Experian offers key consumer services that aid in credit management and identity theft protection. Its CEO is Brian Cassin, previously the company’s CFO, who has held the role since 2014.

FloQast: Under CEO and Co-Founder Mike Whitmire, FloQast, founded in 2013, reached US$200m in ARR earlier in 2026. The company is based in California, US, and offers AI agents to help accounting tasks such as reconciliation automation and closing of workflows. FloQast is trusted by over 3,500 accounting teams, including name brands such as Spotify. Its main feature centres on auditable AI agents. 

InfoTek Consulting: Founded in 1997, Infotek Consulting Services is a top-tier IT resource management and consulting firm based in Ontario, Canada. Specialising in technical recruitment for sectors such as telecommunications, finance, retail, and insurance, the company bridges the gap between skilled technology professionals and leading North American organisations. Operating as a certified Women's Business Enterprise with over 25 years of industry experience, Infotek delivers tailored IT solutions and talent acquisition. It is under the leadership of President Gautam Mehndiratta, who has been at the company since 2008.