Confident finance: Making smarter decisions in an uncertain economy

In today’s fast-moving economy, the margin for error is smaller than ever – because every decision matters.

In Pleo’s recent report, The power of better business decisions, 58% of financial decision-makers say they’re making more high-level decisions than they were a year ago; a number which climbs to 65% for CFOs.

Yet many business leaders admit they could be making smarter, more informed financial choices. In fact, finance professionals aren’t fully confident about 41% of the high-level business decisions they make. It’s easy to see why: markets are volatile, pressures are mounting and the sheer amount of data can be overwhelming.

The good news? That uncertainty doesn’t have to be a hindrance: with the right framework, it can be turned into opportunity.

By combining better data, clear visibility, strong collaboration and sound human judgement, finance teams can make confident decisions that don’t just manage risk, but also drive resilience and growth. In other words, the tools and mindset are there to act decisively – even when the future feels unpredictable.

We’ll explore why confidence matters more than ever, what can hold it back and how finance leaders can build the foundations for smarter, faster and more impactful decision-making.

Key takeaways:

• Confidence drives better decisions. In uncertain markets, decisive, informed choices create momentum, consistency and improved performance across the business.
• Barriers like data distrust, disjointed systems, lack of transparency and fear of failure can undermine confidence –  but the right tools and processes can remove these obstacles.
• The right framework matters. Visibility, collaboration, empowerment, technology and a culture of learning give finance teams the foundations to act quickly and strategically.
• AI and analytics filter noise and surface insights – but they can’t replace human judgement. The future of decision-making is confident humans using AI to make smarter, faster choices.

Why confidence matters more than ever

If the past few years have taught finance teams anything, it’s that the old ‘wait and see’ approach doesn’t work anymore. Markets move fast. Disruptions come out of nowhere. And when decisions stall, so does the business.

Confidence helps teams cut through the noise. It gives CFOs and finance leaders the clarity to act quickly with the information they have – without second-guessing every move. In an unpredictable environment, that speed isn’t just helpful: it’s a competitive advantage.

And that’s not all. Confidence drives consistency.

When decisions are made confidently, they also become more consistent – and that’s exactly what teams across a business depend on.

Confident finance leaders don’t get swept up in the latest crisis or internal pressure. They rely on data, processes and a clear understanding of what the organisation is trying to achieve. That stability builds trust. People know where decisions are coming from and why they matter, making it easier for everyone to stay aligned and move forwards together.

Confidence might sound like a soft skill – but in finance, it’s a performance driver. When leaders feel sure of their decisions, they’re more willing to challenge assumptions, explore new opportunities and make the strategic calls that push a business forwards.

And that mindset spreads. Teams feel more empowered. Collaboration improves. Results follow. In short: confidence creates momentum – something every business needs when the world is shifting around them.

What undermines financial decision confidence?

Even the most capable finance teams can struggle to make confident calls when the foundations aren’t quite right. A few common barriers tend to show up again and again:

Data distrust

Nothing shakes confidence faster than data you’re not sure you can rely on. When numbers come from different sources, are updated at different times or don’t quite match up, it’s harder to make decisions you can stand behind. Instead of enabling action, data becomes something teams tiptoe around.

Disjointed systems

When tools don’t talk to each other, people end up doing the talking instead – usually through endless spreadsheets, manual workarounds and ‘just checking’ messages. It slows everything down. And when finance is piecing information together by hand, there’s always that lingering doubt: Are we seeing the whole picture?

Lack of transparency

Confidence thrives on clarity. But when spend is scattered, approvals happen in the background or key information sits with just a few people, decision-making becomes a guessing game. Leaders can’t act decisively if they can’t see what’s really happening.

Fear of failure

Uncertainty naturally brings caution. That’s not a bad thing – but too much of it can paralyse teams. If people worry that getting a decision wrong will lead to blame or scrutiny, they’re far less likely to take ownership or move quickly. That fear erodes confidence from the inside out.

When you put all these barriers together – shaky data, scattered systems, limited visibility and a fear of getting things wrong – it’s no wonder confidence takes a hit.

These challenges create an environment where uncertainty grows and momentum stalls.

The good news? Every one of these issues can be fixed. And when they are, finance teams unlock the confidence, clarity and speed they need to guide the business forwards.

Building confidence: A framework for smarter financial decisions

Confidence doesn’t just appear out of nowhere. It’s built – piece by piece – through the right habits, tools and team dynamics.

So, how’s it done?

Here’s a simple framework that helps finance teams make smarter, faster decisions even when the economy feels unpredictable:

1. Visibility

You can’t make confident decisions about what you can’t see. Clear, real-time visibility into spending, cash flow, commitments and performance removes the guesswork. When finance teams have a single source of truth – and the business knows where to look for answers – decisions can stop relying on gut feelings and start relying on facts.

2. Collaboration

Good decisions rarely happen in isolation. Finance needs input from budget owners, department leads and teams on the ground. When people share context early and openly, decisions get sharper, risks get spotted sooner and everyone feels invested in the outcome. Collaboration turns decision-making into a shared effort instead of a last-minute firefight.

3. Empowerment

Confidence grows when people are trusted to act. That means giving teams the autonomy to make day-to-day financial decisions within clear guidelines – without waiting for endless approvals. Empowered teams move faster, feel more accountable and surface issues sooner. And finance gains the confidence that the organisation is spending wisely without tight control slowing things down.

4. Technology

Smart tools strengthen decision-making. The right technology connects data, automates repetitive tasks and brings clarity to processes that used to be messy. Whether it’s real-time spend tracking, automated workflows or advanced analytics, technology gives finance leaders the information and structure they need to act decisively – not defensively.

With AI and analytics on the rise, this role is only becoming more important. Tools can surface insights, highlight trends and filter out noise – but they don’t replace human judgement. In fact, they make it more critical than ever. It’s about learning how to use these tools confidently to complement human decision-making, rather than relying on them blindly.

5. Learning

Even confident teams get things wrong sometimes. The key is creating a culture that learns from decisions rather than punishes them. Regular reviews, open discussions and an appetite for experimentation help teams improve over time. Learning turns uncertainty into insight – and insight into better decisions.

Confidence in financial decision-making isn’t about luck or bold guesses: it’s about building the right foundations. With clear visibility, strong collaboration, empowered teams, smart technology and a culture of learning, finance leaders can make decisions with clarity, speed and certainty.

The result? Smarter decisions, faster action and a business that can navigate uncertainty without losing momentum.

The value of human decision-making in the age of AI

It’s tempting to think that as AI and analytics take off, human decision-making in finance would become less important – but as we mentioned above, that’s far from the case. In fact, the numbers tell a different story.

In Pleo’s recent report, The power of better business decisions, 60% of finance professionals say human judgement has actually become more important in the age of AI. Why is that?

The answer is simple: the stakes are higher than ever.

Markets are unpredictable. Pressures are rising, and decisions often need to be made in hours, not weeks. It’s no surprise that confidence can slip and stress can climb; nearly half of finance leaders – 47% – have experienced decision-freeze in the past year.

Technology can surface the data, but someone still needs to interpret it, weigh trade-offs and make the call that aligns with business strategy.

That’s where AI really shines – not as a replacement, but as a confidence booster. Smart tools filter out noise, highlight patterns and flag risks, giving finance teams a clear, actionable picture.

By removing guesswork, AI allows human decision-makers to focus on what they do best: judgement, creativity and strategic thinking.

The future isn’t ‘humans vs AI.’ It’s humans using AI confidently, making faster, smarter decisions with better insight, and with the confidence to act even when the market is uncertain. In this new era, human judgement and AI don’t compete: they complement each other.

Leading with confidence in uncertainty

Uncertainty isn’t going away anytime soon. Markets will continue to shift, pressures will keep mounting and finance leaders will face tough choices at every turn. But one thing is clear: confidence, clarity and collaboration are the superpowers that make those decisions stronger, faster and smarter.

Building confidence isn’t about eliminating risk: it’s about giving teams the visibility, tools, autonomy and culture to act decisively. It’s about leaning on technology and AI to cut through the noise whilst keeping human judgement at the heart of every decision. And it’s about learning from every choice, building momentum and creating a business that doesn’t just survive uncertainty, but thrives in it.

When finance leaders lead with confidence, the ripple effect is profound: decisions are clearer, teams feel empowered and the business can move forwards with speed and purpose. In uncertain times, confidence is the competitive edge that sets the best apart.

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