As budget reviews wrap up for the new financial year, many CFOs are focused on improving efficiency, protecting margin, and driving better value from every operational dollar.

One of the most significant costs often left unchallenged is office space. Whether your lease is recently renewed, mid-term, or approaching expiry, this asset should be actively evaluated—not just passively managed.

This article outlines 10 critical questions CFOs should ask to uncover hidden inefficiencies in their office footprint and ensure their workplace strategy aligns with financial priorities.

10 Critical Questions for the CFO

1. What is your cost per employee, per site?
Understanding the cost of space per person is the baseline for measuring efficiency. if you workplace has shifted to hybrid or flexible work, your per-head cost may have increase event without a change in rent.

2. Are meeting rooms, desk, and shared areas used consistently?
Utilisation data often reveals that key areas sit empty for large parts of the week. Tracking this can help identify opportunities to reduce or reconfigure space.

3. Does your current layout reflect how teams work today?
Many offices still operate with layouts designed before hybrid work became the norm. Reviewing whether your space supports real collaboration and productivity is essential.

4. Are you forecasting any major headcount changes in the next 12 to 24 months?
Workplace strategy must align with growth or contraction forecasts. Committing to a lease that doesn’t match future needs can create significant financial drag.

5. Can you consolidate teams or locations?
Consolidating teams can reduce both direct property costs and the friction of siloed operations. Even small moves can unlock measurable savings.

6. Have you reviewed lease obligations like make-good clauses and landlord incentives?
Many CFOs underestimate the cost of lease-end obligations or miss the window to negotiate favourable terms. Understanding these early can prevent large, unplanned CAPEX hits.

7. Are key departments aligned on workplace priorities?
A disconnect between Finance, HR, and Operations can lead to misaligned decisions and unnecessary spend. Estabilishing shared goals for the workplace is a critical early step.

8. Are you evaluating your options far enough ahead of lease trigger points?
Waiting too long to engage with landlords or brokers limit flexibility and negotiating power. The earlier your team assesses the situation, the more options you retain.

9. Are your workplace cost forecasts flexible and scenario-tested?
Most space plans are locked into a single forecast. Scenario modelling allows you to respond to changing business conditions without incurring waste.

10. Do you have enough clarity to confidently engage external partners?
Before speaking with landlords, brokers, or design teams, it’s important to have a clear internal brief. This reduces rework, aligns stakeholders and saves time and money.

Why These Questions Matter to CFOs

Office space is often the second-largest fixed cost after salaries. But unlike headcount, space is rarely reviewed with the same rigour. By asking better questions, CFOs can turn a seemingly fixed cost into a strategic asset.

Want to make smarter end of lease decisions? Download our Lease-End Decision Took to better assess your workspace requirements and make informed choices.