Why CFOs must take control of AI adoption

Expectations for finance have changed. The CFO role now sets direction. Finance sits at the centre of decision-making, shaping how organisations navigate change, assess risk and allocate capital. Leadership looks to finance for judgment that holds up when conditions shift.

 

When insight arrives late, decisions narrow; when interpretation slows, risks can escalate before they’re detected. The speed of the business exposes gaps in visibility long before they appear in reported numbers.

 

CFOs must move beyond reporting outcomes. Credibility now depends on the ability to provide insights early enough to influence outcomes, not simply report results after the window to act has closed.

 

‘Doing more with less’ has hit its limit

 

Teams operate at the edge of what their operating model can sustain. Expectations continue to rise while headcount and budgets remain flat, widening the gap between what leadership needs and what finance can realistically deliver. This gap can’t be closed with traditional tools alone. AI provides the capacity and speed finance needs to respond proactively.

 

This isn’t an efficiency problem – it’s structural. Leaders need to expand their team’s capacity to respond in real-time.

 

Why AI has entered the conversation

 

AI already in use across finance teams, through formal implementations or informal workarounds. The demand for faster insight is quickly outpacing what standard processes can support.

 

Tighter timelines, rising expectations and the need to protect decision quality are driving this shift. Finance leaders are increasingly turning to AI not as an experiment, but as a tool to deliver measurable results.

 

CFOs can no longer afford a reactive approach to AI. Teams implementing AI effectively are seeing tangible returns: clearer insights, expanded capacity and greater confidence in their numbers.

 

What CFOs are starting to recognise

 

The conversation has shifted from “does AI matter?” to “where and how can we use it to improve workflows?” Thoughtful adoption frees teams from repetitive tasks, allowing them to focus on scenario analysis, strategic planning and guiding business decisions – directly influencing outcomes rather than simply reporting them.

 

Pressure on finance isn’t slowing. Leadership expects faster answers, earlier signals and stronger confidence in the numbers – and those expectations won’t bend to fit legacy systems.

A clear AI strategy gives finance the space to act proactively. It shows where AI can automate routine tasks, free capacity and strengthen judgement; where control must remain tight; and how insights can remain transparent and trustworthy even as speed increases. Organisations that move deliberately gain faster, more accurate insights, increased team capacity and the ability to guide decisions rather than chase them. The first step to turning these opportunities into results is knowing where your team stands today.

 

Don’t let fragmented AI adoption slow your finance function: access the CFO’s AI Roadmap to build a strategy that increases capacity, improves insight, and strengthens decision-making.

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