AI is no longer optional in finance leadership. With McKinsey reporting that 78% of CFOs now play a central role in digital transformation initiatives, and Gartner predicting AI business value to reach $5.1 trillion by 2025, pressure is mounting. When your board mandates AI adoption, the response must be strategic—not reactive.
Start with Strategic Alignment
Deloitte’s 2023 Global Finance Trends Survey shows that 62% of CFOs cite AI as critical to their organization’s success over the next three years. Before diving into tools and technologies, define how AI will support your business strategy. Align initiatives with specific objectives, such as:
- Cost reduction targets
- Revenue growth goals
- Risk management requirements
- Competitive positioning
- Operational efficiency metrics
Understand your AI Journey
Not all AI deployments are created equal. According to McKinsey’s 2025 report on AI in business, the most significant EBIT impact comes from workflow redesign, not just automation.
- Enterprise Workflow Transformation:
Embedding AI within enterprise-wide automation requires deliberate planning and end-to-end process redesign. The ROI can be substantial—but only with the right foundation.
- Knowledge Worker Productivity:
Tools like ChatGPT and Copilot can boost individual productivity but require different deployment models. These may be harder to scale or justify without clear ROI metrics.
Identify High-Impact Opportunities
Evaluate where AI can deliver the greatest value within your finance function. Benchmark performance against industry standards to identify and prioritise transformation areas.
According to KPMG’s Finance AI Adoption Study, the highest ROI is being seen in:
Accounts Payable/Receivable
- 80% reduction in processing time
- 95% accuracy in invoice processing
- 60% cost reduction per transaction
- Month-End Close
- 50% reduction in close cycle time
- 70% decrease in manual reconciliations
- 45% improvement in accuracy
- Financial Planning & Analysis
- 35% improvement in forecasting accuracy
- 40% reduction in planning cycle time
- 25% decrease in reporting errors
Choosing a well-scoped, high-visibility “lighthouse” use case—aligned with business goals—can build organisational momentum.
Building your Implementation Strategy
A strong business case starts with a clear baseline: where you are now and what it will take to transition to an AI-powered operating model.
Key factors include:
- Assess the Current State
- Technology platform capabilities
- Quality and accessibility of your data
- System integration capabilities
- Team skills and readiness
- Select a Lighthouse project
- High visibility within the organisation
- Clear benefit alignment
- Strong success potential
- Model your expected benefits, such as:
- 30-50% reduction in processing time
- 80-90% decrease in error rates
- 20-30% improvement in employee productivity
- Develop the business case
- Implementation costs
- Ongoing operational costs
- Expected benefits timeline
- ROI calculations
- Resource implications
Proactively Manage Risks
In IBM’s AI Adoption Survey, highlights common barriers:
- 76% cite data complexity
- 69% report skill gaps
- 60% face integration challenges
Finance transformation teams should also consider risks such as:
- Change management needs
- Business continuity planning
- Cybersecurity requirements
- Data privacy compliance
If benefits are tied to cost savings, ensure there is a plan to realise those savings—whether through resource reallocation or role redesign. Many AI programs fail when organisations avoid the tough decisions that transformation demands.
Looking Ahead
The future of finance is AI-enabled. Goldman Sachs Research projects:
- $7 trillion in productivity gains by 2030
- 35-45% of finance tasks automated
- 25% reduction in operating costs
However, deploying AI within the enterprise is not without risk. Cybersecurity and data privacy should be at the forefront of your planning, along with consideration for change management and business continuity. Finance leaders must lead with strategy, align AI with business value, and build confidence through tangible outcomes.
Download our comprehensive guide: “A CFO’s Guide: Maximising ROI through AI-Powered Finance Transformation”
Note: Success metrics and statistics should be validated against your organisation’s specific context and objectives. Results may vary based on implementation approach, organisational readiness, and other factors.
