The role of the CFO is evolving rapidly. Once stewards of compliance and record-keeping, today’s finance leaders are expected to be strategic champions – guiding the business through uncertainty, delivering insights at speed, and creating operational leverage. In this new landscape, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer a buzzword—it’s a boardroom priority.
According to McKinsey, over 80% of CFOs who have adopted AI report enhanced decision accuracy, while Gartner reveals that 85% see significant efficiency gains. And yet, 61% of finance teams still haven’t integrated AI into their workflows. For finance leaders, the message is clear: it’s time to move past theoretical debates and start unlocking real-world value.
At NoBlue2, we help forward-thinking CFOs operationalise AI—turning potential into performance.
Let’s start with the big levers. Strategic AI isn’t about marginal gains—it’s about redefining the finance function itself. Whether it’s predictive analytics, intelligent automation, or exception management, strategic AI tools bring scale, speed, and foresight to decision-making.
Solutions like NoBlue2’s TaskCollect a powerful tool for financial exception management. It proactively flags anomalies—like distressed suppliers—before they become liabilities. Imagine identifying a vendor on the verge of insolvency before issuing payment. That’s not just automation—that’s risk mitigation at its best.
Other tools like Abacum, a Financial Planning and Analysis (FP&A) platform, integrate AI to streamline budgeting and forecasting, while Spendesk automatically allocates expenses into categories like accommodation or food and beverage, saving hours of manual work.
Some of the most immediate returns can come from Everyday AI that focuses on automating repetitive tasks, delivering incremental time savings that add up to significant cost reductions. As OpenAI and other platforms demonstrate, AI can handle routine tasks like summarising reports or drafting presentations, freeing up your team for strategic work.
A real-world example comes from Anne-Claire Chanvin, Founder of Finup360, who used a ChatGPT script to automate payroll booking entries. This change meant reducing a day-long task to five minutes per accountant per country; delivering a quick win to business.
The business case is clear—and measurable. Save just 1 hour per week per person in a 25-person finance team, and you’re looking at more than £50,000/year in savings (based on an average loaded cost of £50/hour). This conservative estimate doesn’t account for improved morale or increased capacity for strategic work. Sarah Fu, Founder of ELSA Capital, a financial services firm that offers investment solutions and advisory services, noted that many CFOs spend 80% of their time on mundane tasks. AI shifts this balance, enabling focus on high-value activities.
Calculation Behind the £50,000 Saving:
Even if you factor in partial adoption, variability in savings, and downtime, £50,000/year is a fair, conservative benchmark.
Adopting AI comes with challenges, particularly around data security and compliance with regulations like GDPR. CFOs must ensure that AI tools, whether built into Excel via Copilot or custom solutions on Azure, disable audit and API call logging to protect sensitive data. You must ensure you are compliant and that your data is secure, AI companies will not! CFOs must take the lead in defining safe AI adoption practices.
Ready to embrace AI? Here’s where to start:
AI won’t replace CFOs, but those who leverage it will outpace those who don’t. From intelligent process automation to anomaly detection, AI is already reshaping the finance toolkit. At NoBlue2, we’re committed to helping CFOs harness AI to drive efficiency, reduce costs, and focus on strategic leadership. Start small, think big, and move fast – your team is ready to lead the finance function of the future.
Contact us at NoBlue2 to explore how our AI solutions can transform your finance operations.
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