As artificial intelligence reshapes the corporate landscape, chief financial officers (CFOs) stand at a pivotal intersection where finance meets technology.
Despite early skepticism, artificial intelligence has become a key member of the C-suite. In fact, Gartner predicts that by 2026 over 80% of organizations will have integrated generative AI (GenAI) into workflows in some capacity. This means it is not a matter of when, but how well a company uses new AI tools to their advantage.
This C-Suite 411 article will allow CFOs to explore how AI can complement their leadership approach and support their organization’s goals.
How The Role Has Changed
Over the past decade, the role of chief financial officer has evolved dramatically. Traditionally, CFOs were viewed as the gatekeepers of financial data. Their roles primarily focused on accounting, compliance, and financial reporting.
Thanks to advances in artificial intelligence and machine learning, the role of the CFO has shifted from one that operated backstage to a leading role in day-to-day operations. Today’s financial leaders serve as advisors to the CEO and executive team as their responsibilities expanded to include managing diverse risks such as cybersecurity threats and geopolitical disruptions.
This transformation was driven by technological innovation, regulatory demands, and a need for more strategic insight from financial leaders. As organizations navigate an era defined by rapid change and uncertainty, CFOs have been called upon to become partners capable of guiding long-term business resilience and growth.
Why Choose AI?
There are many ways a CFO can use artificial intelligence to their advantage. The integration of AI allows finance teams to shift from traditional roles to more advisory and value-driven functions, making finance not just a back-office function but a catalyst for innovation and competitive advantage.
Financial leaders can use these tools to reduce human error, streamline operations, forecast costs, and further data-based decision making. There are four main areas that AI can be used to the CFO’s advantage: data forecasting, process optimization, risk mitigation, and real-time budgeting.
AI software tools can help remove friction from finance processes while creating opportunities for strategic gains. For example, AI can automate data to maintain consistency and consolidate journal entries across multiple systems. This way instead of waiting for manual updates, CFOs can access real-time insights into variances, giving them a head start on resolving issues before they escalate.
AI can also be used to make smarter forecasts by predicting real-time market changes. Some examples include analyzing sales trends, supply chain activity, and other external variables. This enables CFOs to create more accurate and dynamic budgets that adjust in real time to changing market conditions. These AI models are also proven to improve risk management by monitoring transactions for fraud and flagging potential risks in the market. This, in turn, enhances governance and protects organizational integrity.
AI Tools to Get Started
By strategically adopting AI tools, CFOs can boost operational efficiency, uncover insights, and drive growth across the enterprise. Not sure where to get started? Start your search with the five top AI tools used by CFOs in 2025.
1. Weflow – Weflow is a sales performance platform that integrates with Salesforce to provide advanced pipeline management, forecasting, and activity capture tools. It is best used for sales forecasting and performance management tasks.
Key Features: Some highlighted features are the platform’s forecasting and pipeline management, as well as user-friendly interface and Salesforce integration.
2. Trullion – Truillion is an AI-powered accounting platform that is used for compliance and auditing tasks. The goal of this software is to help automate workflows for processes like lease accounting, audits, and revenue recognition.
Key Features: Highlighted features include AI-enabled verification, revenue recognition, and easy auditing of workflows
3. Vena Insights – This AI tool is best used for financial planning and analysis work. Vena Insights works with Microsoft’s AI to provide real-time data analysis and enhance strategies by isolating key business drivers and spotting trends.
Key Features: Some of its key features include anomaly detection, user-friendly dashboard, and flexible modeling.
4. Zest AI – This is an AI-powered automation platform for risk management. It enables lender to build tailored underwriting models to enhance credit approval rates and minimize risk.
Key Features: Highlighted features include real-time monitoring, enhanced financial inclusion, and the app is touted for its highly tailored underwriting models.
5. Rephop – Rephop is an AI-driven software that is best used for financial reporting. Its software helps financial teams simplify financial consolidation and helps enact compliance maintenance.
Key Features: Some key features include fully customizable reporting, easy data import and exporting, and keeping audit trails for compliance history.
Sources: Gartner
