Welcome to FIN's Insights

Hello and welcome!

Thank you for subscribing - we’re excited to have you on board as we dive into how artificial intelligence is reshaping finance across industries.

Every two weeks, you’ll receive actionable insights, real-world examples, and practical tips to help you confidently apply AI within your finance team and broader business.

This newsletter is designed to be interactive and useful, so we’d love to hear from you. Share your ideas, questions, or suggestions - we’re building this resource with you and for you.

This Week’s Focus: AI’s Practical Role in Industry Finance

Artificial intelligence is no longer just a buzzword - it’s delivering real, measurable benefits to finance teams across industries like manufacturing, retail, and logistics. From sharper forecasts to smarter controls, AI is fast becoming an essential tool for today’s finance professionals.

3 Ways AI Is Helping Finance Teams in Industry

1. Enhanced Forecasting and Planning
AI-driven analysis of sales, supply chain, and operational data improves forecast accuracy, enabling more informed budgeting and resource allocation.

2. Automated Transaction Processing
Tasks such as invoice matching, expense claims, and reconciliations can be automated, cutting manual effort and reducing errors.

3. Anomaly Detection and Risk Monitoring
AI rapidly flags unusual transactions or patterns, strengthening internal controls and reducing the risk of costly errors or fraud.

Industry Insight

Recent surveys show more finance teams are adopting AI to streamline operations and support strategic decision-making. Early adopters report increased efficiency and stronger confidence in their reporting.

Practical Tip

Start small: identify a repetitive finance task and pilot an AI tool to automate it. Even modest wins can save time and build trust in AI within the team.

Example:
We've just worked with a £18m turnover business within the tourism sector. The CFO Fraser, and his team, pinpointed five routine tasks that were taking up over a day and a half of their time each week. They’ve started with one: Stripe payment reconciliations. By training an AI smart assistant (SA) to handle this task, they’re building confidence before expanding to the remaining four. This step-by-step approach is helping them shift time toward higher-value activities.

New: AI for Finance: The Essentials 

Ready to go deeper? Our AI for Finance: The Essentials course is now available to early subscribers for just £179.10. (Use THIS LINK before May 28th, usual price £199)

You’ll get:

• 10 case studies showing AI in action across finance functions

• 15+ tailored tool overviews - focused on finance use

• A 5-phase roadmap to guide your AI journey

• Expert-led video content and walkthroughs

• A practical “How-To” AI Policy template

• Access to a growing community of finance peers

• A drop-in clinic with Marie Speakman, our AI expert - get your questions answered and explore your next steps

Whether you're just starting or scaling AI in your finance team, this course offers practical, finance-focused support.

Enroll HERE. 

Your Input Matters

What challenges or questions do you have about applying AI in your finance role? We’d love to hear from you.

Thanks again for reading - in our next issue, we’ll explore the key skills finance teams need to succeed with AI.

Regards,
Marie Speakman & Kirsty Mackenzie

The Finance Innovation Now Team 

P.S. If you find this newsletter helpful, please share it with colleagues in your organisation.