AI and the future CFO - more automated, more in control

When I took the stage at this year's Agenda CFO in Oslo, I shared my perspective on how artificial intelligence can make the finance function both more automated and more controlled. Two concepts that many still see as opposites. A recurring question, or concern, of many CFOs is:

A recurring question, or rather concern, among CFOs is:

“Don’t we lose control when we let machines take over more of the work?”

It’s a fair question, but in my experience, the opposite is true. When implemented with the right principles, AI can actually increase control. Decisions become more transparent, better documented, and easier to audit.

From reporting to steering

The CFO role is changing rapidly. It’s no longer just about reporting what has happened, but shaping what happens next.

With AI, finance teams gain tools that:

• automate repetitive manual tasks.

• reduce error rates and processing time.

• free up time for analysis, leadership, and strategic decisions.

But the real benefit isn’t just efficiency , it’s trust. Trust that your data and decisions are accurate, understandable, and verifiable. That’s why the principles of Explainable AI (XAI) and Human-in-the-loop are so essential.

Human-in-the-loop: technology with human control

At Eye-share, we’ve spent decades automating financial workflows, and we’ve seen again and again that success isn’t about replacing people, it’s about freeing them from repetitive routines. Those tedious tasks that drain motivation and often lead to very human mistakes.

That’s where the principle of Human-in-the-loop comes in.

When you work this way, the system provides suggestions, priorities, and analyses, but a human always validates and approves the outcome.

Technology handles the repetition, while the CFO and their team focus on professional judgment and strategic understanding, supported by AI that instantly sees “the bigger picture.”

This isn’t a compromise between speed and control. It’s the perfect balance of both.

Explainable AI: when decisions can be explained

The second key component is Explainable AI (XAI). Traditional AI often functions like a black box - it gives you an answer that might be correct, but you don’t know why. Or why it might not be.

With XAI, you gain transparency into how the system reasons, which data points influence its decisions, and how those factors are weighted.

For the finance function, this means every AI-based assessment becomes traceable and well-documented, a foundation for making sound and strategically informed decisions.

When the CFO understands why the system makes a suggestion, trust and control grow, and the benefits follow naturally.

The CFO of the future

The most inspiring part of Agenda CFO was hearing directly from the CFOs themselves. Several described how their role is moving from being a number cruncher to becoming a driver of innovation, technology and ethical leadership.

As I said from the stage: "AI can make the finance function more automated and more accurate, while giving the CFO more control than before."

But as with everything else, it's about choosing the right solutions and the right tools for the job. Listen to the experiences of others who have gone before you and start where there is the most to be gained from automation.

For nearly 25 years, Eye-share has delivered solutions that automate financial workflows, especially invoice processing. Some of Norway’s largest companies, across both the public and private sectors, have seen remarkable results, with over 90% of invoice approval and coding now handled by artificial intelligence. We’d be happy to chat about how eye-share Workflow could make a real difference for your company.