Today’s finance leaders are rewriting the playbook, moving from back-office operators to strategic copilots. In this masterclass, we explore how CFOs are embedding AI into finance to unlock speed, accuracy, and control without trading off flexibility.
Join Kevin Appleby, host of GrowCFO, and Apurv Bansal, Co-founder & CFO at Zenskar, as they discuss real-world AI applications, automation frameworks, and how to build a future-ready finance org.
You’ll learn
- From Manual to Intelligent Finance: Automating reconciliation, provisioning & reporting
- AI in Action: How AI flags anomalies before they impact revenue
- Revenue Optimization Without Leakage: Strategies to spot inefficiencies early
- Next-Level Business Partnering: Empowering finance to support GTM teams
- Your 2025 Finance Stack: Building a lean, scalable & AI-powered operation
Who should watch?
CFOs, VPs of Finance, FP&A Leads, Controllers, and Finance Transformation champions who are building agile, tech-forward teams.
Meet your speakers
Kevin Appleby
Host, GrowCFO
Kevin is one of the UK’s leading voices in CFO transformation, with deep experience helping finance leaders adapt to the changing demands of modern business. Through GrowCFO, he’s built a global community of thousands of senior finance professionals, providing guidance on leadership, strategy, and digital evolution.
Apurv Bansal
CEO & CFO, Zenskar
Apurv blends deep finance expertise with a builder’s mindset. At Zenskar, he’s leading the charge in automating billing and empowering modern finance teams with smarter workflows. His focus? Turning complexity into clarity for high-growth companies.
Webinar Summary
Q. What is the focus of the masterclass
The masterclass is about how CFOs can lead finance transformation with AI in 2025. The session focuses on the evolving role of CFOs, the impact of AI on finance, and how CFOs can leverage technology to improve processes like order-to-cash and purchase-to-pay.
Q. Why is AI important for finance transformation?
AI is driving significant change in finance by automating routine processes, improving accuracy, and providing insights that help CFOs make more informed strategic decisions. With AI, CFOs can optimize cash flow, reduce manual work, and enhance financial forecasting.
Q. How have the expectations for CFOs evolved in recent years?
Over the past few years, CFOs have moved from being number crunchers to strategic advisors. They are now expected to lead finance transformation, including adopting AI, managing sustainability agendas, and driving business strategy beyond financial reporting and compliance.
Q. How did the role of the CFO change during the COVID-19 crisis?
During the COVID-19 crisis, CFOs were deeply involved in crisis management, business planning, and strategy implementation. They had to quickly adapt to changing circumstances, showing that their role was no longer just about finance but also about guiding the company through uncertainty.
Q. What role does AI play in the future of finance?
AI is set to drive change across major financial processes like purchase-to-pay, order-to-cash, and financial reporting. CFOs will need to adopt AI to stay competitive, improve efficiency, and provide real-time insights into the business.
Q. How can automation improve cash flow and financial decision-making?
Automation, especially with AI-driven agents, can streamline billing, collections, and financial forecasting. This helps CFOs optimize cash flow by ensuring more accurate invoicing, timely collections, and improved revenue recognition, without relying on manual processes.
Q. Can you provide a real-world example of how small AI initiatives have improved financial KPIs?
One example is Jeff Martini, CFO at Bishop Lifting, who implemented AI agents to manage Day Sales Outstanding (DSO). By using AI to prioritize which debts needed attention and automate dunning letters, they saw a significant improvement in cash flow by reducing DSO.
Q. How can AI agents help optimize financial operations without a full system overhaul?
AI agents can be implemented alongside existing systems, like ERPs or sales solutions, to improve specific financial processes. For example, they can automate collections or generate invoices based on sales contracts, driving efficiency without requiring major system changes.
Q. What is the importance of selecting the right tools for finance transformation?
The right tools help CFOs streamline operations, reduce costs, and drive growth. It's crucial to evaluate solutions based on implementation speed, scalability, and how well they integrate with existing systems. Selecting the right tools ensures a smooth transition to AI-powered finance processes.
Q. How do you determine the right time to implement AI in financial operations?
Companies should consider implementing AI when they face scaling challenges, like a growing team or increasing transaction volumes. AI can help optimize workflows, reduce manual tasks, and improve accuracy, making it an essential tool for scaling operations without overburdening the finance team.
Q. How can finance teams ensure AI adoption is successful and not just a shiny object?
To avoid "shiny object syndrome," CFOs need to focus on measurable business outcomes. They should clearly define goals, implement AI incrementally, and ensure the solutions address real pain points. Proper training, communication, and integration with existing systems are also essential for success.
Q. What mindset shift do CFOs need to embrace to lead AI adoption?
CFOs must adopt a mindset of embracing change and continuous learning. Leading AI adoption requires being proactive, involving the entire team in the process, and ensuring buy-in from all departments. CFOs should also focus on how AI can enhance productivity, not replace jobs.
Q. How can finance professionals adapt to AI changes without feeling threatened?
Finance professionals should see AI as a tool that enhances their capabilities, not something that will replace them. By embracing AI, they can automate routine tasks, allowing them to focus on more strategic work. Continuous upskilling and adapting to new technologies are key.
Q. How can CFOs ensure that AI adoption delivers clear returns?
CFOs should carefully evaluate AI tools based on their potential return on investment. It's essential to have a clear business case, set measurable objectives, and ensure that AI solutions integrate seamlessly with existing workflows. This ensures AI adoption contributes to business growth and efficiency.
Q. What are the most important capabilities CFOs should prioritize in their finance tech stack for 2025?
Key capabilities include easy implementation, seamless integration, and AI-driven analytics. CFOs should look for tools that can handle order-to-cash processes efficiently, provide real-time insights, and support strategic decision-making, particularly in areas like forecasting and sustainability reporting.
Q. How long does it typically take to implement AI agents in finance?
AI agents can be implemented quickly, with many solutions taking only 2-3 weeks to integrate into existing systems. The ease of implementation is one of the key advantages of AI agents, which can automate tasks like billing, reconciliation, and reporting without extensive setup.
Q. Can AI agents be set up by finance teams without technical expertise?
Yes, many AI agents are designed for use by finance teams without the need for technical expertise. Solutions like Zenskar allow finance professionals to set up and manage AI agents without depending on IT teams, enabling more autonomy and efficiency.
Q. What are the biggest blockers to AI adoption in finance?
The top blockers include a lack of in-house technical talent, poor data quality, resistance to change, and siloed systems. Addressing these challenges is essential for successfully adopting AI, as it requires good data governance, clear business cases, and team-wide buy-in.
Q. How do AI-powered solutions improve revenue management and reduce leakage?
AI can automate billing, ensuring invoices are accurate and reducing the risk of revenue leakage. For example, AI agents can flag under-billed or over-billed customers, allowing companies to correct mistakes and prevent revenue loss. This leads to improved cash flow and profitability.
Q. Finally, how can CFOs drive AI adoption and lead finance transformation within their organizations?
CFOs must be proactive in leading AI adoption, starting with clear communication and involving all departments in the process. They should prioritize AI tools that deliver tangible results, ensure seamless integration, and focus on training their teams to leverage these technologies effectively.
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