The AI Threat Finance Leaders Need to Talk About

Roger Knocker • November 4, 2025

Finance professionals love precision.

We’ve built our careers on getting the numbers right.


But here’s the uncomfortable truth:

The world doesn’t need another spreadsheet. It needs insight, fast.


And AI is about to expose the difference.


AI Isn’t the Threat


Andrew Brown put it perfectly on the FP&AI Podcast:

“AI won’t replace finance people. But finance people who don’t learn to use AI will be 

replaced by those who do.”


It’s not about robots stealing jobs.

It’s about the speed and clarity AI brings to the table.

If someone else can produce insight ten times faster than you, who do you think the CEO will 

call first?


The New Game in Finance


AI tools are already automating tasks we once spent hours on:

 

  • Data pulls
  • Month-end reconciliations
  • Variance explanations

 

But AI alone doesn’t deliver leadership.

It’s the questions we ask and how we frame the answers that create value.


The winners will be those who use AI as an amplifier, not a crutch.


What AI Can’t Replace


AI can’t replace curiosity.

It can’t replace the strategic “so what” behind the numbers.

It can’t step into a boardroom and say,

“Here’s where we’re going, and here’s the story that will get everyone aligned.”


That’s where you come in.


The finance professionals who thrive will be the ones who pair AI’s speed  with human

insight.


  • They use AI to get the data fast.
  • They use human judgment to shape the story.


The Growth Mindset Advantage


The real challenge isn’t technology.

It’s mindset.


If you’re clinging to old ways of working such as manual processes and endless spreadsheets,

you’re already behind.

The leaders of tomorrow are experimenting with AI, learning how it thinks, and

discovering new ways to deliver value.


The Question to Ask Yourself


Are you threatened by AI?

Or are you curious enough to see how it can make you sharper, faster, and more

strategic?


Because AI isn’t coming for your job.

But someone who knows how to use it absolutely is.

________________________________________

This article is inspired by my conversation with Andrew Brown on the FP&AI Podcast –

Episode 2:  Finance, AI, and the Growth Mindset of the Future.

When Finance Stops Reporting and Starts Leading

By Roger Knocker • October 28, 2025
Discover how finance teams can move beyond reporting to lead strategy—turning data into direction and driving better, faster business decisions.

If Finance Isn’t Leading It’s Falling Behind

By Roger Knocker • October 22, 2025
When did finance become the department of “no”? “No, we can’t spend that.” “No, that’s not in the budget.” “No, that’s not how we do it.” Here’s the truth: If finance is just a gatekeeper, it’s failing the business. Finance Isn’t Just About Numbers Andrew Brown put it bluntly on the FP&AI Podcast: “Finance should be leading conversations about the future, not just reporting the past.” Think about it— What’s the point of a month-end pack that no one reads? What’s the point of perfectly reconciled accounts if they don’t change the way decisions are made? Finance isn’t just about accuracy. It’s about impact . The Business Partner Mindset T he best finance professionals think like entrepreneurs. They ask: Where are we really making money? What assumptions are broken? How do we change the levers to hit our goals? They don’t just report results. They interpret them. They walk into the room with a story, a strategy, and a plan. What Johan Taught Us Remember Johan, the volunteer deacon who turned financial updates into action? He wasn’t trying to impress anyone with accounting jargon. He used a worm chart and a waterfall chart to tell a simple story: Are we on track with donations? If not, where are we falling behind—and why? It worked because it made the future clear. That’s what business partnering looks like. The Shift Every Finance Team Must Make B ookkeepers report. Business partners lead. The shift is subtle but powerful: From data-dumping to decision-driving. From hiding behind compliance to leading with insight. From “here are the numbers” to “here’s what they mean—and what to do next.” Your Move So, is your finance team stuck in bookkeeping mode? Or are you stepping up as a commercial conscience— the team that sees ahead and helps the business win? The mindset shift starts here: Stop asking “What happened?” Start asking “What’s next?” ________________________________________ This article is inspired by my conversation with Andrew Brown on the FP&AI Podcast – Episode 1: Finance as a True Business Partner – Beyond the Numbers.
More Posts