AI agents in finance: More than just hype

What are AI agents, exactly?

AI agents are software programs powered by artificial intelligence that can perceive their environment, make decisions, and take actions to achieve specific goals - often with little to no human input. They combine data processing, machine learning, and natural language capabilities to operate semi-autonomously within defined boundaries.

At their core, they’re like digital coworkers. Traditional bots follow rigid rules: if X happens, do Y. But AI agents take things a step further. They’re designed to understand goals, interpret data, and act based on context. Think of them as virtual assistants with brains, capable of navigating ambiguity and making informed choices - not just ticking boxes.

Unlike traditional automation tools that follow simple if-this-then-that logic, AI agents are more dynamic. They can reason, make decisions, and adapt based on context. They’re trained to operate independently (within limits), complete multi-step processes, and interact with humans naturally - often via chat.

In short: they’re digital team members. But instead of taking breaks or logging off at 5 PM, they run 24/7, quietly boosting productivity behind the scenes.

Real-world examples across industries

It’s not just theory - here’s how AI agents are already changing the game:

• Supply chain efficiency: Fashion platform Miinto uses Vertex AI Vision to detect duplicate product listings. The result? A 40% boost in operational efficiency and a 20% lift in conversion rates.
• Customer service at scale: Telecom Italia deployed a voice-based AI agent that now handles the bulk of customer calls - leading to a 20% improvement in efficiency.
• Documenting knowledge work: Commerzbank uses AI to automate 85% of its client call documentation, freeing up time for value-added work.

The takeaway? AI agents thrive when used to streamline complex, recurring tasks that suck up time and introduce risk.

Why finance teams are the perfect use case for AI agents

When looking for high-impact use cases for AI agents, three boxes need ticking:

1. Repetitive workflows - like expense reporting and invoice chasing.
2. Multi-variable processes - for example, determining if an expense complies with company policy.
3. Clear ROI - especially when delays or errors have hard financial consequences.

Finance teams have all of these. And still, according to Payhawk’s The New CFO Tech Gap Report, only 35% of CFOs say their current tech stack meets their needs and supports growth. That means a staggering 65% of finance leaders are working with outdated, inefficient systems, many of which create data silos, slow decision-making, and block global expansion efforts. It’s no wonder that three in four CFOs plan to make major or significant changes to their tech stack in the next 12 months .

How to bring AI agents into finance - the Payhawk way

At Payhawk, we’ve been working hard to build a suite of powerful AI agents designed specifically for finance teams. Together, they form what we call the AI Office of the CFO.

And we’re not talking about vague futuristic ideas - these are practical, task-focused agents that our customers, part of our Payhawk Labs program, already use.

Let’s meet them.

Financial controller agent
This one’s a game-changer. The Financial controller AI agent handles the entire expense lifecycle - from chasing receipts and approvals to flagging anomalies and analyzing documents. The best part? It does it all through natural language conversations, whether you’re in the Payhawk platform, Slack, or Microsoft Teams.

Key superpowers:

• Conversational submissions - Employees submit expenses via chat, the agent fills in the blanks, and follows up on missing info.
• Analysis & anomaly detection - It doesn’t just remind, it proactively highlights risks and policy breaches - before they reach approvers.
• Proactive chasing - It nudges employees in the right channels to get those lingering receipts and approvals done - without your team lifting a finger.

Procurement agent (In training)
Sick of purchase requests turning into endless email threads? This agent simplifies the whole process. Employees just describe what they need, and the agent guides them through policies, collects approvals, and even helps compare vendors. No forms, no friction - just fast, compliant procurement.

Travel agent (In training)
Booking business travel? A time sink. This agent handles it all - from booking policy-compliant flights and hotels to collecting receipts and categorizing expenses. Finance gets full visibility. Employees get time back.

Payments agent (In training)
This one’s your frontline for finance questions. It handles employee queries about payments, reimbursements, and supplier transactions - investigating issues and providing answers, so your finance team doesn’t have to.

The magic of AI agents lies in automation and we’ve already seen the amazing results it achieves.

For example, our customers at Astrid & Miyu - a jewellery brand with e-commerce and stores across the UK and Europe - have cut processing times by 66%, freeing up 40+ hours a week for their team.

"Payhawk didn’t just fix our problems - it gave us a better way of working. The team is happier, our processes are smoother, and we’re better positioned for future growth," says Stephen Wilkinson, Finance and Operations Director at Astrid & Miyu.

Another example of the power of automation comes from one of the largest transportation and logistics companies in Europe - Discordia. Tsvetomir Uzunov, Discordia’s CFO, shares more:

"We've boosted employee productivity by over four times and expect even greater impact as our fleet grows. Payhawk's automation has significantly cut processing time and reduced the errors that came with manual expense handling."

Purpose-built AI. No shortcuts.

All of Payhawk’s AI agents are designed with three core principles:

1. Secure by design - Your data never leaves our infrastructure. It’s not used for model training, and access is strictly limited based on roles and permissions.
2. Human-in-the-loop - Agents know when to ask for confirmation and escalate decisions. You stay in control, always.
3. Zero disruption - No complex setup or workflows to reinvent. Agents fit into your existing processes and systems, delivering value from day one.

How to get started with AI agents in finance

The key is to start small, but smart. Identify the biggest productivity drains in your current workflows. Pilot one agent in a controlled environment, track the results, then scale.

Our own finance team was the first to test and finetune our agents so here are some best practices we’ve learned throughout the way:

• Integrate AI into existing systems - don’t build from scratch.
• Establish clear metrics - define what “success” looks like.
• Train your team - a little context goes a long way.
• Keep auditing - transparency and accountability are non-negotiable.

Redefining what productivity in finance looks like

With AI agents, finance teams aren’t just getting faster - they’re getting smarter. By removing manual burdens, we’re freeing people up to focus on what really matters: making better decisions, faster.

The future of finance isn’t human or AI - it’s human with AI. And with tools like Payhawk’s financial AI agents, that future is already here.

Want to learn more about our agents? Check the whole AI Office of the CFO over here.