Above the Ledger - May 2025

Why 76% of CFOs are stuck in AI pilot mode

Welcome to the inaugural edition of Above the Ledger, where we look beyond traditional finance functions to explore what truly drives modern finance transformation.

I'm thrilled to introduce this monthly newsletter designed for finance leaders navigating the intersection of AI innovation and operational excellence. In an era where AI promises transformative change yet struggles to scale beyond pilots, we'll deliver insights that move from theory to practical application.

This month, we tackle the AI scaling paradox: why 76% of companies remain stuck with just 1-3 AI pilots despite individual productivity soaring. We'll show you how chat-layer agents are breaking through organisational barriers and why tariff volatility is really a test of your finance data maturity.

Let's be honest – you probably have too many newsletters already. I hope this one earns its place in your inbox by actually helping you solve the challenges keeping you up at night.

CFOs face a stark paradox: while individuals soar with AI usage, 76% of companies can't scale beyond 1-3 pilots (MIT, 2024). The solution? Finance's built-in controls are your AI scaling advantage.

01. Your controls = your edge

Finance teams already have what others lack—audit trails, approval workflows, compliance frameworks. These aren't AI obstacles; they're precisely what enables safe enterprise scaling.

02. Start where work happens

Deploy AI in existing chat channels. Payhawk's Financial Controller agent proves the model: full audit trails, reduced approval times from days to hours. Begin with simple decisions (receipt chasing and matching, policy Q&A) before complex modeling.

03. Break the pilot trap

While others stall on governance concerns, leverage your existing controls to scale. The key: embed AI with built-in permissions, escalation paths, and audit logs.

Read our full analysis: "The most valuable finance AI agent won't sit in your ERP — it'll live in Slack" to learn how chat-layer AI agents are redefining financial operations.

Tariffs dominate today’s headlines, but the bigger hit is to your finance tech stack (not just your landed cost). Each tiny rate change sends teams scrambling for data, revealing how quickly (or slowly) they can turn scattered supplier numbers into clear decisions.

Payhawk co‑founder and CFO Konstantin Dzhengozov says tariff turmoil is really a test of your finance data maturity and one that will sort leaders from laggards. Ready to turn trade volatility into real‑time insight and agility?