AI and the Future of Finance
AI is not arriving in finance; it is already here. The question is no longer whether AI will affect finance roles, but how finance professionals can use it effectively, responsibly, and confidently.
This workshop opens the programme by exploring where the profession is heading, which skills will increase in value, and how AI is likely to affect different roles across the finance function.
Participants will learn how to separate genuine capability from hype, identify the areas of their own work that are most likely to change, and build their AI confidence progressively without needing to become technologists.
The workshop also establishes the principles that should guide responsible AI use throughout the programme. Participants will consider data confidentiality, approved tools, verification, professional accountability, and the importance of applying human judgement to AI-assisted work.
Whether someone works in transactional finance, financial reporting, FP&A, business partnering, finance operations, systems, or leadership, this session provides a practical foundation for understanding what AI means for their role, their team, and the wider finance function.
- Tuesday, January 12, 2027
- 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm GMT (11:00 am - 1:00 pm EST)
- Field of Study: Computer Software & Applications (1 CPE Credit) 1 CPD Hour; Finance (1 CPE Credits) 1 CPD Hours
Testimonials
Overview
What we Cover:
- The current AI landscape and the capabilities most relevant to finance
- How AI is reshaping finance roles across different levels and specialisms
- The skills that will increase in value and the tasks most exposed to automation
- How to build personal AI literacy without becoming a technologist
- What effective AI-enabled finance functions look like
- The difference between public, personal, and approved enterprise AI tools
- Protecting confidential and commercially sensitive finance information
- Verifying AI-generated information, analysis, and recommendations
- Maintaining professional accountability when using AI
- How to discuss AI confidently with colleagues, leaders, and stakeholders
Key Challenges:
- Separating genuine AI capability from hype and vendor marketing
- Knowing where to start when the range of tools and use cases feels overwhelming
- Understanding which AI tools are appropriate for finance information
- Managing anxiety about job security while remaining focused on development
- Building confidence among colleagues with very different starting points
- Balancing experimentation with professional, organisational, and regulatory responsibilities
Common Barriers:
- Feeling overwhelmed by the pace of change
- Uncertainty about which AI tools are approved or safe to use
- Lack of senior buy-in or organisational support
- Fear of making mistakes in front of colleagues or leadership
- Assuming AI capability requires advanced technical expertise
- Waiting for perfect organisational guidance before beginning to learn
Learning Objectives:
By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:
- Describe the current AI landscape and the capabilities most relevant to finance
- Identify the areas of their own role most likely to be affected by AI
- Apply basic principles for the safe, responsible, and appropriate use of AI in finance
- Articulate a personal plan for developing AI capability progressively
- Discuss AI confidently with colleagues, leaders, and stakeholders
Business Benefits:
- Finance professionals make better decisions about where to invest development time
- Teams engage with AI more consistently and responsibly
- Organisations reduce the risks associated with unapproved or poorly controlled AI use
- Finance professionals become better able to connect business needs with practical AI capability
- Proactive teams build an advantage over those that wait for AI adoption to happen around them
Facilitator
Oliver Deacon
Oliver is a former Finance Director at Microsoft, executive coach, and finance transformation specialist who helps finance leaders increase their impact, develop high-performing teams, and prepare for the future of finance. Over the past decade, he has worked with finance professionals at every stage of their leadership journey, from aspiring finance leaders to CFOs leading large-scale organizational change.
Since leaving Microsoft, Oliver has delivered more than 1,000 hours of executive coaching and leadership development for organizations including Microsoft, Amazon, Google, Stripe, ICAEW, and CABA. His work focuses on helping finance leaders improve decision-making, strengthen business partnering capabilities, embrace technology-driven transformation, and build the leadership skills required to succeed in increasingly complex environments.
A Professional Certified Coach (PCC) with the International Coaching Federation and an ICAEW Fellow Chartered Accountant, Oliver combines senior finance leadership experience with practical coaching expertise. He is particularly passionate about helping finance professionals move beyond technical excellence to become trusted strategic leaders who influence decisions, develop people, and drive lasting business impact.
Prerequisites: None
Advanced Preparation: No advance preparation required.
Program Level: Basic
Delivery Method: Group Live
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