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Bridging the AI gap: Realities and opportunities for CFOs

Apr 23, 2025 · Authored by Joyce Li, CEO and Chief AI Strategist, Averanda Partners

From the 2025 Technology Finance Symposium - West

Joyce Li – the CEO and chief AI strategist at Averanda Partners – explored the current state of artificial intelligence (AI) adoption in finance functions, highlighting both success stories and cautionary tales for CFOs navigating this rapidly evolving space.

Li opened by polling the audience on their AI adoption status. As expected, few in the room had fully implemented AI workflows, and many admitted to cautiously evaluating solutions. This disconnect, Li noted, reflects a broader hesitation in the market. “A lot of people are looking at AI but haven’t pulled the trigger,” she observed.

The session emphasized that AI’s potential extends far beyond operational efficiencies. Real value, Li argued, comes when finance leaders use AI to break down organizational silos and enable faster, more integrated business decisions. One example involved a fast-growing B2B company whose CFO recognized that their outgrown spreadsheet models presented an opportunity not just to automate, but to rethink workflows entirely. The result: shorter close cycles, better scenario planning, and faster alignment between finance and sales.

But the speaker stressed that successful AI initiatives start with clear business problems, not technology. Li warned against adopting AI for AI’s sake – a lesson learned the hard way by a well-funded financial services firm. After investing heavily in cutting-edge AI models, the company abandoned the project within nine months when no one knew how to use the tools or why they were built.

“They build dozens of models then realized no one was using them. People didn’t know what they said, or how to use them and really didn’t know why we even built them in the first place,” Li recounted.

The conversation closed with practical advice for CFOs: start with measurable business goals, get top-down buy-in, invest in clean, usable data, and never underestimate the importance of organizational change management. AI, argued Li, won’t replace finance leaders – but those who learn to wield it effectively will be far better positioned to manage risk, improve cash flow and drive growth in a volatile market.