Ep. 15 | Why AI-Native Finance is the Next Frontier for CFOs

AI is rapidly changing finance, but adopting new technology alone won't deliver transformation. For finance leaders, success depends on fixing broken processes, building strong foundations and understanding where automation can create the greatest value.

In this episode of Finance Uncut, host Matt High meets Adam Barbera, Co-founder and CEO at Dost AI, to discuss the rise of digital coworkers, why legacy technology can limit AI adoption, how finance teams can move beyond basic productivity tools and why successful transformation starts with people and processes.

Having spent years selling enterprise software to CFOs and finance teams before leaving to build his own solution, Adam shares the experiences that led to Dost AI and his approach to building AI-native finance operations.

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In this episode Matt and Adam explore:

Why finance transformation starts with people and processes
How digital coworkers are changing finance operations
Why AI-native platforms differ from legacy technology
Where finance leaders should begin their AI journey
How automation can increase productivity without increasing headcount
Why successful AI adoption requires effective change management

Start with people and processes

Adam says that many finance transformation projects fail because organisations start with technology rather than addressing the people and processes underneath it.

Clearly defined processes, the right people and effective change management create the foundations technology needs to succeed. Even the best solution will fail if users do not understand, trust or adopt it.

Why AI-native finance matters

As AI becomes increasingly embedded in finance, Adam argues there is an important distinction between technology built around AI and legacy software with AI added on top.

AI-native platforms are designed to adapt, scale and evolve around intelligent agents. Legacy infrastructure can make accessing information, generating insights and adapting processes more difficult, limiting the potential organisations can unlock from AI.

Move beyond personal productivity

Many finance professionals are already using tools such as ChatGPT or Claude, but Adam believes much of this adoption remains focused on individual productivity.

Summarising emails, reviewing documents and completing administrative tasks can save time, but forward-thinking finance teams are looking deeper. They are identifying business problems where AI can improve core finance processes and deliver meaningful operational value.

Build from the foundations

For finance leaders unsure where to begin, Adam recommends thinking about transformation as a pyramid.

Accounts payable and receivable form the foundations, followed by reconciliation and close, cash flow visibility, reporting and ultimately forecasting. Rather than starting with sophisticated dashboards or forecasting tools, finance teams should identify weaknesses in their foundations and address them first.

Clean data and reliable processes at the bottom of the pyramid allow leaders to build everything else with greater confidence.

Empower finance teams

Automation is not simply about reducing headcount. Adam sees its value in increasing the productivity and efficiency of existing finance teams.

By removing repetitive manual work and process bottlenecks, organisations can create capacity for their people to focus on decision-making and higher-value activities while supporting business growth without finance headcount increasing at the same rate.

Successful adoption also depends on employees seeing technology as something that empowers them rather than threatens their roles.

The future of autonomous finance

Looking ahead, Adam sees finance becoming increasingly autonomous as AI-native platforms, intelligent agents and new interfaces continue to develop.

For CFOs, transformation does not need to mean launching one enormous AI programme. Adam advocates identifying friction and manual bottlenecks, tackling problems step by step and demonstrating progress along the way.

Once strong foundations are in place, finance teams can build towards greater productivity, better decision-making and increasingly autonomous operations.

Explore more from Finance Uncut

Catch up on Episode 14, featuring Aidana Zhakupbekova, Chief Operational & Financial Officer at Rydoo, discussing why tomorrow's CFO must think beyond finance, how AI is reshaping the function and why operational understanding is becoming essential for finance leaders.