The AI Illusion: Why U.S. Finance Teams Are Stuck in Manual Work

The 2026 AI in Finance Report, which surveyed 250 finance leaders, highlights that current automation efforts are frequently undermined by a reliance on manual intervention. This is particularly evident in accounts payable, where nearly nine in ten CFOs report significant shortcomings in data extraction, and 45% still require human review after initial processing. Rillion CEO Daniel de Sousa suggests that the industry is hitting a plateau where superficial adoption masks a lack of structural change.

Beyond technical hurdles, the sector faces a shifting landscape of workforce expertise. Although only 21% of leaders view current internal AI knowledge as a primary barrier, 60% acknowledge that AI proficiency will soon become a critical requirement. De Sousa argues that this transformation requires moving past simple tool utilization toward a deeper understanding of where human judgment remains indispensable. Organizations currently on the sidelines may face the steepest learning curve, as teams with the most hands-on experience are three times more likely to anticipate radical process changes.