Stats to support the change
What Autonomous Finance Means for the Controller of a Consulting Firm
Controllers are the guardians of financial accuracy, but manual processes make that job harder than it should be. Month-end close is grueling. Reconciling billable hours, subcontractor invoices, and project expenses is slow and error-prone. And by the time discrepancies are found, it’s often too late to act.
Autonomous finance changes this reality. AI-powered tools capture data, classify expenses, detect anomalies, and reconcile accounts automatically, while maintaining continuous audit trails and improving governance.
What this unlocks for your business
- Automated, error-resistant accounts payable and billing workflows that capture, validate, and route invoices without manual touchpoints.
- Predictive cash flow forecasting driven by real-time billing data, contract schedules, and historical payment trends.
- Continuous close capabilities that reconcile accounts daily instead of monthly, reducing audit risks and accelerating reporting.
- Embedded exception handling so your team focuses only on anomalies that require judgment.
- Engagement-level financial visibility to flag margin risks and delivery issues before they impact revenue.
64%
of CFOs believe autonomous finance will be a reality at their company within the next six years. (SSO Network)
Up to 20%
of savings achieved by organizations in expense and spend management with AI-driven sourcing and automation. (The CFO)
8-13 months
of deployment most generative AI programs deliver measurable value. (Microsoft)
How your role and your team evolve
Instead of being buried in reconciliations and data entry, you’ll design the workflows, rules, and exceptions that govern automated finance processes. Your value shifts from execution to oversight: monitoring compliance, refining controls, and ensuring data integrity. Collaboration with IT becomes critical to ensure tools integrate cleanly and securely across ERP, project, and billing platforms.
This also transforms your team. Rather than focusing on manual tasks, they’ll monitor system outputs, investigate exceptions, and contribute to strategic initiatives. As automation handles the routine, your finance function becomes leaner, faster, and more proactive — a strategic asset rather than a back-office cost center.
Where to start
- Identify your most manual, error-prone processes — such as invoice entry, approvals, or expense reconciliations.
- Define clear policies and exception rules to guide automation.
- Select tools that integrate seamlessly with your ERP and delivery systems.
- Track metrics such as close time, error rates, and hours saved to measure progress.
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Reach out to us to start a conversation about how you can begin your autonomous finance journey with consulting360 and Microsoft.
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