According to Acquire Intelligence’s latest survey of Australian finance leaders, three in four (75%) want AI integrated into their finance operations. Yet nearly half admit they have little to no AI capability in place today. The finding highlights a growing gap between ambition and execution.

Finance leaders recognise AI’s potential to improve efficiency, enhance decision-making, automate repetitive tasks, and strengthen business performance. However, many organisations remain in the early stages of adoption, struggling to turn interest into meaningful implementation.

The result is a growing divide between companies preparing for the future of finance and those still trying to build the capabilities required to get there.

Finance Leaders Are Ready for AI

Finance teams are under increasing pressure to do more with less. They are expected to:

• Improve forecasting
• Accelerate reporting
• Strengthen compliance
• Reduce costs
• Provide strategic insights

AI offers a compelling solution.

According to Gartner, 58% of finance functions were already using AI in 2024, reflecting a significant increase in adoption across the sector. Organizations are leveraging AI to automate routine tasks, improve data analysis, and support faster decision-making.

Meanwhile, research from PwC suggests that AI could contribute trillions of dollars to the global economy over the coming decade, creating significant opportunities for organizations that successfully integrate AI into their operations.

While our survey suggests 53% of Australian finance leaders want AI integrated into their finance operations. The bigger challenge is making adoption a reality.

Why the AI Readiness Gap Exists

If organisations recognize the value of AI, why are so many still struggling to implement it?

Successful AI adoption requires a combination of people, processes, governance, and operational expertise.

According to Deloitte’s State of Generative AI in the Enterprise report, talent shortages, governance concerns, and risk management requirements remain among the biggest obstacles organizations face when scaling AI initiatives.

Finance teams face an even greater challenge.

Unlike other departments, finance operates within strict regulatory and compliance frameworks. Any technology implementation must maintain accuracy, auditability, security, and oversight.

Companies must not only identify the right AI solutions but also ensure they are implemented responsibly and effectively.

For many businesses, that’s where momentum slows.

The Skills Challenge Is Holding Organisations Back

One of the most significant barriers to adoption is expertise.

In a separate finding from our survey, 43% of Australian finance leaders identified a lack of expertise as their biggest barrier to AI adoption.

The concern reflects a broader market trend.

According to PwC’s 2025 AI Jobs Barometer, the skills required for AI-exposed jobs are evolving 66% faster than for other occupations. As AI capabilities advance, organizations are finding it increasingly difficult to keep internal skills aligned with rapidly changing technology.

They know AI can deliver value. They understand the competitive risks of delaying adoption. Yet many lack the internal capabilities needed to move from experimentation to enterprise-wide implementation.

The challenge is building the capability to capture it.

Why More Companies Are Combining AI with Outsourcing

As businesses work to close the readiness gap, many are rethinking how they approach transformation.

Rather than building every capability internally, organizations are increasingly turning to outsourcing partners that can provide both specialised talent and AI expertise.

Rather than spending months recruiting scarce AI specialists, organisations are increasingly combining AI with offshore finance talent. AI can automate repetitive processes and accelerate outputs, while experienced finance professionals review results, validate accuracy, investigate exceptions, and provide an additional layer of quality control.

It’s also consistent with another key finding from our survey: 57% of Australian finance leaders believe AI combined with outsourcing represents the most effective long-term strategy for finance transformation.

The combination allows them to access both the technology and expertise needed to create lasting value.

How Acquire Intelligence Helps

Australian finance leaders are ready for AI. At Acquire Intelligence, we help bridge the gap between AI ambition and operational reality.

Through our Eliminate, Automate, Reallocate framework, we identify opportunities to streamline processes, implement practical AI solutions, and provide access to experienced finance professionals who can support transformation at scale.

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