By H.E. Ahmed Alhakbani, CEO & Co-Founder of SiFi, and Boutros Azar, Chief of Staff at SiFi
Introduction:
Generative AI changed how we create, Agentic AI is changing how we decide. Together, these technologies are redefining finance, transforming accountants into strategists, and positioning SiFi at the forefront of an AI-powered future.
This article is adapted from the presentation delivered by SiFi at the IFAC Event held in Riyadh in October 2025, with minor editorial revisions.
A new industrial revolution, only faster:
Every few generations, technology redefines what it means to work.
The steam engine powered industry.
Electricity powered cities.
The internet powered communication.
Now, Artificial Intelligence is powering cognition itself.
When Bill Gates described AI as “as fundamental as the creation of the microprocessor, the personal computer, the Internet, and the mobile phone”, he was not exaggerating. It is a shift so vast that it is rewriting how people learn, plan, travel, and work.
In less than a year, Generative AI moved from curiosity to necessity. ChatGPT, for example, reached 100 million users in just two months, faster than any technology in history. For comparison, TikTok took nine months and Instagram nearly two years.
What we’re living through is not just a new tool. It’s the dawn of a new era, where intelligence becomes software, and software becomes autonomous.
From automation to autonomy: The rise of Agentic AI
The 1990s brought rules-based automation, where repetitive tasks were performed through scripts and predefined rules. By the 2010s, traditional AI introduced machine learning and analytics; useful, but still limited to narrow, task-specific use cases. Then came Generative AI, which could create: producing text, images, and even code that mimicked human cognition. It was the beginning of systems that didn’t just process data, but understood it.
Now, Agentic AI goes a step further. It can take initiative, plan, execute multi-step workflows, and collaborate with other systems without waiting for explicit instructions.
Early signs of this shift can already be seen in platforms such as AutoGPT and Microsoft’s Autonomous Agents, which enable AI to plan and act independently. Looking ahead to 2026 and beyond, Agentic AI will operate as a true digital co-worker, capable of learning, adapting, and managing complex ecosystems with minimal human oversight.
This transition from generative to agentic intelligence represents the moment automation becomes orchestration.
Imagine finance now, without the friction
Now, picture a finance department where every question, from “Why did EBITDA dip?” to “What’s our projected cash burn next quarter?” can be answered instantly by an intelligent copilot.
Where forecasts update automatically as new data streams in, where month-end closing runs itself in the background, where accountants no longer spend hours cleaning data but spend their time shaping business strategy. This isn’t the future; it’s unfolding now.
Every finance process, from payroll and accounts payable to audit, treasury, and tax is being re-engineered by AI:
Predictive planning powered by live analytics is replacing static budgeting
AI-enabled continuous close ensures financials are always up to date
Collections are automated through adaptive workflows
Touchless processing driven by machine learning eliminates manual data entry
Compliance moves from sampling to full coverage through AI-driven assurance
Tax and risk analytics are now embedded into business decisions
Treasury benefits from forward-looking analytics that optimize liquidity and manage volatility
Cloud platforms and AI payroll tools streamline employee operations seamlessly
The human element at the core:
With automation advancing at an unprecedented pace, one question inevitably arises: Will AI replace finance teams and accountants?
The answer, absolutely not.
The truth is, while AI may handle much of the workload, humans will always remain the source of truth. Finance has never been just about numbers, it’s about trust, interpretation, and ethical judgment.
The accountant of the future won’t be a data-entry operator but a data interpreter, someone who questions AI outputs, validates assumptions, and translates complex insights into business decisions. Similarly, CFOs are evolving from scorekeepers to strategic storytellers, guiding their organizations through an era where data moves faster than ever before
How leading companies are adopting AI in finance
The transformation is not theoretical, it’s already underway. PwC has deployed ChatGPT Enterprise (ChatPwC) firm-wide for audit and finance drafting, reconciliations, and agentic purchase-to-pay accelerators. With over 100,000 licenses across the US and UK, PwC reports up to 80% faster cycle times in P2P workflows where AI automates invoice capture and purchase order matching.
Deloitte, meanwhile, has developed internal AI assistants like PairD and DARTbot, used by thousands of auditors and accountants. These tools automate document summarization, technical accounting checks, and code generation for audit work, saving analysts countless hours on research and first-draft creation.
The message is clear: leading firms are no longer experimenting with AI; they are embedding it into the core of how finance operates.
Connecting the dots: banks, accounting tools, and the modern accountant
Today, accountants act as the crucial link between banks , which provide financial infrastructure, and accounting tools such as ZoHo, Odoo, Qoyod or ERP systems. They manually manage expenses, track transactions, and ensure data consistency between both systems. This bridge, however, is still fragile, often built on manual uploads, scattered spreadsheets, and fragmented workflows.
Where SiFi fits in: Simplifying Finance through AI
At SiFi, we believe the future accountant should not be burdened by manual reconciliation or disjointed systems. SiFi acts as the intelligent layer that connects banks and software through automation, integration, and AI-driven insight.
Our platform:
Automates expense management and reconciliation
Integrates seamlessly with existing accounting systems
Reduces manual effort so finance teams can focus on strategy and growth
Leverages AI to provide real-time insights, forecasts, and compliance assurance (coming soon)
By bridging financial systems and intelligence, SiFi empowers businesses to move from data entry to decision execution , helping finance professionals step confidently into the age of Agentic AI.
As we enter this new era, the finance profession will not disappear, it will transform. AI will handle the complexity; humans will handle the context. Automation will accelerate processes; human insight will drive purpose.
The future of finance lies in collaboration between humans and machines, an AI-empowered partnership that blends efficiency with judgment, speed with strategy, and intelligence with integrity.
At SiFi, our mission is to simplify that future, one intelligent finance process at a time.