Published by: S&B Advisors and Consultants (Private) Limited
Author: Ms. Saima Morkas
Date: July 5, 2025
The financial landscape is changing faster than ever — and at the heart of this transformation lies Artificial Intelligence (AI).
As machines get smarter, finance professionals are being challenged to evolve beyond spreadsheets, audits, and traditional forecasting into roles that demand new skills, deeper insights, and strategic thinking.
In Pakistan and beyond, the shift is no longer about if AI will change finance — it’s about how quickly professionals are prepared to adapt.
How AI is Disrupting the Finance Function
AI is revolutionizing key finance functions by automating routine, rule-based tasks and providing real-time insights. Some of the areas seeing the biggest changes include:
Accounting & Bookkeeping: Tools like Xero, QuickBooks with AI integration, and local platforms are automating data entry, invoice matching, and reconciliation.
Financial Analysis & Forecasting: AI-powered analytics software now helps CFOs predict cash flow, assess risk, and model “what-if” scenarios more accurately than ever.
Auditing & Compliance: AI can scan thousands of transactions for anomalies, flagging potential fraud or compliance issues instantly.
Risk Management: Machine learning models are being used to detect credit, market, and operational risks in real-time, enabling quicker decisions.
The Changing Role of Finance Professionals
With AI handling repetitive tasks, finance professionals are moving up the value chain. The focus is shifting from transactional roles to strategic ones, such as:
Data Interpretation vs. Data Entry: Instead of collecting data, professionals must now derive insights from AI-generated analytics.
Strategic Partnering: Finance teams are expected to collaborate more with marketing, sales, and operations to support business growth.
Ethical Oversight: As AI introduces biases and automation risks, finance professionals will play a vital role in ethical decision-making and transparency.
Tech Fluency: Understanding AI, data science, and fintech tools is fast becoming essential, not optional.
Expert Perspectives
Aliuddin Ansari, ex-CEO of Engro Corporation, notes:
“AI won’t replace finance professionals — but professionals who understand AI will replace those who don’t.”
Roshaneh Zafar, founder of Kashf Foundation, comments:
“The finance industry must move toward inclusivity and intelligence. AI can aid microfinance and impact investing, but professionals must know how to guide it ethically.”
Asim Sattar, CFO of a leading tech startup in Karachi, explains:
“Our finance team isn’t just about numbers anymore — we’re storytellers, strategists, and AI collaborators. We use predictive analytics every week to make funding decisions.”
New Skills for the AI Era
To stay relevant, finance professionals must develop hybrid skills. These include:
Data literacy: Understanding and working with data analytics tools
AI & automation tools: Familiarity with platforms like Power BI, Tableau, Python for finance, and robotic process automation (RPA)
Strategic thinking: Aligning financial decisions with business goals
Soft skills: Communication, collaboration, and emotional intelligence become more important as machines take over routine work
Ethical awareness: Understanding the risks of algorithmic bias and privacy
The Pakistani Context
In Pakistan, financial institutions, telecom companies, and fintech startups are beginning to invest heavily in AI talent. However, a major skills gap still exists. Most university curriculums and finance certifications have yet to fully integrate AI and digital finance modules.
Dr. Waqar Masood, former Federal Finance Secretary, remarks:
“There’s a golden opportunity for Pakistan to leapfrog in financial innovation — but only if our workforce is ready for it.”
Conclusion: Evolve or Be Left Behind
AI is not the enemy of finance professionals — stagnation is. The future belongs to those who are willing to re-skill, adapt, and lead in this era of intelligent finance.
Whether you’re a young accounting graduate in Lahore, a CFO in Karachi, or a startup founder in Islamabad, the message is clear: AI won’t replace you, but someone who can work with AI will.