AI in Finance Needs Controls, Not Just Speed

Executives are rushing to adopt AI in financial reporting, but most organizations lack the data quality and governance frameworks to support it safely. Workiva research found 84% of executives would trust AI to generate an annual report without human review, yet only 11% consider their data sufficient for AI use. Workiva's Steve Soter warns that accelerating a flawed process only amplifies risk. Human accountability remains essential, as executives, not AI tools, sign off on financial statements. Strong data governance, traceability, and documented approvals are prerequisites, not optional add-ons, for responsible AI adoption in finance.