For finance professionals, the workday is often defined by volume, accuracy, and deadlines. Matching invoices, chasing approvals, and reconciling transactions are essential tasks, yet they consume valuable time and attention that could be spent on planning and decision-making. Enter a new force in enterprise resource planning: AI agents in finance.

These intelligent, rule-based digital coworkers are not just enhancing processes; they’re beginning to take ownership of them. And they’re changing what it means to work in finance.

Why AI agents in finance matter more than ever

In the past, finance transformation meant centralizing systems, automating reports, and tightening workflows. These changes brought efficiency, but they still required constant human input. The advent of AI agents introduces a new model, one that’s proactive, autonomous, and continuously learning.

Instead of needing users to enter, approve, and follow up, AI agents can:

• Validate invoices against purchase orders
• Post transactions once conditions are met
• Route exceptions to the right person without delays
• Reconcile accounts and flag inconsistencies in real time

This evolution isn’t just about technology; it’s about reclaiming time and elevating the role of finance.

According to Microsoft and Forrester, companies using Dynamics 365 Business Central already report improved close cycles, better visibility, and measurable ROI. Now, with agents built directly into Business Central’s financial workflows, even more value is being unlocked.

Where AI agents deliver the biggest impact

The most immediate benefits of AI agents in finance appear in processes that are:

• High-volume
• Repetitive
• Policy-driven

Take accounts payable. With Business Central’s intelligent automation capabilities, invoices can be scanned, validated, and posted automatically, unless an exception falls outside a predefined threshold. Agents handle the bulk of transactions, escalating only when anomalies arise.

Another area is the month-end closure. Traditionally, a complex, time-sensitive task, the financial close is now increasingly supported by automation. Agents can:

• Reconcile bank statements
• Detect missing entries
• Generate standard reports
• Schedule closing steps

These agents are not just running rules; they’re operating with context, drawing on historical data and integrated systems to make reliable decisions.

The result? Finance teams can shift their focus from data processing to data interpretation. Controllers spend more time analyzing results than assembling them. Business partners receive insights faster, based on clean, real-time data.

From process to performance: a cultural shift

As promising as technology is, success with AI agents also requires cultural readiness. Teams must trust the systems, define meaningful rules, and accept that oversight is more impactful than manual control.

This doesn’t mean finance professionals are being replaced. Quite the opposite: their role becomes more strategic. They move from transaction execution to:

• Designing and optimizing processes
• Reviewing agent output for exceptions
• Advising on financial strategy and planning

The AI agent doesn’t remove humans. It removes the friction.

It’s worth noting that the shift is gradual. Companies often start by automating low-risk approvals, such as invoices under €2,000, and then scale up from there. Over time, thresholds rise, confidence grows, and manual effort declines.

A smarter financial function, built on trust

For AI agents to function effectively, finance teams need a structured foundation. That means:

• Clean, reliable data models
• Defined workflows and escalation rules
• Continuous monitoring of agent performance

Microsoft’s roadmap for Business Central continues to expand these capabilities. Combined with tools like Power Automate and Dataverse integration, the ecosystem provides a flexible and secure environment for autonomous finance operations. Companies that start today will not only benefit from automation, but they’ll also position their finance teams as proactive contributors to business growth.

Want to explore how AI agents can streamline your finance operations?

Book a discovery call with AlfaPeople and learn how to unlock more time, insight, and impact.