As organizations embrace artificial intelligence (AI) to drive efficiency and innovation, finance leaders must recognize a critical success factor that often gets overlooked: maintaining robust internal controls. AI’s transformative impact on processes, roles and staffing introduces new risks that can compromise established control structures if left unaddressed. By prioritizing internal controls, CFOs can safeguard their organizations against vulnerabilities while unlocking the full potential of their AI investments. This is particularly urgent today, as many companies deploy AI tools without clear strategies, leaving them exposed to compliance challenges and operational risks.

Finance leaders are uniquely positioned to champion this effort, leveraging their expertise in risk management, financial planning and governance. To adapt successfully, organizations should conduct thorough risk assessments throughout the AI implementation process, redesign control frameworks to align with evolving roles, and train employees to navigate new technologies and procedures effectively. Automated controls should be supported by human oversight to ensure reliability, while all changes to key controls must be documented for audits and reporting. Strengthening the culture of compliance and increasing control testing frequency further ensures that risks are mitigated. Ultimately, sustained focus on internal controls is not just about preventing failures, it’s about enabling long-term growth and building trust with stakeholders. Organizations that integrate AI governance with traditional risk management frameworks will be better equipped to refine, scale or retire AI tools based on their value and impact.

Key Takeaways:

• Regularly assess risks tied to AI-driven changes.
• Redesign controls to reflect shifts in roles and processes.
• Empower employees with training and reinforce compliance values.
• Integrate AI governance into broader risk management strategies.