Part 4: From data entry to decision-making: Freeing finance for higher-value work

Executive summary

Why do finance teams get stuck in low-value work?

Because too much time is spent on manual data entry, reconciliations, and chasing receipts instead of analysis and strategy.

What’s the opportunity cost?

Finance talent is wasted on admin. Teams spend hours processing instead of advising, which slows growth and frustrates both leaders and employees.

How can CFOs shift their teams’ focus?

By automating workflows with tools like expense management software and bill payment automation, freeing time for strategic decision-making.

Introduction: The trap of manual finance

Too often, skilled finance professionals become clerks. Instead of guiding the business, they’re stuck:

• Copying invoice data into systems.
• Reconciling mismatched transactions.
• Chasing colleagues for receipts and approvals.

These tasks are necessary, but they don’t grow the business. The real value of finance lies in decision-making, not data entry.

Section 1: The cost of low-value work

When finance teams focus on admin:

• Talent is wasted on repetitive processes.
• Strategic work is delayed because reporting lags.
• Morale suffers as staff feel undervalued.
• CFO credibility weakens when answers aren’t available in real time.

Every hour spent on admin is an hour not spent on analysis, forecasting, or strategy.

Section 2: Why the cycle persists

Most businesses accept admin as inevitable:

• Legacy systems make automation difficult.
• Teams rely on spreadsheets because “it’s what we’ve always done.”
• CFOs focus on deadlines rather than rethinking workflows.

But as companies grow, the cracks widen — and finance becomes a bottleneck.

Section 3: A real example of change

A mid-market retailer told us their finance team spent three days every month coding expenses and reconciling card statements. Analysis happened late, leaving leadership flying blind.

After moving to a platform with automated reconciliation and integrated approvals:

• Transactions were coded automatically.
• Bills and receipts were matched in real time.
• Reports were available instantly, freeing finance to advise on cash flow and growth.

The CFO described it simply: “We stopped running the numbers and started running the business.”

Section 4: The human impact of shifting focus

The benefits go beyond efficiency:

• Finance staff feel valued when they’re working on strategy, not paperwork.
• Leaders gain insights faster, improving agility.
• CFOs spend less time defending numbers and more time influencing outcomes.

The shift turns finance from a reactive support function into a proactive growth partner.

Section 5: Steps to free finance for higher value work

To escape the data entry trap, CFOs can:

1. Automate routine processes — receipt capture, invoice coding, reconciliations.
2. Consolidate spend management — replace multiple tools with one platform.
3. Enable real-time reporting — eliminate delays that stall decision-making.
4. Redefine finance roles — shift focus from admin to analysis and forecasting.

This isn’t about reducing headcount. It’s about unlocking the value of skilled professionals.

FAQ

Why do finance teams spend so much time on admin?

Because fragmented systems and manual processes make reconciliation and reporting slow and repetitive.

How can automation free finance teams?

By removing tasks like data entry and coding, giving teams more time for analysis and planning.

What’s the impact on CFOs?

They gain credibility with faster, more accurate insights and can spend more time on strategy.

Is this only for large companies?

No — automation and consolidation deliver even greater benefits for small and mid-sized businesses with limited resources.

What’s the cultural benefit?

Staff feel more valued when they’re contributing insights instead of pushing paper.

Conclusion: From processing to partnering

When finance stops drowning in admin, it becomes a true business partner. Automation clears the path from data entry to decision-making, enabling growth.

The reflective question: how much of your finance team’s week is spent on value-added work versus admin?