In the evolving landscape of finance, artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer a distant concept—it’s becoming a critical tool for staying ahead. Anna Tiomina, founder of Blend to Balance and a recognized leader in integrating AI within financial operations, recently addressed The Financial Executives Networking Group (The FENG) with insights into how AI is transforming budgeting and strategic decision-making.
Drawing on over a decade of experience as a CFO, Anna explored the profound impact of AI on financial operations. She outlined the accelerating adoption of AI in professional services firms and finance departments, emphasizing its potential to boost operational efficiency and improve work-life balance for finance professionals.
Anna compared the inevitability of AI’s integration in finance to the rise of Microsoft Office, describing it as an essential toolkit for modern CFOs, Controllers, and Treasurers. Her presentation broke down complex AI concepts, such as the difference between rule-based systems and AI-driven decision-making, into actionable insights.
Key Takeaways From the Presentation:
- Operational Efficiency and Strategic Insight: AI offers unparalleled opportunities to automate routine tasks, enabling financial teams to focus on high-impact activities.
- Navigating Security and Ethical Concerns: Anna addressed common challenges, including data privacy and the risks of model inaccuracies, sharing best practices like human validation and regular AI model updates.
- AI Tools in Action: She demonstrated how tools like Claude and ChatGPT streamline tasks such as creating interactive dashboards, analyzing complex data sets, and producing intuitive visualizations that inform strategic decisions.
Anna also touched on the human side of AI adoption, emphasizing the importance of balancing technological advancements with human oversight. Her approach empowers finance teams to implement AI effectively while maintaining accountability and control over outputs.
For finance professionals, the message was clear: AI is not just an enhancement but a necessity for those aiming to lead in an increasingly digital and data-driven industry.
To dive deeper into Anna’s transformative insights on AI in finance, watch the full presentation below.
About Anna Tiomina
Anna Tiomina, MBA, is the founder of Blend2Balance, an AI-powered Fractional CFO services company and AI implementation consultancy. She previously served as CFO at Softeq and market/cluster CFO at Sandoz Pharmaceuticals.
With an MBA in Finance from the Vienna University of Economics and Business (and coursework at Harvard University), Anna combines deep financial expertise with a passion for innovation. She conducts webinars, workshops, and consulting sessions to help finance professionals adopt AI strategically.
Based in Houston, Anna balances her professional pursuits with raising two teenagers, embodying her belief in achieving balance—whether between work and family or AI and human input.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/anna-tiomina
https://blend2balance.com/
