85% of UK finance teams now using AI as adoption surges

Daniel Shem-Tov
By Daniel Shem-Tov
Daniel Shem-Tov

Daniel Shem-Tov

EMEA Director of Finance

Daniel Shem-Tov is a seasoned finance executive with over a decade of experience spanning corporate finance, strategic operations, and international financial leadership. As the EMEA Director of Finance at Tipalti, a global fintech company, Daniel has built and led finance teams across Israel, the UK, and the Netherlands, overseeing everything from audits and treasury management to complex compliance and cross-border financial operations. He plays a pivotal role in shaping company policy and performance, working closely with senior leadership, including the CEO, CFO, board, and investors. Prior to Tipalti, Daniel served as Financial Controller at SundaySky, where he managed all aspects of finance, budgeting, and reporting. He began his career at KPMG Israel, quickly rising to lead audit teams for major clients in the technology and banking sectors. Known for his analytical rigor and strategic thinking, Daniel has deep expertise in scaling financial infrastructures, navigating regulatory environments, and building high-performing teams. He holds a B.A. in Accounting and Business Administration from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem and is a Certified Public Accountant in Israel. Daniel brings a global mindset, a hands-on leadership style, and a passion for operational excellence to every organization he supports.

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Updated December 10, 2025
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New Tipalti research reveals 99% of UK finance leaders agree AI is essential to finance operations, but 78% voice concerns over risks.

With 99% of UK finance professionals saying they believe AI is important to their finance function, the report reveals a market that has already moved well beyond experimentation.

The study, based on a 500-person global survey that included 170 UK finance professionals, found that 85% of UK finance teams currently use AI-based applications, significantly ahead of North America at 71%. Confidence in the technology is also high, as 56% express extreme optimism about its potential to improve how they work.

AI delivers measurable impact

For those already using it, AI is already delivering clear returns: 97% percent say AI improves the quality of their work, 100% say it enhances decision-making, and 100% report it saves their organisations money. Moreover, AI has made deep inroads into daily finance workflows, embedding across both analytical and operational processes. The majority of UK teams use AI regularly for financial analysis (58%), forecasting (60%), generating reports and insights (59%), and fraud detection (57%). Rather than reducing roles, AI appears to be strengthening teams. 43% say AI is helping them recruit because it uplevels candidates’ skills, while the same proportion say it allows them to redeploy staff into more strategic work.

Trust and visibility are central to unlocking the next stage of AI

The findings also show that the UK’s rapid adoption has heightened expectations around transparency. Over three-quarters (78%) of UK respondents express some level of concern about the risks associated with AI, including 11% who are extremely concerned, 30% who are somewhat concerned, and 37% who are a little concerned. What UK finance professionals want now is clearer visibility into how AI operates. The majority (56%) say they need to be able to review the actions AI takes, half (50%) want the ability to customise how AI works within their processes, and nearly as many (48%) say retaining control over decisions is essential.

Despite these concerns, the UK faces fewer structural hurdles than other regions. Over half (51%) report no barriers at all to adopting AI, compared to 45% in North America, suggesting the issue is not capability but confidence. Many are already taking action on the barriers that do exist, as 64% of UK teams say they receive internal AI training, with further support provided through external programmes and vendor-led instruction.

“Finance teams in the UK have moved quickly from testing AI to relying on it for tangible results,” said Daniel Shem-Tov, EMEA Director of Finance at Tipalti. “The next challenge is ensuring they have full visibility and control. Trust is the foundation for scaling AI with confidence and unlocking the next wave of value.

“With adoption high, optimism strong, and the workforce increasingly equipped with AI skills, the UK stands at a pivotal moment. AI has already proven its worth, but the question now is whether organisations can establish the accountability and clarity needed to support widespread use. Those that do will move beyond automation and turn AI into a dependable engine for growth, resilience, and strategic insight.”

To read The State of AI in Finance: Exploring the AI Trust Gap in full, visit here. 

About the Report

The State of AI in Finance was conducted in partnership with Rob Roy Consulting and Cambia Information Group in September 2025. The survey includes responses from 500 finance professionals across roles, seniority levels, and company sizes. Full methodology is available in the report.

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