AI Governance: The Next Big Compliance Issue for Finance Teams? 

AI Governance: The Next Big Compliance Issue for Finance Teams? 

As artificial intelligence moves from hype to practical use, a new compliance question is emerging for UK finance teams: how should businesses govern their AI tools — and are they ready to do so? 

In many finance functions, AI is already being used to automate processes, support forecasting, and assist with decision-making. But as adoption grows, so too do the expectations around responsible use. 

Until now, much of the focus has been on what AI can do for productivity. In 2025, attention is shifting to how it should be controlled, documented, and overseen — especially in highly regulated areas like finance. 

Why this matters now 

Although the UK government is taking a lighter-touch, pro-innovation approach compared to the EU’s AI Act, the direction of travel is clear: businesses will need to show that their use of AI is responsible, ethical and appropriately managed. 

For finance teams, this matters wherever AI tools are used to: 

• Inform or generate financial statements 
• Support credit, risk or investment decisions 
• Automate client-facing processes or reporting 
• Influence internal audit or compliance activity 

Already, we are seeing signs that auditors, investors and boards are starting to ask tougher questions about AI governance. The ability to explain where AI is used, how it is controlled, and what human oversight is in place will become a growing expectation. 

Key questions to consider 

For UK finance professionals, now is a good time to review current AI use and prepare for what’s coming. Useful questions include: 

• Do we know where AI tools are already in use across our finance processes? 
• Are there clear policies on their appropriate use and limits? 
• Is there adequate human review and control where AI supports key decisions? 
• Can we evidence responsible AI use to auditors or stakeholders if required? 

Getting ahead of the curve 

While formal UK regulation is still evolving, the compliance conversation is already moving ahead. Businesses that start addressing AI governance now will be better placed to manage risk — and to make the most of AI opportunities with greater confidence. 

For UK finance teams, this is a natural extension of existing risk management and control disciplines. In 2025 and beyond, AI governance looks set to become an increasingly important part of the finance agenda.