Yesterday, in a conversation with a controller at a publicly traded company, he told me quite frankly
“Between you and me — if I implement the automation you’re suggesting, I’ll be cutting off the branch I’m sitting on.”
This is an important point: when we talk about automating financial reports, it’s not always easy to see the bigger picture.
Immediately afterward, he added (trying to reassure himself):
“I have experience and I do things beyond just reporting — so maybe it won’t completely cut off my branch…”
Hearing his response made me reflect for a moment on the fears that technological progress can raise for many of us.
The concern is entirely understandable — change inevitably brings anxiety.
But what if we ask the question differently:
What would happen if you could free up the time you spend copying and pasting…
To investigate truly significant variances?
To deliver insights that lead to better agreements?
To build forecast scenarios that give management a real glimpse into the future?
Automation doesn’t replace a skilled controller — it frees them from outdated ways of working and enables:
High-value analytical work
Specialization in internal and external consulting
Developing processes that will shape the organization’s future
