Finance leaders turn to AI to cut costs in 2026

Finance leaders across sectors are sharpening their focus on efficiency and cost control in 2026, with artificial intelligence (AI) emerging as a central lever for achieving operational gains, according to a new survey by bank integration provider AccessPay.

The Manchester-headquartered firm this week published its Finance Trends 2026 report, based on its annual survey of finance leaders. Now in its fourth year, the study highlights widening differences between financial services firms and general corporates in their approach to automation and technology investment.

Cost discipline takes centre stage

Nearly half of respondents identified efficiency and cost control as a top priority for the year ahead, with 47% of general corporates and 46% of financial services firms citing the issue.

While cost management has long been a core finance function, the report suggests that subdued economic growth, rising input costs and geopolitical uncertainty have intensified the pressure on finance teams. Leaders are being asked to maintain performance while managing tighter budgets and leaner teams.

Against this backdrop, AI adoption is gaining momentum. Forty-seven per cent of general corporates and 43% of financial services firms said they plan to prioritise AI adoption within the next 18 months, reflecting a broader industry shift towards data-driven automation in finance operations.

Financial services advance in transformation

The survey indicates that financial services firms are further ahead in finance transformation efforts. Twenty-nine per cent of financial institutions, compared with 24% of corporates, report a high degree of automation and integration across back-office systems.

The divergence becomes more pronounced beyond this leading group. Forty-five per cent of financial services firms said their finance transformation programmes are advanced, with most processes automated. By contrast, 41% of corporates described their efforts as still progressing, characterised by partial automation and continued reliance on manual workarounds.

The findings point to significant scope for automation-led efficiency gains in the corporate segment, particularly in areas such as payments and bank connectivity, where integration can reduce manual intervention and operational risk.

Budget constraints slow corporate AI uptake

Investment levels in AI also vary markedly between sectors. Nearly half (46%) of financial services firms report having implemented AI enhancements to a high degree within finance operations, compared with 28% of corporates.

Common barriers to adoption include limited internal expertise and resistance to organisational change. However, budget constraints appear to weigh more heavily on corporates, with 31% citing insufficient funding as a key obstacle, compared with 17% of financial services firms.

“The disparities between the financial and non-financial sectors in terms of their attitudes towards technology investment are striking,” said Anish Kapoor, CEO of AccessPay. He added that underinvestment in general corporates could have longer-term consequences, particularly if macroeconomic conditions remain challenging.

“In the current macroeconomic environment, finance teams will need to stress-test plans to ensure they can operate at the low end of their scenarios,” Kapoor said. “This is why we predict 2026 will be a key year for automation in payment and treasury operations. If finance departments are to operate with reduced headcount or scale without increasing staff, leaders also need to consider how to make up that shortfall with technology.”

As finance functions contend with structural cost pressures and growing expectations around resilience and scalability, the report suggests 2026 could mark a pivotal year for AI-driven transformation in treasury and payment operations—particularly for corporates seeking to close the automation gap with their financial services peers.