Unlocking ROI in Accounting: Automation, AI, and the Future of Finance
8/26/2025 by Andy Birkey
In Episode 7 of Metafile Minutes, host Eric Humes welcomed accounting expert Tom Kerwin for a deep dive into the role of automation and AI in today’s finance departments.
With two decades of experience spanning audit, tax, agriculture, hospitality, and now property management, Tom has seen firsthand how technology is reshaping accounting workflows. He recalls starting his career in an era of fully manual accounts payable, with clerks entering invoices by hand and teams cutting checks manually. Fast forward to today, and automation is taking center stage.
“If all the steps leading up to the automation process are done correctly, it obviously works very, very well and can be a massive time saver.” – Tom Kerwin
For Tom, the biggest opportunity for automation lies in accounts payable. Automated systems reduce clerical errors, streamline invoice processing, and free finance teams from manual data entry so they can focus on higher-level analysis and strategy.
Eric highlights an important point: ROI in accounting isn’t only measured in dollars.
“ROI is nice when you can calculate that in dollars and cents, but the one thing you can never get back is time. We are brokers in the currency of time.” – Eric Humes
Looking ahead, Tom sees AI’s potential in anomaly detection, fraud prevention, and automated reporting. Instead of accountants spending their days buried in debits and credits, AI could handle repetitive tasks, while humans focus on critical thinking and decision-making.
The key takeaway? Automation and AI aren’t just tools, they’re catalysts for creating well-rounded, forward-looking finance teams. Companies that embrace them today will be better prepared for the evolving demands of tomorrow.
Catch the full episode of Metafile Minutes to dive deeper into how automation and AI are reshaping the accounting world.
Watch Episode 7: The Three A’s of Accounting
And if you’re ready to see how AP automation can save your team time, boost accuracy, and deliver real ROI, take the next step.