Marie Speakman

Financial Process Optimisation Expert and AI Transformation Consultant, I have spent over three decades navigating the intricate landscapes of finance and cutting-edge technology. My career has been a journey of innovation, marked by a deep commitment to streamlining processes and empowering organisations to harness the transformative power of AI.

Worked with AI companies to create solutions in financial operations. Mainly around the debt collection process. 

Partnered with CFOs and finance teams, providing expert insights to streamline processes, enhance operational efficiency, and enable teams to focus on high-impact initiatives.

AI Strategy: Crafted tailored AI strategies that align with organisational goals, ensuring optimal utilisation of AI technologies to gain a competitive edge.

Process Enhancement: Leverage AI to identify and eliminate inefficiencies, transforming mundane tasks into strategic advantages.

Collaborate closely with AI experts, fostering synergistic partnerships to drive successful AI integration.

My journey has been defined by continuous learning, including rigorous research, dedicated coursework, and hands-on collaboration with industry experts. My expertise lies in guiding businesses toward seamless AI integration, creating opportunities for growth, and fostering innovation.

Let's connect and explore how I can help your organisation embrace AI's potential, optimise financial processes, and achieve transformative success.

If you want to know more please get in touch I love to help.

AI Consultant

Financial Process Optimisation, I have spent over three decades navigating the intricate landscapes of finance and cutting-edge technology. My career has been a journey of innovation, marked by a deep commitment to streamlining processes and empowering organisations to harness transformatio.

Worked with companies to streamline finance and  operations. 

Partnered with CFOs and finance teams, providing expert insights to streamline processes, enhance operational efficiency, and enable teams to focus on high-impact initiatives.

Strategies that align with organisational goals, ensuring optimal utilisation of technologies to gain a competitive edge.

Process Enhancement: Leverage to identify and eliminate inefficiencies, transforming mundane tasks into strategic advantages.

Collaborate closely with experts, fostering synergistic partnerships to drive successful integration.

My journey has been defined by continuous learning, including rigorous research, dedicated coursework, and hands-on collaboration with industry experts. My expertise lies in guiding businesses toward seamless integration, creating opportunities for growth, and fostering innovation.

Finance Operations Manager

AI Accelerator Institute

Connecting and Empowering AI infrastructure innovators.

Member

Tax Assist Accountants Wigan 

I built my practice from zero to 150 clients. Getting businesses to embrace online accounting software to enable me to take out the duplication in their processes and spend time on tasks that would add value to their business.

Chief Executive Officer

2020

European Financial Controller  I started by migrating the 7 offices in Europe onto one central platform Microsoft Dynamic Great Plains, heading up accountancy staff training in Montreal and the European offices.
 
My role involved working closely with the European MD in finding new ways of streamlining all processes across the accounting and administrative functions.
Involved in executing  strict credit control functions in all countries. Making a paperless environment. 
Taking duplication from processes.

Chief Financial Officer

Showing Time-Poor CFOs/ How to Leverage AI for Streamlined Operations and Rapid ROI, An AI bot doing 6000 transactions can save your team 50 hours a week "Don't be afraid of going slowly, be afraid of standing still"

In 2020, I was invited to work with AI experts.

On an AI-powered debt collection project.

That's how my love of AI began.

and from the beginning of my journey, I dedicated over 3 years of my life to studying AI and how it can help operations and finance teams.

After serving as a consultant at Beebotai.

I knew I couldn’t keep this to myself. 

With my AI knowledge and finance background. 

I knew I was well-placed to be an advisor and mentor to CFOs.

I want to support them in what is inevitable within finance.

Here are ways I can help you :
 
Work with me 1:1, and I will guide you on your AI journey: 

Let's Grow

“Hi LinkedIn 👋 I’m Marie. 

I’ve been on here for years. 

But over the last 12 months posting and networking nearly every day !💪

I help CFO’s  identify AI solutions to stop mundane and repetitive work. 

My goal is to share everything I know about AI like:

- Automation of manual tasks . 
- Faster month end closing. 
- AI powered Employee support hubs.

So please follow my content if you’d find some value in that 🙂

And tag who I should be following in the comments! "

Helping CEOs and Finance Execs automate mundane tasks & processes with AI. Saving you 600+hrs a year as your Fractional CIO.

No alternative text description for this image

The accounting industry is about to be completely changed. 
 
Some of the old guys and girls are not interested. 
 
They have retirement in sight.  
 
But forward-thinking accountants know there are easier ways.  
 
So they only want to join progressive, rapidly scaling companies. 
 
That offer innovative career opportunities. 
 
These companies are growing. 
 
They are remote. 
 
And they are coming for your customers and your talent. 
 
So the next time one of your team proposes a new idea, make sure you listen. 
 
If you don't someone else will.  
 
And they’ll do it from their bedroom or on the beach. 
 
I am talking #AI, ML & RPA and I help companies , take the mundane and repetitive processes out of their business. 
 
Make sure you don't get caught up in the GAAP.  
 
DM, me let's talk.  
 
#artificialintelligence #automation #employeehappiness

How to streamline more than 50% of routine tasks and focus on what truly drives results.

View newsletter: No AI What's stopping you.

Robotic Process Automation (RPA) is a software technology that allows businesses to automate manual, repetitive, and rule-based processes. Resulting i

Open article: What is Robotic Process Automation (RPA) & How it is Benefiting Businesses? by Marie Speakman

Marie Speakman on LinkedIn • 2 min read

What is Robotic Process Automation (RPA) & How it is Benefiting Businesses?

I broke free from the 9-5 grind at 49.

People didn't understand the concept of remote work back in 2009.

They'd say, "Are you on holiday again?“

or "You must be charging me too much.“

But I took control of my destiny and left a high-paying corporate job to pursue solopreneurship.

When people ask me: "How‘d you do it?“

I respond:

Never stop asking yourself:

"What do I want, and how do I want to live?“

You’re falling behind with AI and no clue where to start: 
 
- You’re not learning what’s working right now 
- You’re doing the same as you were 10 years ago 
- You’re not talking to the people seeing success 
 
It’s hurting you because you want to: 
 
- Automate mundane and repetitive task 
- Free your team for strategic work. 
- Push your business forward 
 
Companies using AI have a huge advantage right now. 
 
- With quick ROI 
- Ability to scale  
- Accurate and efficient 
 
How to take advantage of this opportunity? 
 
Talk to the people who are using AI … 
 
Find out how it can help your business . 
 
If you do?  
 
You uncover all the secrets you’ve been banging your head against the wall trying to figure out. 
 
All in 1 hour too. 
 
That’s why I do 1:1 consult calls like I did with Sam. 
 
He was wondering how he could use AI to take out the duplication in his finance function.  
 
- How you can optimise your workflows 
- How to train bots to do the grunt work 
- How to get the monthly  reporting done in half the time
 
So he asked his questions and we worked through them and how it could be used in his business. 
 
He was suprised how easy and cost effective it is to get started.

He asked all the questions I asked when I got involved with AI 3 years ago. 
 
I love the bots because we get to be human. When we let them do the robotic work. 
 
So if you want me to help you take the mystery out of AI . 
 
In one 60 minute session: 
 

- What can be ai  automated 
- The type of AI needed 
- The best AI partners for you

 
And give you all the secrets Sam has, too. 
 
Book a 1:1 consult call with me link in the comments below :

You know what it’s like 15 spreadsheets. 


Emailed to 20 different budget holders. 

Feeling out of control, once you press send. 

Backwards and forwards more updates. 

Wondering how many versions now exist. 

Yes, I’ve been there. 

But now with AI driven FP&A tools. 

Data collected from any source. 

No matter how complex your organisation is. 

Secured in the cloud and synchronized. 

Everything automated into excel. 

Drill down variance analysis in seconds. 

But you don’t have the headspace to find out what’s available. 
 
Learning all about AI and what it’s capable of. Not a priority. 

Give me your biggest challenge within your finance or operations. 

Let’s solve it with AI.

Back in 2020, I was recommended by my ex-MD Craig to an AI company, Beebot AI.

My first step into the world of AI for business.

I was impressed by the tech guys and the capabilities of AI.
 
But they didn’t know about the processes within finance.

I learned from them, and they learned from me.

We started with debt collection, a crucial part of any business.

Then they developed AI-powered employee support platforms.

Giving 24/7 support to teams. 

Using AI, you can give every employee their own digital assistant. 

It works 24/7, 365 days a year.

The systems we developed are being used and helping to
Reduce UK business debt.
Support hybrid teams.

70% of workers say the biggest advantage of automation is in reducing wasted time on repetitive work (Smartsheet)

These are two areas where you can start your AI journey.

Once you start, you won’t want to stop.

One size doesn’t fit all 



Especially when it comes to  management accounts 

The directors and managers can be given the same report 

And some have no clue what to look at 

My management accounts were tailored to each director or manager 

I got to know them and what they needed to see or improve

With their report I would write a summary for each of them 

A visual if I found that worked better for them. 

I had a demo of Datarails yesterday and was very impressed. 

This would have been a dream tool for me and very soon it will be incorporating #ai 

If you are FP&A in your company or using a Fractional CFO. 

This is a great time saving tool to have.

And it works with your excel spreadsheets

#artificialintelligence #roboticprocessautomation 
#employeehappiness

A CFO with a growth mindset isn't a luxury; it's essential.


But what happens when a CFO has a fixed mindset? 

They resist change and stick with the familiar, 

'This is how we've always done it,' 

This is becoming a barrier to progress.

Teams know there are better ways. 

They know the potential AI is bringing to  companies:

1. Automating : AI frees up time from routine tasks, copy and paste, allowing focus on strategic and creative.

2. Personalised Experiences: By analysing customer and employee data, AI provides tailored interactions.

3. Data Insights: AI-driven analytics and machine learning swiftly process vast data, with accurate insights.

Finance leaders with a growth mindset have seen the opportunity for evolution and excellence. 

They embrace AI tech, empower their teams, fostering innovation, agility, and a competitive edge.

As finance professionals, we play a pivotal role in supporting leaders to cultivate this mindset. 

Let's create an environment where fresh ideas are encouraged.

Benefits of change are evident, and continuous learning is the norm.

Some finance leaders may need assistance.

But together, we need to show the power of AI and drive progress in finance. 

#ArtificialIntelligence #growthmindset #employeehappiness 

🤖Are you an AI fan? So am I! But let's be careful with open-source chat-GPT plug-ins.


While some plug-ins are safe,
others may pose security risks.

Do your research before. installing. 

Make sure to only use trusted sources.

Stay safe and protect your data. 

It’s called open AI for a reason.

Tired of the spreadsheet mayhem? 🕒🚀


Constantly juggling data from all over the place and battling those massive, unstable spreadsheets. 

But guess what?

You don't have to.

You're in the 4th Industrial Revolution!

It's happening right now, and it's about saving your precious time! 

Imagine this: 

Seamless integration for budgeting.

Lightning-fast month-end reporting.

And cutting completion times by a whopping 40%!

How? 

By using smarter, more efficient ways to tackle your financial tasks:
🤖 Automate the mundane.
📈 Centralize your data.
🕒 Get real-time insights and reports. 
✉️ Streamline collaboration.

Your expertise deserves better. 

If you want to break free from those outdated methods. 

DM me, and I can show you how. 

#FinanceRevolution #Automation #AI #EfficiencyMatters"

Finance is struggling for people. 


But do we need to hire.

How much of the role is unnecessary admin type tasks.

Where we turn people into robots.

Burying in spreadsheets.

Then wonder why.

Staff turnover is high.

AI isn't here to take over our jobs.

But to empower us. 

Learn how to team up with AI.

Equip yourself with AI knowledge.

The future of work is a blend of challenges and opportunities. 

Invest in the people you have and give them the right tools.

AI holds immense potential.



P.S. No question too daft I’ve asked them all 🤖

“Just been on a call with India and a massive tiger walks past”. 


Message from my daughter Emma

2 years ago, I transformed an entire company.

That led to:

Improved cash collection.

Tailored, actionable reports.

Collaboration between departments.

Improved information between teams.

Restructured processes for smoother operations.

I did it by:

— Identifying bottlenecks.
— Working for the common good
— Gathering issues from budget holders.
— Continuous monitoring and improvement
— Improving communication between departments.

The Japanese call it “Kaizen", which means "continuous improvement".

So in that sense:

Embrace Kaizen, one step at a time.

How did you transform a business?

Looking for ways to streamline and make your job as a CFO or accountant more strategic and enjoyable.


 I've got 3 invaluable tips for you:

1. Embrace AI: 
Artificial Intelligence is no longer a futuristic concept. Today, AI tools are being used for financial planning & analysis (FP&A), making it easier to process and analyse large volumes of data.

2. Automate Repetitive Tasks: 
AI tools can handle routine tasks like data entry and transaction categorisation. This frees up your time to focus on more strategic aspects of your role.

3. Leveraging AI for Predictive Analysis:
AI tools can provide predictive insights about future trends based on historical data. This can be extremely useful for budgeting and financial forecasting.

Implementing these changes in your work will transform the way you approach finance.

Wish it had been around when I was running a finance team. 

More time for strategy and planning would have been great. 

What's your experience with AI in Finance?

Do you agree that it makes FP&A easier and more strategic?

#ArtificialIntelligence #Finance #Automation #StrategicFinance

🚀 Exciting News! 🌟 Generative AI is set to reshape jobs worldwide, says an IBM study. 


40% of workers (that's around 1.4 billion people!) might need to reskill within 3 years due to AI and automation. 😲

👔 Good news though! 87% of big-shot executives think AI, like ChatGPT, will actually jazz up our jobs, not swipe them away. Phew! 🙌

📊 IBV's study quizzed 3,000 big cheeses from 28 countries and 21,000 workers in 21 nations.

Bottom line? 

Change is brewing! ☕

⚡ Hold on to your hats: entry-level gigs are in for a wild ride! 

77% of execs say AI's already in the mix, and it's just getting started.

But higher-ups? 

Only 22% see the heat. 🔥

🌎 Earlier, a March study hinted at 300 million jobs feeling AI's impact. 

But here's the scoop: 87% of suits in IBM's report see AI as a sidekick, not a villain.
 
Phew, again! 😅

🏢 Departments, listen up! 

Procurement's feeling cozy 🛒, risk & compliance plus finance also look chill.

But customer service and marketing might need some extra love. ❤️

🎉 In a nutshell, get ready to learn some new tricks! 

Generative AI's shaking things up. 

Bosses say it's an upgrade, not a takeover. 

Time to ride the AI wave! 🌊 

#FutureOfWork #AIImpact

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Don't blame me for this post, it was written by CHAT-GPT. 
Read the full article.

IBM says 40% of the global workforce will have to learn new skills over next three years due to AI implementation

Open article: IBM says 40% of the global workforce will have to learn new skills over next three years due to AI implementation by techspot.com

Accounting teams and FP&A teams collaboration is key. 

View newsletter: What keeps you awake at night.

It’s time to appreciate the roles of Accounting and FP&A! Here’s what you don’t need: 1. The misconception that Accounting and FP&A are the same 2. Th

Open article: Stop belittling the importance of either function. by Marie Speakman

Marie Speakman on LinkedIn • 1 min read

Stop belittling the importance of either function.

Are Companies Paying Too Much for Traditional Audits?




There are always companies that lag behind. 

They don't embrace innovation and technologies like AI.

Many audit firms have incorporated AI in their audit processes. 

But many haven't.

Here are some reasons I feel are stopping them:

Resistance to Change:
Some traditional audit firms may be slower to adopt new technologies due to resistance to change within their organisational culture or a reluctance to invest.

Client Expectations:
Companies may not be aware of the potential benefits of AI-driven audits.

Fees and Costs:
There may be concerns that embracing AI will lead to a reduction in audit fees as tasks become more efficient.

Firms need to consider how to become the advisers and not the box tickers. 

They have no choice but to invest to remain competitive and best serve their clients.

What are your thoughts on the future of AI in auditing? 

Feel free to share your insights in the comments or connect with me to continue the discussion.

25,000 candles each with their own unique flame.


The Candle Festival in Guaro,Spain. 🇪🇸 

A Moorish village North of Marbella.

Held each year. 

Lots of traditional methods still being used. 

The lady crushing the sugar cane for the best mojitos. 

The cheese makers,local honey, the jewelry makers. 

Beautiful and hand made.

I love what AI will help us to achieve. 

But I do hope we can hang onto  great events and individual talent. 

Attending events like these shows the importance of connecting with people. 

Use AI to free your team from mundane and repetitive. 

Give them time to use their uniqueness and talent. 

AI = more time for the Spanish way. 

The 3 F’s family, friends and fiestas. 

Attended any events lately that inspired you ? 

Off to the beach 🏖

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