Nearly half of UK finance leaders say AI governance lags behind adoption
UK finance teams are adopting AI tools faster than they can manage them. Research from spend management provider Soldo found that 80% of finance leaders view AI investment as important to their organisation's goals, yet only 27% say AI usage and purchasing are fully governed with clear policies and controls.
Almost half of organisations (49%) admit they have gaps in their AI governance strategy. A further 23% say they have minimal to no governance measures in place.
Shadow AI and employee workarounds are growing
The governance gap is creating friction between formal processes and employee productivity demands. Over a quarter (27%) of UK employees have purchased AI tools for work without approval in the last year, a sign of what's known as shadow AI.
The behaviour points to deeper frustration with company systems. 60% of employees say the AI tools their organisation approves are difficult to use. 67% say they lack proper support to use them.
Financial processes show similar strain. While 92% of employees say AI has improved their productivity, 27% cite missed business opportunities due to slow access to company funds. More than two-thirds (67%) admit they frequently bend rules or find loopholes to access money, suggesting they see formal processes as obstacles to speed.
The cost of friction
Sacha Hermann, Chief Financial Officer at Soldo, said the risk is losing visibility over how AI tools are being used and purchased. "Companies need governance approaches that support productivity and agility, without pushing employees towards workarounds or unauthorised spending," Hermann said.
Without that balance, organisations risk fragmented systems, hidden costs, duplicate tools, unclear ownership, and greater compliance challenges.
Dr Naeema Pasha, workplace productivity and AI expert at Henley Business School, framed the issue as a human behaviour problem, not just a technology one. When systems create friction, employees experience what she calls a "cognitive tax" - the mental effort required to navigate unclear or difficult processes. As friction builds, people look for faster routes, leading to shadow AI outside formal oversight.
Finance leaders looking to address this gap may find value in resources focused on AI for Finance and the AI Learning Path for CFOs, which address governance and control challenges directly.
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