Payhawk has released a Financial Controller Agent that collects vendor invoices 12 times faster than a human, the spend management platform announced Tuesday. The feature automates one of the most time-consuming parts of accounts payable - chasing down outstanding invoices from suppliers - freeing finance teams for higher-value work.
The agent uses machine learning to contact vendors, request missing invoices, and parse the returned documents into Payhawk's platform. It handles multiple invoice formats and flags discrepancies or missing information automatically. The capability sits inside Payhawk's existing spend management ecosystem, giving users a single view of their payables without switching tools.
How the agent works
Instead of a controller emailing or calling suppliers one by one, the agent reaches out programmatically. When invoices arrive - in PDFs, scanned images, or structured data - the system extracts key fields, categorizes each document, and surfaces exceptions for review. Payhawk said internal testing showed the agent completed the full collection and consolidation cycle in a fraction of the time a person requires.
The tool does not just accelerate collection. It reduces manual data entry, a persistent source of errors in accounts payable. By catching discrepancies before they enter the approval queue, the agent tightens financial controls without adding headcount.
What leadership says
"We are thrilled to introduce the Financial Controller Agent capability to our customers," said Hristo Borisov, CEO and co-founder of Payhawk. "This innovation represents a significant leap forward in our mission to automate and simplify financial operations for businesses of all sizes. By taking over the tedious and time-consuming task of invoice collection, we are empowering finance teams to focus on what truly matters-strategic decision-making and driving business growth."
The release fits a broader pattern of AI for Finance tools targeting repetitive back-office processes. For accountants whose days are split between reconciliation and vendor follow-ups, automation that handles the outreach itself - not just the data entry - changes the workflow. Professionals looking to adapt can explore an AI Learning Path for Accountants to build relevant skills.
Why this matters for finance and sales teams
For controllers and AP staff, the immediate payoff is reclaiming hours lost to invoice hunting. That time shifts toward cash flow analysis, vendor negotiations, and close-cycle acceleration. Sales and account management teams benefit indirectly: faster invoice processing means fewer billing disputes and quicker resolution when customers question charges. The gap between delivering a service and getting paid shrinks when the back office runs at machine speed.
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