In this episode of Finance in Flow, host Catalina Ibáñez Gutiérrez sits down with Patrick Van Gaelen, Head of Product Core, to unpack the evolving world of finance automation and AI-powered consolidation tools. They explore what makes automation truly effective, the risks of black-box systems, and why validation and transparency are essential. Patrick shares practical advice for CFOs navigating today’s crowded tech landscape, the promise of continuous accounting, and the importance of pairing innovation with team empowerment. Tune in for actionable insights on how finance leaders can harness automation without losing the human touch.
In this episode of Finance in Flow, host Catalina Ibáñez Gutiérrez sits down with Patrick Van Gaelen, Head of Product Core, to unpack the evolving world of finance automation and AI-powered consolidation tools. They explore what makes automation truly effective, the risks of black-box systems, and why validation and transparency are essential. Patrick shares practical advice for CFOs navigating today’s crowded tech landscape, the promise of continuous accounting, and the importance of pairing innovation with team empowerment. Tune in for actionable insights on how finance leaders can harness automation without losing the human touch.
About the guest:
Patrick van Gaelen is a seasoned finance professional and the co-founder of Seefo—a Belgian financial consulting agency established in 2016 specializing in LucaNet’s corporate performance management solutions. Following the successful acquisition of Seefo by Lucanet in 2022, he took on a key leadership role as Regional Head of Services in the Benelux region, bringing extensive experience in business controlling, consolidation, management of shared services, and M&A to Lucanet’s expanding international presence. As Head of Product Core, Patrick now plays a vital role in shaping Lucanet’s integrated CPM solutions, leveraging his deep understanding of finance and user-centric software innovation.
Key Quotes
“Good automation is transparent. Bad automation is a black box.” – Patrick van Gaelen
“Automation shouldn’t create more work than it saves” – Catalina Ibáñez Gutiérrez
“Validation, transparency, and flexibility—those are the ingredients of good automation.” – Patrick van Gaelen
Time Stamps
00:00 – Introduction
02:00 – Good vs. Bad Automation
06:00 – Shifting Work, Not Replacing Jobs
09:00 – Choosing the Right Tools
12:00 – SaaS vs. On-Premise
15:00 – Continuous Accounting Explained
20:00 – Practical Use Cases of Automation
25:00 – The Limits of Automation
30:00 – Change Management and Team Empowerment
34:00 – The Role of AI in Finance
40:00 – Ingredients of Good Automation
45:00 – Rapid-Fire Questions
50:00 – Future Trends in Finance
55:00 – Key Takeaways & Closing
Links
Connect with Catalina on LinkedIn