CIMA Africa-Wide Community

We recently hosted an Africa-wide CPD event with Chari TVT FCMA, CGMA, unpacking how AI is transforming business, finance and governance, and the importance of putting the right guardrails in place.

This discussion is your chance to keep the conversation going.

Whether you:
• Missed the live event
• Have questions after watching the recording
• Want to share how your organisation is approaching AI

You can post your questions and insights here.

💬 Chari will be online to respond to your questions on:
Thursday | 12:00 – 13:00 SAST (10:00 – 11:00 GMT)

To get started:
How is your organisation balancing AI innovation with risk management and governance, and who should ultimately own AI accountability?

Jump in, ask, share, and learn from others across the community.

Recording: AI, Ethics & Accountability: Who Owns the Risk?

AI Opportunities, Risks and Guardrails – Post‑Presentation Assessment 

Hi Chari, I'm excited and looking forward to the discussion today

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Vuyo Geqe
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Vuyo Geqe
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 03-19-2026 03:54
From: Vuyo Geqe
Subject: AI Opportunities, Risks and Guardrails – Ask Chari

Hi Chari, I'm excited and looking forward to the discussion today

------------------------------
Vuyo Geqe
------------------------------

Hi valued members, 

Let's take advantage and utilise this opportunity to learn more

@Julie Elsie Tazvivinga @Mwiya Mukamba @Kgomotso Kotu @Tchata Koubonou @Alma Adade @Jeddy Asante @Patson Kuntambila @Olubisi Makoju @Alpha Dao @Olawole Pariola @Mungaila Hanyama @Enock Malahlela @Temitope Adewunmi Arajuwa @Salimah Rawat @Mbozi Soonga @Petrus Kalukambe @Austin Chirwa @Monde Inambao @Candice Simons @Wellington Mutizwa @Bwalya Kaputa @Moffat Mukwela @Diana Jemwa @Farai Bango @Alfred Chitanda @Bernard Banda @Morven Matafeni @Danny Luswili @Victor Chekera @Conrady Moyo @Edna Asempah @Pardon Zhira @Farai Matanhire @Samuel Tunduwani @Fungai Chikosi @Chisomo Swazi @Febbiey Fupi @Maxwell Chabata @Musa Muleya @Jito Pezulu @Milner Lubasi @Parita Sumaria @Tapiwanashe Runganga @Dipankar Sen @Temwani Ngoma @Nancy Matshe @Fitzpatrick Kapepe @David Tomu @Mungaila Hanyama @Prudence Malilwe @Mwambwa Mwambwa @Farirai Chawasarira @Richard Simungala @Larry Kafuti

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Austin Chirwa
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Hi Chari,

Thank you for joining the conversation! We appreciate spending time with our Africa members.

I would be very interested in the following: How much should finance leaders trust AI-generated insights today - and where should we be drawing the line?

------------------------------
Petra Bezuidenhout
------------------------------

------------------------------
Thandalam Veeravalli Thirumala Chari
Uem Sunrise Berhad
Kuala Lumpur
193820888
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 03-19-2026 05:33
From: Petra Bezuidenhout
Subject: AI Opportunities, Risks and Guardrails – Ask Chari

Hi Chari,

Thank you for joining the conversation! We appreciate spending time with our Africa members.

I would be very interested in the following: How much should finance leaders trust AI-generated insights today - and where should we be drawing the line?

------------------------------
Petra Bezuidenhout
------------------------------

Hi Chari, for organisations just starting with AI, what's the first practical step you would recommend?

Vuyo Geqe
------------------------------

Original Message

Original Message:
Sent: 03-19-2026 05:48
From: Thandalam Veeravalli Thirumala Chari
Subject: AI Opportunities, Risks and Guardrails – Ask Chari

------------------------------
Thandalam Veeravalli Thirumala Chari
Uem Sunrise Berhad
Kuala Lumpur
193820888
------------------------------


Original Message:
Sent: 03-19-2026 05:33
From: Petra Bezuidenhout
Subject: AI Opportunities, Risks and Guardrails – Ask Chari

Hi Chari,

Thank you for joining the conversation! We appreciate spending time with our Africa members.

I would be very interested in the following: How much should finance leaders trust AI-generated insights today - and where should we be drawing the line?

------------------------------
Petra Bezuidenhout

Hi Chari, this is insightful. In practice, who should ultimately be accountable for AI-generated outputs in finance: the finance leader, IT, or a shared governance structure?

------------------------------
Matshidiso Mazibuko
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 03-19-2026 05:48
From: Thandalam Veeravalli Thirumala Chari
Subject: AI Opportunities, Risks and Guardrails – Ask Chari

Thanks Petra for the question .Finance leaders should trust AI-generated insights for routine data processing and pattern detection today,  but always verify them with human judgment due to persistent risks like hallucinations and context gaps. Current adoption is growing rapidly, yet trust remains the top barrier, with only partial reliance recommended​

Over 80% of finance professionals expect AI agents and GenAI to become standard tools within five years, driven by benefits like efficiency and better insights.​

AI excels at automating reconciliations, anomaly detection, real-time risk assessment, and unbiased pattern analysis from vast datasets. In 2026 trends, agentic AI orchestrates workflows for measurable ROI when governed properly. 

AI struggles with contextual judgment, such as interpreting unusual transactions or grey-area accounting standards that require experience. 

Use AI for initial insights, data-heavy tasks, and augmentation (e.g., forecasts as starting points), but humans must handle strategy, compliance, ethics, and final decisions. ​

Practical Guidelines

Scenario	Trust Level	Action
Routine reconciliations/anomaly detection	High (with validation)	Automate, then spot-check​
Forecasting/risk modeling	Medium	Use as input for human scenarios
Judgment calls (e.g., compliance grey areas)	Low	Human override required​
High-stakes reporting	Very Low	Full audit trail + explainability

------------------------------
Thandalam Veeravalli Thirumala Chari
Uem Sunrise Berhad
Kuala Lumpur
193820888
------------------------------


Original Message:
Sent: 03-19-2026 05:33
From: Petra Bezuidenhout
Subject: AI Opportunities, Risks and Guardrails – Ask Chari

Hi Chari,

Thank you for joining the conversation! We appreciate spending time with our Africa members.

I would be very interested in the following: How much should finance leaders trust AI-generated insights today - and where should we be drawing the line?

------------------------------
Petra Bezuidenhout

Guidance is as follows 

------------------------------
Thandalam Veeravalli Thirumala Chari
Uem Sunrise Berhad
Kuala Lumpur
193820888
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 03-19-2026 06:43
From: Matshidiso Mazibuko
Subject: AI Opportunities, Risks and Guardrails – Ask Chari

Hi Chari, this is insightful. In practice, who should ultimately be accountable for AI-generated outputs in finance: the finance leader, IT, or a shared governance structure?

------------------------------
Matshidiso Mazibuko
------------------------------


Original Message:
Sent: 03-19-2026 05:48
From: Thandalam Veeravalli Thirumala Chari
Subject: AI Opportunities, Risks and Guardrails – Ask Chari

Thanks Petra for the question .Finance leaders should trust AI-generated insights for routine data processing and pattern detection today,  but always verify them with human judgment due to persistent risks like hallucinations and context gaps. Current adoption is growing rapidly, yet trust remains the top barrier, with only partial reliance recommended​

Over 80% of finance professionals expect AI agents and GenAI to become standard tools within five years, driven by benefits like efficiency and better insights.​

AI excels at automating reconciliations, anomaly detection, real-time risk assessment, and unbiased pattern analysis from vast datasets. In 2026 trends, agentic AI orchestrates workflows for measurable ROI when governed properly. 

AI struggles with contextual judgment, such as interpreting unusual transactions or grey-area accounting standards that require experience. 

Use AI for initial insights, data-heavy tasks, and augmentation (e.g., forecasts as starting points), but humans must handle strategy, compliance, ethics, and final decisions. ​

Practical Guidelines

Scenario	Trust Level	Action
Routine reconciliations/anomaly detection	High (with validation)	Automate, then spot-check​
Forecasting/risk modeling	Medium	Use as input for human scenarios
Judgment calls (e.g., compliance grey areas)	Low	Human override required​
High-stakes reporting	Very Low	Full audit trail + explainability

------------------------------
Thandalam Veeravalli Thirumala Chari
Uem Sunrise Berhad
Kuala Lumpur
193820888


Original Message:
Sent: 03-19-2026 05:33
From: Petra Bezuidenhout
Subject: AI Opportunities, Risks and Guardrails – Ask Chari

Hi Chari,

Thank you for joining the conversation! We appreciate spending time with our Africa members.

I would be very interested in the following: How much should finance leaders trust AI-generated insights today - and where should we be drawing the line?

------------------------------
Petra Bezuidenhout

Hi Chari, with the fast pace in AI integration in Finance, do we see any updates to the accounting frameworks and standards? how long might this take to be integrated seeing that systems have now mostly automated data/finance accounting collection modes? 

------------------------------
Austin Chirwa
------------------------------

These are available in the public domain. I agree we are moving a bit slow 

1. Standards are lagging - AI adoption in finance has dramatically outpaced formal updates from IASB and FASB.
2. FASB's most concrete move is amended guidance on internal-use software costs, effective after December 2027 - which captures many AI tools.
3. IASB is still deliberating on AI asset recognition, particularly around self-learning systems and who "owns" an evolving AI model.
4. Big 4 frameworks are filling the gap - Deloitte, PwC, and others are setting de facto practice standards while formal bodies catch up.

------------------------------
Thandalam Veeravalli Thirumala Chari
Uem Sunrise Berhad
Kuala Lumpur
193820888
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 03-19-2026 06:10
From: Austin Chirwa
Subject: AI Opportunities, Risks and Guardrails – Ask Chari

Hi Chari, with the fast pace in AI integration in Finance, do we see any updates to the accounting frameworks and standards? how long might this take to be integrated seeing that systems have now mostly automated data/finance accounting collection modes? 

------------------------------
Austin Chirwa
------------------------------

Hi Chari

As AI takes over more routine accounting tasks, how do you see accounting frameworks adapting to support more strategic and judgement-based roles? 

------------------------------
Conrady Moyo
CIMA South Africa
Meadowbrook
+27835867098
------------------------------

As i said earlier, there are evolving .These are available in the public domain. I agree we are moving a bit slow but finance professionals like you and me should embrace technology as long as it drives better performance and yields better returns  

1. Standards are lagging - AI adoption in finance has dramatically outpaced formal updates from IASB and FASB.
2. FASB's most concrete move is amended guidance on internal-use software costs, effective after December 2027 - which captures many AI tools.
3. IASB is still deliberating on AI asset recognition, particularly around self-learning systems and who "owns" an evolving AI model.
4. Big 4 frameworks are filling the gap - Deloitte, PwC, and others are setting de facto practice standards while formal bodies catch up.

------------------------------
Thandalam Veeravalli Thirumala Chari
Uem Sunrise Berhad
Kuala Lumpur
193820888
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 03-19-2026 06:21
From: Conrady Moyo
Subject: AI Opportunities, Risks and Guardrails – Ask Chari

Hi Chari

As AI takes over more routine accounting tasks, how do you see accounting frameworks adapting to support more strategic and judgement-based roles? 

------------------------------
Conrady Moyo
CIMA South Africa
Meadowbrook
+27835867098
------------------------------

Hi Chari, What's the most common mistake you're seeing organisations make with AI right now?

------------------------------
Matshidiso Mazibuko
------------------------------

Great question. Thanks for raising it 

1. Deploying AI before cleaning their data - garbage in, garbage out, but now at scale and speed.
2. Ticking the box with Copilot - installing a tool and calling it an AI strategy is like buying a gym membership and calling it fitness; the real transformation is in how work is redesigned around it.
3. No human-in-the-loop for material decisions - AI flags or generates, but someone accountable must still own the output.
4. Skipping governance until something goes wrong - policies, audit trails, transparency and accountability structures are built reactively, not proactively.
5. Board and Management Commitment:  without genuine leadership commitment, sponsorship, and literacy at the top, AI initiatives stall at pilot stage and never scale into the enterprise value they promise. 
6. Chasing the tool, not the problem - Organisations adopt AI because competitors are, not because they've defined what problem they're actually solving; AI is a powerful digital transformation enabler. 

------------------------------
Thandalam Veeravalli Thirumala Chari
Uem Sunrise Berhad
Kuala Lumpur
193820888
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 03-19-2026 06:28
From: Matshidiso Mazibuko
Subject: AI Opportunities, Risks and Guardrails – Ask Chari

Hi Chari, What's the most common mistake you're seeing organisations make with AI right now?

------------------------------
Matshidiso Mazibuko
------------------------------

What are some quick wins finance teams can get from AI without overcomplicating things?

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Blessing Mayeza
------------------------------

Good question again. We discussed this at the session 

1. Automated invoice processing and AP matching - AI eliminates manual 3-way matching, cuts processing time dramatically, and reduces duplicate or missed payments with minimal setup. AI can also detect frauds in invoicing, OCR, Date mismatch, employee/supplier matching etc effectively
2. Cash flow forecasting - feed your ERP data into an AI model and get rolling 13-week forecasts that update automatically, replacing the weekly manual spreadsheet scramble.
3. Anomaly / Fraud detection / Revenue assurance in transactions - AI flags unusual entries, duplicate vendors, or out-of-pattern spend before they become audit findings or fraud issues.
4. Month-end close acceleration - AI automates journal entry preparation, reconciliation matching, and variance commentary drafting, shrinking the close cycle by days not hours.
5. Expense report review - AI screens submissions against policy instantly, catching non-compliant claims without a human touching every receipt.
6. FP&A narrative generation - AI drafts the "so what" commentary behind the numbers, giving analysts time to focus on insight and decision support rather than formatting PowerPoint decks for leadership.
7. Smart and efficient Board papers and presentations 

------------------------------
Thandalam Veeravalli Thirumala Chari
Uem Sunrise Berhad
Kuala Lumpur
193820888
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 03-19-2026 07:01
From: Blessing Mayeza
Subject: AI Opportunities, Risks and Guardrails – Ask Chari

What are some quick wins finance teams can get from AI without overcomplicating things?

------------------------------
Blessing Mayeza
------------------------------

Dear Chari,

I totally agree with most of the submission you have made on this subject matter.

However, for me who works in a Military Public Sector environment, i find that some of the Payment Voucher systems, backing sheets and just the way we draw up our budgets are usually not supported by the current AI tools. Also, even the way we write meeting minutes AI doesn't support much, as guided by our Military Training Schools. Nonetheless, it usually is give me a good starting point but i still have to go back to the manual books, just to follow our way of doing things for every recipient of my report or submission to understand what am talking about.

Humbly submitted,

------------------------------
Mbozi Soonga
Lusaka
+2600979973514 0000000000
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 03-19-2026 07:28
From: Thandalam Veeravalli Thirumala Chari
Subject: AI Opportunities, Risks and Guardrails – Ask Chari

Good question again. We discussed this at the session 

1. Automated invoice processing and AP matching - AI eliminates manual 3-way matching, cuts processing time dramatically, and reduces duplicate or missed payments with minimal setup. AI can also detect frauds in invoicing, OCR, Date mismatch, employee/supplier matching etc effectively
2. Cash flow forecasting - feed your ERP data into an AI model and get rolling 13-week forecasts that update automatically, replacing the weekly manual spreadsheet scramble.
3. Anomaly / Fraud detection / Revenue assurance in transactions - AI flags unusual entries, duplicate vendors, or out-of-pattern spend before they become audit findings or fraud issues.
4. Month-end close acceleration - AI automates journal entry preparation, reconciliation matching, and variance commentary drafting, shrinking the close cycle by days not hours.
5. Expense report review - AI screens submissions against policy instantly, catching non-compliant claims without a human touching every receipt.
6. FP&A narrative generation - AI drafts the "so what" commentary behind the numbers, giving analysts time to focus on insight and decision support rather than formatting PowerPoint decks for leadership.
7. Smart and efficient Board papers and presentations 

------------------------------
Thandalam Veeravalli Thirumala Chari
Uem Sunrise Berhad
Kuala Lumpur
193820888
------------------------------


Original Message:
Sent: 03-19-2026 07:01
From: Blessing Mayeza
Subject: AI Opportunities, Risks and Guardrails – Ask Chari

What are some quick wins finance teams can get from AI without overcomplicating things?

------------------------------
Blessing Mayeza