Finance is transforming — and fast
As technology takes on an increasingly central role in business operations, finance departments are being pushed to evolve. No function remains untouched, and finance is certainly no exception. In an interview with Equals Money, Mark Bolsom, the company’s Sales Director, shares his perspective: through automation, finance teams are shifting from operational support roles to becoming strategic pillars within organizations. The discussion was prompted by a new Equals Money study conducted among 1,000 senior finance professionals across Europe. The findings speak for themselves: automation is no longer a trial—it’s a key enabler of financial performance.
From a regional need to global impact
Founded in the early 2000s in the North East of England, Equals Money initially set out to meet a very specific local need: regional businesses were struggling with poor visibility over international payment flows. Currency exchange—particularly between the British pound and the euro—was a major source of uncertainty. In response, the company’s founders developed solutions to help manage foreign exchange risk.
What began as a niche offering has since grown into a comprehensive platform for expense management and multi-currency services. Today, Equals Money enables businesses to collect payments worldwide, manage multiple currencies, and mitigate financial risk more effectively. “The platform is built around simplicity, speed, and transparency, with a clear goal: to make life easier for finance teams,” explains Bolsom. Equals Money’s offering includes FX expertise, multilingual dashboards, employee payment cards, and full visibility over international transactions. The focus is not just on execution—but on control, clarity, and scalability. “This empowers companies not only to operate in multiple markets but also to make financial decisions with greater confidence.”
Automation as a lever for strategic leadership
One of the most striking insights from the survey of 1,000 finance leaders is the rise of automation as a driver of change. According to Bolsom, it’s the key to streamlining financial operations and unlocking higher-value contributions. “Traditionally, finance departments were judged on their accuracy, reporting, and compliance. Today, they’re being asked to serve as strategic business partners. It’s no longer enough to report the numbers—you need to forecast, advise, and steer. And that’s only possible when repetitive tasks like manual data entry, payment verification, or invoice processing are automated.”
Equals Money supports this evolution by providing tools that reduce human error and significantly cut processing times. “Freed-up time can then be reinvested by CFOs and their teams to focus on strategic tasks—evaluating business cases, modeling growth scenarios, and proactively managing risk.”
Bolsom points out that many SMEs still struggle with the initial steps toward automation, often due to budget constraints or a lack of internal capacity. “That’s exactly why Equals Money offers simple, scalable solutions that are also accessible to smaller businesses.”
Continuous, intelligent financial oversight
In addition to improving efficiency, security is a major concern, says Bolsom. “Fraud, duplicate payments, or unusual transactions remain key worries for finance teams. We combine automation with intelligent oversight—by monitoring transactions in real time and flagging anomalies automatically, our platform helps teams take corrective action more quickly.”
He also stresses the importance of human involvement. “This isn’t just about software—it’s about communication. Teams need to collaborate on questionable cases, verify transactions, and make decisions based on complete, up-to-date information.”
This combination of smart technology and human judgment creates a solid line of defense against financial error and fraud. “With tools like pattern recognition, activity alerts, and built-in approval workflows, companies can act faster—and learn more—from any anomalies they encounter,” he adds.
Belgium: a growth market and strategic hub
Now active in several European countries, Equals Money has also opened an office in Belgium. Bolsom sees strong potential in the Belgian market, thanks in part to the international scope of many Belgian companies and their increasing demand for efficiency and transparency. “While regulations and cultural nuances vary from country to country, the core challenges are the same: complex processes, fragmented data, and a growing need for real-time insight. Equals Money doesn’t just provide tech tools—we also offer tailored strategic advice.”
For Belgian CFOs, the benefits are tangible: improved control, less time wasted, and better-informed decisions. “Our Efficiency Calculator, for instance, helps businesses quantify the time and money they could save through automation. It makes the case for digitalization not just more logical—but measurable.”
Embedded finance: the future of integrated services
Bolsom also discusses a growing trend set to redefine financial services: embedded finance. This approach integrates financial services—payments, loans, insurance—directly into non-financial platforms. “Imagine accounting software that automatically handles tax payments, or an e-commerce site offering instant credit without involving a bank. For businesses, this means greater convenience, faster transactions, and better customer experiences. For finance teams, it offers more data, better control, and increased flexibility.”
He sees embedded finance as the natural next step in the evolution of financial services. Through APIs, AI-powered credit analysis, and real-time cash flow forecasting, Equals Money aims to help businesses weave finance more deeply into their core operations.
Finance is evolving — and rapidly
“Where finance teams were once focused solely on compliance and reporting, they’re now expected to help steer the business. That requires the right tools, automated processes, and time to generate insight and give sound advice,” says Bolsom in closing.
Equals Money is playing a leading role in this transformation. With a combination of tech innovation, deep market understanding, and pragmatic solutions, the company is helping organizations reinvent how they manage their finances. From Belgium to the rest of Europe, the future of finance is digital, integrated, and unapologetically strategic.
