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AI agents for finance

Fourteen parts, in the order a finance team needs them: from what an AP agent is, to one that prepares every bill, pays within your approval policy, and leaves a record of why.

By Aakash William, founder of Himmel · Why we write these guides

Basicswhat it is and what to expect

  1. 01How to set up an AI agent for accounts payableThe whole path, from the invoice to the record. Start here.
  2. 02What an AI agent can and can’t do in accounts payableThe AP jobs to give it, and the ones to keep with people.
  3. 03Build or buy an AI agent for accounts payableYour accounting system’s agent, an AP platform’s, or your own.

Preparepolicy, supplier records and systems

  1. 04Your approval policy, written for an agentWho approves what, at which amount, in words an agent can follow.coming
  2. 05Supplier records an agent can trustBank details, tax IDs and duplicates, before the first invoice.coming
  3. 06Connecting your accounting system, bank and inboxRead-only first, then one permission at a time.coming

Actmatching, rules, bank details, exceptions

  1. 07Reading, coding and matching invoicesAgainst the order and what was received, within a tolerance.coming
  2. 08Payment rules: approval limits, duplicates and payment termsLimits the system applies, with cases the engine checked.coming
  3. 09Changed bank details and payment fraudPay only after a named person confirms.coming
  4. 10Exceptions, and the hand-over to the controllerWhat goes to a person, and with what context.coming

Launchtest, then widen

  1. 11Testing on last quarter’s invoicesInvoices already paid, run again and scored.coming
  2. 12Rolling out: from suggested payments to sent onesOne step at a time, with separate people preparing and approving.coming

Improvemeasure and keep the record

  1. 13Measuring an AI agent in accounts payableCost per invoice, invoices nobody touched, exceptions, discounts taken.coming
  2. 14Why did it pay this invoice? The audit trailWhat to keep, so you can answer an auditor.coming

The same five stages, team by team

Every series follows the same path, from the basics to improving the agent. Support comes first, because it is where companies give agents money to hand out today.

Sales

Quotes and discounts, trial extensions, payment terms, renewals.

Marketing

Content agents, email frequency, ad spend, promo codes.

People

Hiring, offers, onboarding, access requests.

Industries

E-commerce, SaaS, travel and more: where the work and the rules differ.