Artificial intelligence is no longer a side project for finance teams.
With NetSuite embedding GenAI and automation directly into its finance and operations stack, CFOs are discovering new ways to forecast, plan, and make faster decisions. From anomaly detection to predictive cash flow models, these capabilities promise real efficiency. Yet the organizations seeing the greatest impact are not just those adopting AI tools but those building the right teams to manage them.
Automation in NetSuite has evolved beyond workflow optimization. GenAI models can now summarize reports, generate insights from financial data, and even suggest journal entries or variance explanations. These advances are reshaping what finance roles look like and what kind of talent leaders need to hire.
Understanding GenAI and automation in NetSuite
GenAI in NetSuite uses machine learning and large language model capabilities to improve data-driven tasks like forecasting, reconciliation, and reporting. Combined with the platform’s built-in automation, it helps teams reduce manual work and increase accuracy.
For example, automated transaction matching can flag anomalies in real time, while GenAI-powered forecasting tools identify trends in revenue or spending that human analysis might miss. The result is not just faster work but also more informed decision-making.
Still, success with AI in finance is about more than technology. It depends on people who understand how to interpret the output, align automation with business goals, and maintain data integrity. As CFOs reimagine their operating models, four roles are becoming critical to making AI-ready finance work in NetSuite.
The technology is sophisticated, but results depend on people. Anderson Frank delivers NetSuite professionals who help organizations build AI-ready teams that can configure, monitor, and scale automation safely and effectively.
1. Finance systems manager
Finance systems managers oversee how AI and automation are embedded within NetSuite. They understand both finance workflows and the technical structure of the platform, ensuring every automation rule aligns with accounting standards and internal controls.
Their role is to act as a bridge between finance leadership and system configuration. They help translate business goals into workflows, maintain compliance settings, and ensure GenAI tools support (not override) proper accounting judgment.
This blend of financial acumen and technical fluency is increasingly vital as finance operations become more data-driven. Leaders who invest in systems management expertise are better positioned to balance innovation with governance.
2. Data analyst or data scientist
Every AI model depends on clean, structured data. In NetSuite, data analysts and scientists ensure that transactional data feeding GenAI tools is accurate and consistent. They monitor data pipelines, identify outliers, and evaluate how AI-generated insights align with real business outcomes.
These professionals are also responsible for explaining results. When AI forecasts a variance or recommends an action, they validate the reasoning and contextualize it for decision-makers. This human oversight ensures AI acts as a trusted partner, not an unchecked system.
3. Automation developer
Automation developers build, test, and refine the scripts, workflows, and SuiteScripts that power intelligent automation inside NetSuite. They work closely with finance teams to identify repetitive processes that can be streamlined, from approvals and reconciliations to reporting and notifications.
In a GenAI-enabled environment, developers also integrate third-party AI models or APIs, expanding what NetSuite can automate. As automation grows more sophisticated, the demand for developers who can balance performance with security and compliance continues to rise.
According to the Anderson Frank Careers and Hiring Guide (2025), professionals with automation and scripting experience now command some of the highest salaries in the NetSuite ecosystem. That reflects how essential these roles have become for organizations scaling digital finance capabilities.
The automation is only as effective as the people managing it. NetSuite professionals give organizations the technical edge needed to transform workflows without disrupting compliance or control.
4. AI product owner
An emerging but fast-growing role, the AI product owner defines the vision for how GenAI and automation support the finance function. They assess new use cases, measure ROI, and ensure adoption aligns with strategic business priorities.
AI product owners work closely with both finance and IT to set clear governance rules. They determine when AI should augment human decisions and when manual review remains essential. As organizations scale automation, this leadership role ensures AI-driven decisions are explainable, auditable, and value-focused.
Enterprises implementing GenAI in NetSuite benefit most when AI product owners coordinate across functions, aligning finance, operations, and compliance under a unified automation strategy.
Building the right foundation for AI-ready finance
Technology evolves quickly, but sustainable transformation depends on people. CFOs adopting GenAI and automation in NetSuite should begin by assessing existing skills across finance and operations, then identify where to strengthen data, development, and governance expertise.
Organizations that combine finance experience with data and AI fluency will lead the next generation of digital transformation. They will not only automate existing processes but also create new opportunities for analysis, scenario planning, and growth forecasting.
AI in NetSuite represents a shift from transactional finance to intelligent finance, a model where insight and automation work hand in hand to guide strategy. The finance teams that succeed will be those who hire for curiosity, cross-functionality, and an understanding of how to manage both data and people.
