Choosing Where AI Belongs: Leadership Lessons from Erik Nakamura

In a world flooded with new AI tools, CFOs and finance leaders face a dilemma: should they adopt everything, or focus on what truly moves the needle?

For Erik Nakamura, experienced CFO and operational leader, the answer is simple – but not easy:

Great finance teams don’t use AI everywhere. They use it where it actually works.

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💡 About the episode

Finance teams are under more pressure than ever – faster closes, tighter forecasts, and rising expectations from every part of the business. AI promises relief, but only if it’s applied with intention.

In this episode, Kenny sits down with Erik Nakamura, CFO and operational leader with experience scaling large, complex organisations, to unpack what intentional AI adoption really looks like inside modern finance teams.

Erik shares why most teams don’t need more tools – they need better systems. From transforming recurring finance tasks into repeatable workflows, to helping teams work smarter instead of harder, he explains how leaders can use AI to reduce noise, eliminate bottlenecks, and build calmer, more scalable operations.

Here are some key takeaways from the conversation:

1. Start by fixing the process, not adding the tool

Erik’s view is that many finance teams try to automate work that isn’t structurally sound to begin with. He points out that when routine tasks like the close or an audit suddenly become the centre of conversation, it’s usually because the underlying process is unstable. AI can’t fix that instability – it can only expose it faster.

For him, the real work starts with standardising and simplifying the process. Once a workflow is predictable and consistent, automation becomes a genuine accelerator rather than an added layer of complexity.

2. Apply AI to the right work – not all the work‍

AI has to be placed with intention. He cautions against spreading it across every task or function just because the tools exist. Instead, he focuses on identifying repeatable, low-value work that quietly consumes time and attention – the tasks everyone notices only when they go wrong.

By directing AI toward these areas, teams reclaim the mental and operational bandwidth needed for higher-value, strategic work. It’s not about automating more – it’s about automating the right things.

3. Manage AI intentionally so it reduces work, not creates more

Poorly introduced AI can create confusion, extra steps, or even new forms of busywork. His perspective is that leaders must actively manage how AI shows up in the organisation – setting expectations, guardrails, and shared principles around its use.

When teams understand the purpose behind the tool and how to guide it, AI becomes a support system instead of another task on the list. Without that leadership, it risks increasing operational noise rather than reducing it.

4. Build finance teams that are calm, scalable, and forward-looking‍

High-functioning finance teams as “quiet systems”: predictable workflows, minimal surprises, and a focus on insight rather than admin. In Erik’s view, AI plays a key role in achieving this by handling repeatable tasks reliably and freeing people to engage with work that genuinely moves the business forward.

The long-term goal isn’t just efficiency – it’s building teams that think more strategically, operate with less friction, and contribute real value across the organisation. AI becomes a lever for scale, but only when the surrounding system is designed thoughtfully.

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Chapters

00:26 – Opening & Introductions

01:49 – The State of AI Today and How It’ll Evolve for Finance

08:48 – Turning Compliance From Events Into Reliable Processes

14:06 – Staff Fear, Adoption, and Human-AI Collaboration

17:47 – The Importance of Velocity: Move Fast, But Don’t Rush

20:25 – Aligning AI with Company Values & Strategy

26:21 – Why Some CFOs Resist Change – and How to Bring Them In

33:20 – Quick Fire Round and Closing

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About the guest

Erik Nakamura is the CFO of Journal Technologies, with previous finance leadership roles at Roofstock, Cooper Tire & Rubber Company, and KPMG. He regularly speaks on topics like finance IQ vs EQ, innovation, and building scalable operations. Known for his coaching-led leadership style, Erik focuses on developing cohesive teams, strengthening culture, and driving operational excellence through thoughtful, intentional use of technology.

About the show

The AI Opportunity is a podcast for business leaders who want to turn AI from noise into real results.

Each episode features someone who’s put AI to work inside real organisations and can show mid-sized companies (50–500 employees) how to start small, move fast, and scale safely.

🎧 Listen now on Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube

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