Liverpool and Manchester Finance Leaders Events: Navigating the Future with AI
· Posted on: July 10th 2025 · read
On 8th and 9th July, senior finance professionals from across Liverpool and Manchester gathered for two MHA Finance Leaders Networking Events focused on one of the most transformative forces in business today: artificial intelligence (AI).
Set in two striking venues; The Shakespeare North Playhouse in Prescot and the second at Ringway Golf Club in Hale Barns, these sessions offered finance leaders an opportunity to explore how AI is reshaping business operations, decision-making, and strategy across sectors.
Finance Directors and Controllers met to share insights on harnessing the potential of AI while maintaining resilience in an evolving economic landscape.
At both events, attendees enjoyed a relaxed breakfast and refreshments before diving into a series of expert-led conversations and collaborative exchanges. Discussions focussed on practical applications of AI, from finance automation to predictive analytics and considered the opportunities, compliance and governance implications, and implementation challenges facing finance leaders today.
"From an AI perspective you want to keep humans in the loop, to augment that human ability and help make those decisions for faster value. If we use it (AI) in the right way, it can bring value to a new perspective."
Expanding on the potential for innovation, Samuel Roberts, Chief Strategy Officer at The LCap Group highlighted how AI is not only a tool for efficiency, but a catalyst for transformation.
“AI can be used to automate routine tasks and improve productivity, but the real opportunity lies in its ability to enable what was previously impossible. We can now use AI for advanced forecasting such as predicting client transactions, even anticipating leadership team changes. It’s not just about efficiency; it’s about unlocking new ways of thinking and operating.”
Martin Sutton, Founder of TenX Ventures, offered a compelling perspective on the business case for AI integration.
“Businesses that are deploying AI at the core of their operating model are growing 50% faster with a 30% higher gross profit margin than their non-AI peers.” (Research from 2018)
In true FD Network style, these events also provided valuable space for strategic networking and learning. Finance leaders departed with actionable insights and a renewed sense of how AI can drive strategic advantage in their organisations.
As the conversation around innovation and digital transformation continues, MHA remains committed to leading with ambition, empowering finance professionals across the North West with the tools, knowledge and connections they need to step confidently into the future.
