Is the future of finance human?
Work is Weird Now x Finance Forum with Becky Glover
Finance doesn’t always get the reputation it deserves. Too often it’s reduced to “bean counting” and dry reporting. But as multi award-winning finance and technology leader Becky Glover reminded us in this episode, the real work of finance is human: storytelling, communication, and building high-performing teams.
This conversation marks the launch of our Work is Weird Now Finance Forum series, ahead of Becky’s keynote at the Finance Forum in London on 7 October 2025. Together, we asked the big question: Is the future of finance human?
Tech is changing everything, but humans still matter most
Finance is experiencing a rapid shift. Technology and automation are transforming transactional roles, and reports like the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs 2025 list accounting and finance among the top ten decreasing professions.
For Becky, that’s both exciting and daunting. Exciting because tech frees people from repetitive tasks and creates space for finance professionals to lean into what they do best: analysis, strategy, and storytelling. Daunting because for junior professionals still learning what they enjoy (and don’t), the ground feels like it’s shifting beneath their feet.
“I view technology as making yourself more human. It takes away the parts of the job you don’t love so you can lean into the skills that make you brilliant.” — Becky Glover
From bean counter to strategic co-pilot
The perception of finance has already shifted dramatically. Becky describes today’s finance leaders as strategic co-pilots to the CEO—with visibility across the whole business and the ability to guide its future direction.
That requires a different kind of skillset:
Storytelling: translating data into insights people can actually use.
Communication: flexing language and tone for audiences across the business.
Curiosity: being given permission to play, explore, and bring back ideas.
Building high-performing teams in finance
So what does a high-performing finance team look like in 2025? Not a rigid hierarchy where seniority automatically equals decision-making power. Instead, Becky champions teams built on:
Individual strengths (not just qualifications).
Generational differences as a source of innovation.
Flexible pathways into finance, from apprenticeships to MBAs to lateral moves.
Diversity and neurodiversity embraced as superpowers, not problems to fix.
And if she could rewrite the finance playbook from scratch? She’d rip up the job titles and redesign roles around the value an individual actually brings.
Beyond efficiency: re-humanising digital transformation
Finance transformation projects are usually sold on speed and efficiency. But Becky makes the case for something deeper: using technology to create space for curiosity, creativity, and connection.
That means leaders must give people room to experiment, follow rabbit holes, and then bring their discoveries back to the team. Because when people are free to do what they’re best at, not only do they perform better, they’re happier—and so is the business.
Stress, overwhelm, and radical honesty
Of course, this transition isn’t without its costs. Stress and burnout remain high in finance. Becky believes we need a cultural reset: replacing perfectionism with radical honesty, and creating safe spaces where people can admit when they’re overwhelmed, ask for help, or say “this isn’t working for me.”
One thing to take away
Ahead of her Finance Forum talk, Becky left us with this:
“I hope leaders leave feeling empowered to do things differently—whether that’s how they recruit, how they structure work, or how they build teams. If you create high-performing individuals, you’ll create a high-performing organisation.”
🎟️ See Becky live at the Finance Forum: finance-forum.com
