Beyond the buzz: good vs bad automation and the power of continuous accounting: A conversation with Catalina Ibáñez Gutiérrez and Patrick Van Gaelen

In this episode of Finance in Flow, host Catalina Ibáñez Gutiérrez sits down with Patrick Van Gaelen, Head of Product Core, to unpack the evolving world of finance automation and AI-powered consolidation tools. They explore what makes automation truly effective, the risks of black-box systems, and why validation and transparency are essential. Patrick shares practical advice for CFOs navigating today’s crowded tech landscape, the promise of continuous accounting, and the importance of pairing innovation with team empowerment. Tune in for actionable insights on how finance leaders can harness automation without losing the human touch.About the guest:Patrick van Gaelen is a seasoned finance professional and the co-founder of Seefo—a Belgian financial consulting agency established in 2016 specializing in LucaNet’s corporate performance management solutions. Following the successful acquisition of Seefo by Lucanet in 2022, he took on a key leadership role as Regional Head of Services in the Benelux region, bringing extensive experience in business controlling, consolidation, management of shared services, and M&A to Lucanet’s expanding international presence. As Head of Product Core, Patrick now plays a vital role in shaping Lucanet’s integrated CPM solutions, leveraging his deep understanding of finance and user-centric software innovation.Key Quotes“Good automation is transparent. Bad automation is a black box.” – Patrick van Gaelen“Automation shouldn’t create more work than it saves” – Catalina Ibáñez Gutiérrez“Validation, transparency, and flexibility—those are the ingredients of good automation.” – Patrick van GaelenTime Stamps00:00 – Introduction02:00 – Good vs. Bad Automation06:00 – Shifting Work, Not Replacing Jobs09:00 – Choosing the Right Tools12:00 – SaaS vs. On-Premise15:00 – Continuous Accounting Explained20:00 – Practical Use Cases of Automation25:00 – The Limits of Automation30:00 – Change Management and Team Empowerment34:00 – The Role of AI in Finance40:00 – Ingredients of Good Automation45:00 – Rapid-Fire Questions50:00 – Future Trends in Finance55:00 – Key Takeaways & ClosingLinksConnect with Catalina on LinkedInConnect with Patrick on LinkedInLearn more about Lucanet Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.