Field note
What not to put into finance AI
The safest finance AI rollout starts by naming what stays out: bank data, tax records, payroll, contracts and anything not needed for the task.
Before a finance AI pilot, write the exclusion list. Teams move faster when they know what must stay out of prompts, uploads and connected sources.
Practical SME workflow
Apply the list to an expense and subscription review workflow. Use only the fields needed for review: supplier, owner, amount, renewal date and policy flag. Keep payroll, card numbers, bank details, staff notes and unrelated contracts out.
Risk and control
Do not upload private customer data, bank credentials, tax records, payroll, medical information, legal advice, passwords or private keys. If the workflow needs sensitive data, approve the tool, the storage, the reviewer and the retention first.