Most finance teams don’t outgrow their software.
They outgrow the operating model that sits around it.
The month-end close takes longer. Reporting becomes spreadsheet-driven. Systems stop talking to each other. Finance teams work harder every quarter just to keep up with growth.
I’ve spent the last nine years helping CFOs, Controllers, and finance leaders solve those problems.
As Managing Partner at Zanovoy, I help organizations evaluate, implement, integrate, and optimize the systems that power modern finance organizations. We are an Oracle NetSuite Alliance Partner, a Coupa Authorized Services Partner, and implementation partners for leading finance platforms including Rillet, Campfire, Adaptive Planning, Ramp, and Zip.
Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to work with organizations across software, life sciences, energy, professional services, and financial services—from emerging growth companies to enterprises preparing for their next stage of scale.
What makes Zanovoy different is simple:
We start with advice.
Not every company needs a new ERP.
Not every company needs AI.
Not every company should replace their current systems.
Our job is to help finance leaders make the right decision—even when that decision doesn’t benefit us.
Today, my focus is helping finance teams answer three questions:
• Have we outgrown our current systems?
• What does an AI-native finance stack actually look like?
• How do we build finance operations that scale without adding complexity?
I regularly write and speak about finance transformation, ERP strategy, AI-native finance, procurement modernization, and the future of the month-end close.
Helping finance teams close faster, gain better visibility, and build systems that grow with the business.
Company: Zanovoy
We are thrilled to have you join us today, welcome to ValiantCEO Magazine’s exclusive interview! Let’s start off with a little introduction. Tell our readers a bit about yourself and your company
Jermaine Jackson: I’m Jermaine Jackson, Managing Partner and co-founder of Zanovoy, an AI-native finance transformation firm that helps ambitious companies build finance organizations ready for the next decade, not the last.
Looking back, my career has never really been about ERP systems or finance software. It’s been about solving business problems.
Over the past decade, I’ve worked alongside hundreds of finance leaders navigating hyper-growth, acquisitions, international expansion, and digital transformation. No matter the company or industry, I kept seeing the same pattern: organizations would invest millions in new technology yet still struggle to close their books efficiently, trust their data, or give leadership the insights needed to make confident decisions.
Eventually I realized the software wasn’t the problem. The real challenge was that finance had become an ecosystem of disconnected applications, fragmented data, and manual processes. Companies weren’t lacking technology; they were lacking integration, strategy, and ownership.
That realization became the foundation for Zanovoy. We started the company with a simple belief: finance leaders deserve a partner who understands the entire finance ecosystem, not just one application. Today we help organizations design, implement, integrate, and optimize the technologies that power modern finance, from ERP and procurement to financial close, planning, reporting, and AI-enabled automation.
But our real business isn’t implementing software. Our real business is creating confidence. Confidence that the numbers are accurate. Confidence that decisions are based on trusted data.
Confidence that finance can become a strategic advantage instead of a reporting function.
What excites me most today is that we’re witnessing one of the biggest shifts the finance profession has ever experienced. Artificial intelligence is changing how finance teams work, but I believe many organizations are asking the wrong question. They’re asking, “How do we use AI?”
The better question is, “How do we redesign finance for an AI-powered world?”
Those are very different conversations. AI won’t replace great finance leaders. It will amplify them. The organizations that succeed won’t necessarily have the most AI; they’ll have the cleanest data, the strongest processes, and the courage to rethink decades-old ways of working.
That’s where we focus our energy. We’re helping finance organizations move beyond automation and toward intelligence, where technology doesn’t simply process transactions but actively supports better planning, faster decision-making, and stronger business performance.
As a leader, I’ve also learned that building a company isn’t fundamentally different from transforming a finance organization. Both start with people. I’ve always believed that exceptional businesses are built by developing exceptional leaders. At Zanovoy, we invest heavily in creating a culture where people are encouraged to think like advisors, challenge conventional thinking, and never stop learning. Technology evolves constantly, but curiosity, integrity, and genuine care for clients never go out of style.
Looking ahead, my vision extends well beyond building a successful consulting firm. I believe finance is entering its most transformative era since the introduction of cloud ERP. Over the next decade, every finance organization will be reimagined around AI, automation, and real-time intelligence. The firms that thrive will be those capable of bridging business strategy, financial expertise, and technology into one seamless operating model.
That’s the company we’re building. Our ambition is for Zanovoy to become the trusted strategic partner finance leaders rely on whenever they’re navigating meaningful change, whether that’s scaling globally, preparing for an IPO, modernizing operations, or embracing AI responsibly. Ultimately, our mission is simple: help finance leaders build organizations that are not only more efficient but also more intelligent, more resilient, and better prepared for whatever comes next.
What emerging technology trends do you believe will have the most profound impact in the next 5-10 years?
Jermaine Jackson: I believe the biggest technology trend over the next 5–10 years will be the convergence of artificial intelligence, trusted data, and autonomous business operations.
Today, most organizations use AI to improve productivity. The next phase is much bigger: AI becoming embedded into core business processes. In finance, that means moving beyond generating insights to executing work, automating reconciliations, forecasting cash flow, identifying risks, and supporting real-time decision-making.
However, AI is only as powerful as the data behind it. Organizations with clean, connected, and well-governed data will have a significant competitive advantage, while those with fragmented systems will struggle to realize AI’s full potential. I also believe we’ll see the rise of AI-powered digital coworkers that handle routine operational tasks, allowing professionals to focus on strategy, innovation, and higher-value decisions. The future isn’t about replacing people; it’s about augmenting their capabilities.
Ultimately, the companies that lead over the next decade won’t simply be those that adopt AI first. They’ll be the ones that redesign their business around it, combining technology with strong leadership, sound processes, and human judgment.
Can you share a specific technological breakthrough from your company that has the potential to reshape your industry?
Jermaine Jackson: One innovation we’re particularly excited about is our work in building AI-native finance transformation. Traditionally, ERP implementations have relied heavily on manual discovery, documentation, system configuration, and testing. We’re reimagining that process by embedding AI throughout the implementation lifecycle. From analyzing business processes and generating solution designs to automating documentation, identifying risks, and accelerating system configuration, AI enables our consultants to deliver projects faster and with greater consistency.
More importantly, we’re extending AI beyond implementation into ongoing finance operations. We envision AI agents that work alongside finance teams, monitoring data quality, recommending process improvements, surfacing exceptions, and providing real-time financial insights across the enterprise.
This represents a shift from simply implementing software to building intelligent finance ecosystems. As AI matures, I believe every finance organization will need a strategic partner that understands how to combine technology, data, and business processes into an AI-native operating model. That’s the future we’re building at Zanovoy.
How do you approach innovation while balancing the need for practicality and market readiness?
Jermaine Jackson: Innovation only creates value if it solves a real business problem. At Zanovoy, we start with the customer’s challenges, not the technology. When evaluating new technologies, especially AI, we ask three questions:
Does it solve a meaningful problem? Is it practical to implement? Will it deliver measurable business value? If the answer to any of those is no, it’s not ready for our clients.
We also believe innovation should be iterative rather than disruptive. We help organizations build a strong foundation of clean data, streamlined processes, and connected systems before introducing advanced capabilities like AI. That approach reduces risk, accelerates adoption, and ensures innovation delivers lasting results instead of becoming another abandoned initiative. For us, success isn’t measured by how much new technology we deploy; it’s measured by the business outcomes we help our clients achieve.
What challenges do you face in integrating cutting-edge technology into existing business models?
Jermaine Jackson: The biggest challenge isn’t the technology; it’s change management. Most organizations already have significant investments in existing systems, processes, and ways of working. Integrating cutting-edge technologies like AI requires more than deploying new tools; it requires rethinking how the business operates.
Another common challenge is data. AI is only as effective as the quality of the information it relies on, so organizations with fragmented systems or poor data governance often struggle to realize its full potential. Finally, there’s the human element. Successful adoption depends on building trust, demonstrating measurable value, and helping employees see AI as a tool that enhances their work rather than replaces it. The organizations that succeed are those that treat technology adoption as a business transformation initiative, not just an IT project.
How do you foster a culture of innovation within your organization to stay ahead in the tech race?
Jermaine Jackson: At Zanovoy, we believe innovation starts with curiosity, not technology. We encourage our team to challenge conventional thinking, experiment with new ideas, and continuously learn as the industry evolves.
We also stay close to our clients and technology partners because the best innovations often come from solving real-world business challenges. Every implementation, client conversation, and internal project is an opportunity to identify a better way of working.
Finally, we empower our people to embrace AI in their own workflows. By using AI to automate repetitive tasks, our consultants can spend more time on strategic thinking, problem-solving, and delivering value to clients. That mindset of continuous improvement keeps us agile and helps us stay ahead in a rapidly changing industry.
