Speaker Highlight: Cyril Gabriel
AI is transforming finance far beyond automation, and Cyril Gabriel , CFO and COO of Academy Xi , is at the forefront of this shift. With over 20 years of financial leadership across banking, tech, and education, he brings a unique perspective on how AI and machine learning can drive strategic insights, predictive analytics, and smarter decision-making.
Ahead of his appearance at World Finance Forum Sydney, we spoke with Cyril about how how Academy Xi is integrating AI across finance, sales, and learning, offering a glimpse into the real-world impact of automation and delved into the evolving regulatory landscape and what finance leaders must do to stay ahead.
Tell us a bit about yourself and how you've ended up where you are today.
I am the Chief Operating Officer at Academy Xi, bringing more than 20 years’ experience in the finance, banking, and immigration sectors. Prior to this role, I was previously the Director of Finance for Convergint Australia and the Chief Financial Officer for Prosys Services Pty Ltd. My career journey has included senior positions at Lloyds Banking Group, VFS, and AMP, where I developed a deep expertise in financial leadership and strategic management.
Beyond my professional roles, I serve on the board of Rosebank College and am the Chair of its finance committee. My contributions to the finance industry have been recognised with finalist honors at the Australian CFO Awards in 2022, 2023, and 2024.
I also hold a dual Master’s in Professional Accounting and Business Administration, am a Fellow of the Institute of Public Accountants, a Member of CPA and Chartered Accountants, and hold a PhD in Portfolio Management.
Outside of work, I enjoy getting out into nature, surfing, and spending time with my dog Andy. In a past life, I played for the Indian national U-19 cricket team and was a goalkeeper for Barcelona B.
What's the biggest change you've seen in finance over the past decade?
I’ve witnessed many changes in finance but the most disruptive and revolutionary by far is definitely the impact of AI.?
From transforming how we analyse data to predicting trends and streamlining underwriting processes, it’s allowed finance teams globally to move from being reactive to proactive strategisers. The scale at which AI has moved in the last couple of years has been rapid and transformative, leading to widespread adoption by banks, insurance companies, etc. everywhere.
In the blink of an eye, we now use AI-driven tools to automate repetitive tasks like invoice processing, budgeting, and compliance checks. Predictive AI analytics have also allowed us to anticipate market shifts and make more accurate data-informed decisions. And in areas like risk management, we can now identify anomalies that can signal fraud or inefficiencies. It’s offered us a level of vigilance that was previously unachievable.?
"The most exciting part is that the pace at which AI is developing isn’t slowing down. We’re constantly seeing new innovations and applications of AI emerging."
A KPMG study showed that three-quarters of Australian companies are using or piloting AI in their financial reporting and this will increase to 100% in three years’ time. GenAI is set to be a bigger priority in the future, followed by use cases in anomaly detection, robotic process automation, and machine/deep learning.?
Overall, it’s been mind-blowing witnessing AI’s takeover of our systems (and lives!) and I’m keen to see where it will bring us next.?
What's the biggest challenge finance leaders are facing today?
In my opinion, a key critical challenge we are facing is adapting to evolving regulations and advancements in financial technology, specifically AI and automation.
While there’s still a gap in AI regulation in Australia, it’s worth noting that regulations will definitely affect how we leverage it to streamline our operations today and in the future.?
A couple of developments, for example, like the National AI Strategy, Australia’s AI Ethics Framework/Principles, ASIC and AHPRA-specific industry regulations, and more recently, the Voluntary AI Safety Standard, have provided preliminary guidelines on how to use AI responsibly.
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"The challenge here will be on staying compliant while using AI and automation to enhance outcomes and decision-making. It’s undoubtedly crucial for an effective finance leader to have strategic foresight to grow the bottom line."
AI plays an important part in that. But it’s also important we have that critical mindset of always asking questions, evaluating risks and finding solutions. Say we have these scenarios:
Finance is a risk-heavy sector. But by taking these extra measures to be compliant, we can foster financial transparency and resilience. Doing this not only increases long-term community trust and stakeholder confidence as we grow, but drives innovation and adaptability.?
Where are you on your automation journey, is it a big feature in your work or are you at the beginning?
Being a digital-first education company, automation is an important part of Academy Xi.?
However, there’s certainly room to experiment more with it and see how it can drive our productivity further. I would rate our automation processes to be 6-7 in maturity at the moment.?
We currently use automation in our marketing function, specifically Salesforce/Pardot Account Engagement in optimising our lead nurture journeys and email segmentation. Our Sales team also has automation in place through Salesforce that allows them to generate real-time reports of sales performance metrics like lead conversions, call run-times, etc.
From the Experience side, our own product AI Career Coach actually helps us in managing our student cohorts and delivering quality learning experiences. It supports us in everything from automating routine tasks, providing personalised career guidance, improving resume quality and preparing learners for job interviews. AI is also integrated with our Learning Managing System to assist our students with their courses any time of the day.
Of course we have quite a bit of AI and automation with our finance function to ensure compliance and to automate those mundane tasks.?
In terms of how we’d like to incorporate AI/automation more into our organisation, we would really like to gain value from AI sales forecasting.
"Embedding a custom AI model with our current CRM tools and dashboards can be a great way to zero in on the most promising deals and opportunities. I’m interested in how we can use it to make accurate predictions which can then inform data-backed decisions."
Another area that is fascinating to me is AI-assisted learning and teaching. Integrating this into our online courses and virtual workshops would elevate learning experiences to be incredibly innovative and tailored. For instance, using AI as a speed reading assistant to help find key information fast or simplify key concepts.?
If you enjoyed this interview with Cyril, you won't want to miss his session, Unlocking the Power of AI & ML: Beyond Automation to Strategic Insights, at World Finance Forum Sydney.
Grab your pass today while ticket availability still remains ??