Planful Inc., a leader in financial performance management cloud software, has officially launched Planful AI Analyst Assistant, an AI-powered tool designed to streamline finance operations. Previewed at the Perform25 user conference, Analyst Assistant is now available to all Planful customers, offering a smarter way to turn complex financial data into actionable insights.

AI Built for Finance, Not Just Any AI

Unlike generic AI tools, Planful AI Analyst Assistant is purpose-built for finance teams. It leverages OpenAI technology combined with Planful’s patented calculation engine to provide accurate, explainable insights tailored to each user’s role and permissions. By integrating financial IQ—fiscal calendars, charts of accounts, and dimensional security—Analyst Assistant ensures finance professionals get relevant and trustworthy answers without hours of manual analysis.

“Finance professionals cannot afford to spend hours digging through data; they need fast, reliable answers,” said Steve Welsh, Planful Chief Product Officer. “Analyst Assistant turns complexity into clarity, giving finance teams more time to focus on what matters most.”

Conversational Insights, Instant Analysis

The standout feature of Analyst Assistant is its plain-language, conversational interface. Users can ask questions like, “What’s driving the Q2 OpEx variance in North America?” and receive instant visualizations and narratives. Early adopters report up to 70% reduction in manual analysis and near-perfect response accuracy.

Key capabilities include:

• Variance Insights: Highlights top drivers by region, account, or cost center to uncover hidden trends.
• Conversational Drill-Downs: Follow-up queries allow deep dives across financial dimensions without technical expertise.
• Finance-Grade Security: Maintains role-based access, encrypts data end-to-end, and never uses customer data for AI training.

Brian George, Director of Corporate Finance at West Coast University, called it “a game-changer,” noting that he can access critical insights instantly without building complex reports or queries.

Implications for Finance Teams

Planful AI Analyst Assistant represents a growing trend of AI-powered augmentation in finance, where automation enhances human expertise rather than replacing it. By reducing repetitive analysis, teams can focus on strategic decision-making, forecasting, and planning, potentially reshaping the productivity benchmarks for finance departments.

With AI now directly integrated into the Planful platform, finance teams gain a powerful ally for navigating complex data, improving accuracy, and accelerating insight-driven actions—without compromising security or compliance.