How Trintech’s CTO Is Shaping the Future of Finance with AI Financial Close

Featuring Sunil Padiyar on the “Lead at the Top of Your Game” Podcast

As the pressure mounts for finance teams to close the books faster—with fewer errors and more insight—AI Financial Close technology is taking center stage. Leading that charge is Sunil Padiyar, Chief Technology Officer at Trintech, a pioneer in AI-driven financial close automation.

In a recent episode of Lead at the Top of Your Game, Sunil joined host Karan Ferrell-Rhodes to discuss how AI is transforming finance operations, what’s next in the evolution of financial close technology, and how to lead winning teams through digital change.

Trintech: The Leader in AI Financial Close Solutions

According to Sunil, Trintech is “the best friend of the Office of the CFO.” And it shows. Trintech’s platform powers the AI Financial Close for thousands of companies worldwide—including Fortune 500 giants and agile SMBs.

Whether you’re using Cadency for enterprise-grade automation or Adra for mid-market agility, Trintech’s tools streamline:

• Transaction Matching
• Balance Sheet Reconciliations
• Journal Entry Automation
• Close Management and Orchestration

“We’ve built flexibility into our software so customers can make it their own—without being dependent on us every step of the way,” Sunil noted.

It’s this combination of control, speed, and intelligence that positions Trintech as the clear frontrunner in the AI Financial Close category.

AI Financial Close in Action: The Future Has Already Arrived

Sunil doesn’t just theorize about AI—he’s hands-on. In his spare time, he uses generative AI tools to produce music, racking up 70,000+ views in three weeks. It’s a personal testament to what AI can do when curiosity meets capability.

On the finance front, tools like GPT-4, Claude, and ChatGPT are already reshaping how teams manage reconciliations, anomaly detection, and financial data analysis.

“AI isn’t creeping in quietly anymore—it’s fundamentally changing how we build enterprise systems,” Sunil said. “This isn’t yesterday’s automation. This is next-generation intelligence built for scale.”

Over the next 12–18 months, Sunil predicts two major developments in the AI Financial Close space:

• Traditional platforms will embed AI to supercharge efficiency and ROI
• New AI-native startups will introduce bold, disruptive approaches to legacy close challenges

What It Takes to Lead the AI Financial Close Revolution

For Sunil, driving transformation isn’t about chasing buzzwords—it’s about building AI with purpose and earning user trust, especially in highly regulated industries like finance.

Here’s how he builds high-performance teams that thrive in the age of AI Financial Close:

• Deep collaboration across tech, operations, and sales
• A culture of experimentation, fun, and fearless iteration
• A relentless focus on delivering measurable customer value

“The people who embrace AI are moving faster. The ones ignoring it? They’re already falling behind.”

Advice for Tomorrow’s Tech and Finance Leaders

If you’re aspiring to shape the future of finance—or aiming for a CTO seat—Sunil’s guidance is simple and sharp:

• Stay obsessed with your customer’s reality
• Connect the dots between technology, market shifts, and user behavior
• Embrace AI Financial Close tools—they’re not optional anymore

“Vision matters. Empathy matters more. The best CTOs are the ones who can balance both,” he said.

Final Thought: AI Financial Close Is Here to Amplify, Not Replace

Sunil’s view of AI is crystal clear—it’s not about replacing people. It’s about elevating finance professionals to work smarter, faster, and with greater insight.

At Trintech, that belief is at the heart of every product decision. Whether it’s helping teams automate the close or equipping CFOs with better visibility, Trintech’s AI Financial Close solutions are empowering finance teams to lead with confidence.

Written By: Nicole Tallman