The Complete Guide to Using AI as a Finance Professional in Fayetteville in 2025

For Fayetteville finance professionals in 2025, AI is no longer abstract - local experts at the Greater Fayetteville Power Breakfast are already mapping practical uses from Fort Bragg training to secure automation, showing a regional push to blend human oversight with machine speed (Greater Fayetteville Power Breakfast on applied intelligence); nationally, CFOs report both urgency and caution - 78% flag major security and privacy concerns even as many shift AI toward strategic planning (US CFO AI adoption trends); the takeaway for local practitioners: prioritize explainability and data governance, start with high‑value, low‑risk pilots, and close the talent gap through targeted upskilling - consider short practical programs like the Nucamp AI Essentials for Work bootcamp to build prompt-writing and tool‑use skills that turn AI into a productivity multiplier, not a compliance headache.

Attribute	Information
Description	Gain practical AI skills for any workplace; learn tools, prompts, and job-based AI skills
Length	15 Weeks
Courses included	AI at Work: Foundations, Writing AI Prompts, Job Based Practical AI Skills
Cost	$3,582 early bird; $3,942 regular (18 monthly payments)
Syllabus	AI Essentials syllabus
Registration	Register for AI Essentials for Work

“The future belongs to those who can think critically, adapt boldly and collaborate with AI as a tool - not a substitute for thinking or learning.” - Ashlee Russell

Finance professionals in Fayetteville can deploy AI where it immediately frees time and reduces risk: start with Robotic Process Automation for AP/AR, invoice extraction and reporting to eliminate manual data entry and speed close cycles (RPA for accounting - HubiFi 2025 guide); add AI agents to orchestrate procure‑to‑pay and treasury routines - PwC reports agent-driven workflows can cut PO cycle times by up to 80%, redirect as much as 60% of team time toward insight work, and improve forecasting speed and accuracy (up to ~40%) - so routine processing becomes a strategic lever (PwC report on AI agents for finance).

Complement those with targeted models for fraud detection, real‑time anomaly monitoring, and predictive cash‑flow forecasting - use cases repeatedly validated in industry writeups that move invoice processing from days to minutes and lower false positives while protecting vendor relationships (RTS Labs overview of AI use cases in finance).

The practical takeaway for Fayetteville teams: pick one high‑volume pain point, measure time and error baselines, pilot RPA or an agent workflow, then scale - delivering concrete savings and turning finance into the proactive partner local leaders need during seasonal budget cycles.

AI Use Case	Typical Impact (from sources)
AP/AR automation (RPA)	Faster invoice processing, fewer errors, lower costs (HubiFi; SoftCo)
AI agents for P2P / treasury	PO cycle times down ≤80%; up to 60% team time reallocated (PwC)
Fraud detection & AML	Improved detection with fewer false positives (SoftCo; Digital Adoption)
Predictive cash‑flow & forecasting	Higher accuracy and faster scenario planning (RTS Labs; PwC)

“Top performing companies will move from chasing AI use cases to using AI to fulfill business strategy.” - Dan Priest, PwC US Chief AI Officer

Start small and measured: enroll in Fayetteville Technical Community College's eight‑week Introduction to Artificial Intelligence continuing‑education course (sessions listed Oct/Nov/Dec 2025; $115) to learn core concepts and practical workflows, then pair that learning with short FTCC online classes in Python or Advanced Excel to build the automation and data skills needed for pilots (FTCC Introduction to Artificial Intelligence course page: FTCC Introduction to Artificial Intelligence - course page, FTCC online course catalog for Python, Excel, QuickBooks and AI: FTCC online course catalog: Python, Excel, QuickBooks and AI).

Choose one high‑volume, repeatable process (invoice capture, cash‑flow scenarios, month‑end reconciliations), document baseline time and error rates, run a focused RPA/agent pilot and measure outcomes; recruit a student intern or data‑labeling assistant through FTCC's Work‑Based Learning program to reduce implementation cost and get hands‑on support (WBL places students at the start of 16‑week semesters) - contact FTCC Work‑Based Learning at 910‑678‑8268 (FTCC Work‑Based Learning program information: FTCC Work‑Based Learning program - contact and placement details).

For secure deployment, coordinate with FTCC's cybersecurity resources and career services (Rhiannon Holley, 910‑486‑7309) so early wins are reproducible and defensible for later scale.

Step	Action	Local resource / contact
Skill up	Take an eight‑week Intro to AI + short Python/Excel courses	FTCC Introduction to AI (Oct/Nov/Dec 2025; $115); LearnFTCC: 910‑678‑8446
Pilot	Pick one process, measure baseline, run focused RPA/agent pilot	FTCC online course catalog for relevant training
Staffing & labeling	Hire interns or data‑labeling students to support the pilot	FTCC Work‑Based Learning - 910‑678‑8268; placements begin each 16‑week semester

Fayetteville finance professionals can upskill quickly through Fayetteville Technical Community College's continuing‑education ecosystem: the eight‑week, online FTCC “Introduction to Artificial Intelligence” course (offered Oct.

15, Nov. 12 and Dec. 17, 2025 for $115) teaches practical AI concepts like NLP, forecasting and ethical considerations and is hosted via FTCC's LearnFTCC/ed2go platform (FTCC Introduction to Artificial Intelligence course page on LearnFTCC/ed2go); beyond AI fundamentals, FTCC's Corporate & Continuing Education catalog includes targeted, job‑relevant classes - Advanced Microsoft Excel, Python, QuickBooks and QuickBooks payroll modules - that award CEUs and prepare staff for immediate automation pilots (FTCC Corporate & Continuing Education online programs and certificate courses).

Registration and flexible schedules (day/evening/weekend/online) are managed through the Corporate & Continuing Education office, which posts session calendars and walk‑in/online registration instructions - call 910‑678‑8446 or use the schedules page to reserve a seat and lock in CEU credit (FTCC Corporate & Continuing Education schedules and registration page).

For hands‑on implementation help, hire FTCC Work‑Based Learning students (placements and internships) to support data labeling or RPA pilots - call 910‑678‑8268 to connect talent with projects; the practical payoff: a single $115 eight‑week class plus a short Excel or Python module can produce an intern‑supported pilot that cuts a month‑end close task from days to hours.

Resource	What it offers	Contact
FTCC Introduction to AI	Eight‑week online AI fundamentals (Oct/Nov/Dec 2025); $115; ed2go platform	FTCC Introduction to Artificial Intelligence course page on LearnFTCC/ed2go
FTCC Continuing Education	Online classes: Advanced Excel, Python, QuickBooks, CEUs	910‑678‑8446
Corporate & Continuing Education Registration	Schedules, registration (day/evening/weekend/online)	FTCC Corporate & Continuing Education schedules and registration page
Work‑Based Learning	Student internships/placements to support pilots and data work	910‑678‑8268

Fayetteville finance teams can combine federal, state and local supports to fund AI pilots: the SBA's new Regional Innovation Cluster (RIC) solicitation - part of a $7.5M pool aimed at clusters that include Artificial Intelligence - creates a competitive route for consortiums and small firms to win technical-assistance and project funding (SBA Regional Innovation Cluster (RIC) funding announcement); North Carolina's One North Carolina Small Business Program reimburses costs for SBIR/STTR Phase I proposals and provides Phase I matching funds to bridge early R&D gaps, making SBIR-led AI development far more affordable for local startups (North Carolina One NC Small Business Program details); and community lenders and intermediaries like the Carolina Small Business Development Fund offer loans, technical assistance and bilingual small‑business programs to scale pilots into revenue-generating services.

For projects with facility needs, Fayetteville's own Business Assistance Loan Program will subordinate loans up to $125,000 and the Commercial Exterior Grant reimburses up to $25,000 - concrete levers that can fund modest hardware installs, lab space upgrades or tenant improvements that many AI pilots require (City of Fayetteville business resources and grants).

So what: by combining a matched SBIR award, a $25K grant or a $125K subordinated loan and local technical assistance, a small finance team can move from spreadsheet prototype to a defensible, contract‑ready AI pilot without overleveraging operations.

Funding source	What it offers	Best for
SBA Regional Innovation Cluster (RIC)	Competitive cluster awards and technical assistance (part of $7.5M)	Consortia, manufacturing/AI partnerships
One North Carolina Small Business Program	SBIR/STTR Phase I reimbursements and Phase I matching funds	Early R&D and SBIR/STTR applicants
Carolina Small Business Development Fund (CSBDF)	Loans, technical assistance, special programs (bilingual support)	Startups needing capital + TA
City of Fayetteville programs	Business Assistance subordinated loans (up to $125K); Commercial Exterior Grants (up to $25K)	Local firms with property or site needs

“Our new RIC funding and ongoing outreach serves small businesses with practical tools to reshore jobs and critical industries – reducing our reliance on foreign suppliers and protecting American strength and security. Not only will small businesses rebuild our industrial base – they will solidify America as the global leader in advanced manufacturing and innovation for the long term,” said SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler in a press release.

Regulatory and tax compliance in 2025 means Fayetteville finance teams must treat tax logic as infrastructure: North Carolina levies a 4.75% state sales tax while local levies push Fayetteville's combined rate to 7.00%, so implement address‑level rate lookups and automated remittance to avoid under‑collection and costly audits (see the state rate table at the NCDOR sales and use tax rates); income‑tax policy is also shifting, with the state's flat rate scheduled to decline through 2026 (see the North Carolina tax overview for 2025), so update withholding and estimated‑tax calculations accordingly (AARP guide to North Carolina state taxes 2025); and don't overlook county property cycles - Cumberland County issues bills Sept.

1 with payments due by Jan. 5 to avoid interest and penalties - build reminders into month‑end close workflows and model those dates in cash‑flow forecasts (Cumberland County tax rates and billing information).

So what: automating address‑accurate sales‑tax lookups and calendarizing the Sept./Jan. property cycle can prevent common remittance errors that otherwise erode margin and trigger late‑payment costs.

Item	2025 figure / note
North Carolina state sales tax	4.75%
Cumberland County local sales tax	2.25%
Fayetteville combined sales tax (typical)	7.00%
North Carolina flat income tax (2025)	Stepping down (4.25% noted for 2025)
Cumberland property tax billing	Billed Sept. 1; payment due by Jan. 5 to avoid penalties

“Our new RIC funding and ongoing outreach serves small businesses with practical tools to reshore jobs and critical industries – reducing our reliance on foreign suppliers and protecting American strength and security. Not only will small businesses rebuild our industrial base – they will solidify America as the global leader in advanced manufacturing and innovation for the long term,” said SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler in a press release.

Hiring near Fayetteville is shifting toward hybrid finance‑and‑data skill sets: universities are actively recruiting data‑science instructors (for example, a

“Lecturer of Data Science”

listing appears on the North Carolina HigherEdJobs board, with filters that include online/remote roles - see jobs at North Carolina universities on HigherEdJobs North Carolina remote and on-campus data science job listings), while employers in finance prize practical AI tool experience over theoretical pedigrees - an augmentation mindset and prompt‑crafting ability are now core competencies.

Local hiring managers increasingly value candidates who can produce error‑resistant Excel formulas from AI suggestions and validate models end‑to‑end (see the guide to Excel formula generation and AI tools for Fayetteville finance professionals), plus staff who can run AI cash‑flow forecasts that, in practice,

“save weeks of work”

for treasurers by automating scenario runs and sensitivity analysis (AI cash-flow forecasting prompts for Fayetteville treasurers); so what: hiring now favors finance candidates who pair domain expertise with hands‑on AI tooling and a tested augmentation approach, making internships, adjunct hires from local colleges, or short practical bootcamps an efficient route to fill those in‑demand roles.

The regional talent pipeline into Fayetteville finance roles runs through a diverse K‑12 system and strong early‑college pathways: Hoke County Schools serves roughly 8,920 students across 14 schools with about 80% minority enrollment and ~71% economically disadvantaged students, and its SandHoke Early College produced more than 100 graduates in 2025 - with over 70 students earning an Associate's degree and the class securing more than $6 million in scholarships - creating a ready cohort of students who can move into college or the workforce with two‑year credentials (Hoke County Schools early-college outcomes).

District metrics are public and trackable through the state's reporting tools, so employers and workforce planners can target schools and programs aligned with STEM and college‑readiness goals (North Carolina School Report Cards official data).

For finance teams, the practical payoff is tangible: hiring or partnering with early‑college graduates shortens onboarding for analytics and operations roles and creates a local pipeline of learners already exposed to college‑level work; local upskilling partners and short bootcamps can then bridge any domain gaps quickly (AI tools and practical training for Fayetteville finance professionals in 2025).

Metric	2025 figure
Schools in district	14
Students enrolled	~8,920
Minority enrollment	≈80%
Economically disadvantaged	≈71%
SandHoke Early College AAs (Class of 2025)	Over 70
District 4‑year cohort graduation rate	86.7%

The future of finance and accounting in Fayetteville will be shaped less by dramatic job loss and more by selective, strategic adoption: North Carolina's AI penetration is modest today (5.1% of businesses) but projected to rise to 6.6% in the next six months, leaving local firms a runway to lead with safe, value‑focused pilots rather than scramble to catch up (North Carolina AI adoption analysis).

National industry guidance reinforces that message - the AICPA/CPA.com 2025 AI in Accounting Report frames AI as a way to shift accounting from transaction processing to strategic advisory work, but only with governance, human‑in‑the‑loop checks, and a plan to scale pilots to practice (AICPA/CPA.com 2025 AI in Accounting Report).

CFOs echo the caution: security and privacy are top concerns, cited by roughly 78% of U.S. finance leaders, so early wins must pair tool selection with data controls (US CFO AI adoption survey).

The practical payoff is concrete - firms investing in training and responsible deployments report meaningful time savings (about 40 extra hours per employee annually in some studies), which translates into faster closes, more advisory bandwidth and a defensible edge for Fayetteville teams that prioritize explainability and governance now.

Metric	Value / Source
North Carolina current AI use	5.1% (Commerce NC)
NC projected next 6 months	6.6% (Commerce NC)
US CFOs citing security/privacy concerns	78% (Kyriba survey)
Time saved per employee with AI training	~40 hours/year (Karbon / State of AI in Accounting)

“AI is fundamentally reshaping the accounting profession, accelerating the move toward more strategic advisory services. Firms that embrace AI-enabled solutions - such as large language models and agentic AI - will gain a significant competitive advantage and be better positioned for the future.” - Erik Asgeirsson, President and CEO, CPA.com

Start with governance, pick one measurable pilot, and stack low-cost training and local talent to make AI practical in Fayetteville: use the SBA's practical primer on responsible AI to set data-handling rules and risk limits (SBA guide to AI for small businesses and responsible AI implementation), then choose a high-volume process (invoice capture, accounts payable/accounts receivable, or cash-flow scenarios), document baseline time and error rates, and run a time-boxed RPA/agent pilot; pair that pilot with short, job-focused training such as the Nucamp AI Essentials for Work bootcamp to build prompt and tool skills and with FTCC interns or work-based learners to lower implementation cost - a single $115 FTCC class plus an intern has already proven able to cut a month-end close task from days to hours.

For funding, remember the SBA does not fund business startups or expansions directly - look instead to R&D routes like SBIR/STTR for research grants, local loan/grant programs, or matching funds described in local assistance programs.

The practical payoff: one governed pilot, measurable KPIs and on-the-job training translate into faster closes, clearer audit trails, and the staff time needed to move finance from processing to advisory work; register for focused skills at Nucamp to accelerate that next step (Nucamp AI Essentials for Work bootcamp registration and program details).

Attribute	Information
Description	Gain practical AI skills for any workplace; learn tools, prompts, and job-based AI skills
Length	15 Weeks
Courses included	AI at Work: Foundations; Writing AI Prompts; Job Based Practical AI Skills
Cost	$3,582 early bird; $3,942 regular (18 monthly payments)
Syllabus	AI Essentials for Work syllabus and course outline
Registration	Register for Nucamp AI Essentials for Work

“AI is fundamentally reshaping the accounting profession, accelerating the move toward more strategic advisory services. Firms that embrace AI-enabled solutions - such as large language models and agentic AI - will gain a significant competitive advantage and be better positioned for the future.” - Erik Asgeirsson, President and CEO, CPA.com

Contact: Ludo Fourrage, CEO, Nucamp (for program inquiries and partnerships).