Smart and Practical Hacks for Non-Accountants to bring AI into Your Business Finance Operations

Shannon Smit isn’t just talking about the future of business finance -she’s already building it. As the Founding Director of SMART Business Solutions, a multi‑award‑winning business advisory group, Shannon has transformed a traditional finance firm into a future‑ready operation powered by AI and Robotic Process Automation.

Her expertise spans accounting, financial planning, lending, and strategy, giving her a uniquely holistic view of how businesses can work smarter, faster, and with more confidence. At B.I.T.E Business Conference 2026, Shannon takes the stage with a keynote designed for every business owner who has ever thought, “AI sounds great, but where on earth do I start?” In “Smart and Practical Hacks for Non‑Accountants to Bring AI Into Your Business Finance Operations,” she cuts through the noise and shows how simple, accessible automation can transform the way you understand your numbers, make decisions, and run your business. Shannon speaks from experience - real, hands‑on experience. In 2024, she led a bold shift inside her own firm, bringing automation capability in‑house and training her 20‑person team to build their own bots using tools like Power Automate, ChatGPT, and VBA scripting. The results were extraordinary: more than 60% of her team now design their own automations, freeing thousands of hours a year and unlocking a culture where innovation happens from within.

SMART Business Solutions is now recognised nationally as proof that you don’t need Silicon Valley budgets to harness the power of AI - you just need the right mindset and a practical starting point.

Shannon invites business owners to rethink outdated manual tasks, reinvent how they use their financial systems, and reignite confidence in their ability to lead through change. Her keynote promises not only inspiration but action - attendees will walk away with practical hacks they can implement immediately to future‑proof their finance function and elevate the way they run their business.