As organisations grow increasingly reliant on interconnected financial technologies, gaps in data, reporting and governance are making it harder for leaders to see the true state of their finances.

Financial systems analyst Oluwaseun Lamina, is addressing this challenge with the launch of FINSIGHT-8; a proprietary diagnostic tool designed to help businesses evaluate, score, and strengthen the health of their financial infrastructure.

Built on the premise that before organisations invest in new software or automation, they must first understand the condition of the systems they already have.

Too often, financial data lives across multiple platforms. Reporting still depends on manual work. Weaknesses in forecasting or integration prevent decision-makers from getting a clear, reliable picture of performance.

“Technology alone does not fix broken processes and this tool gives organisations a structured way to diagnose what’s working, what’s not, and what to fix first,” Lamina said.

The figure 8 in FINSIGHT-8™️ represents the eight interconnected areas the assessment examines.

These include Financial Data Integrity, which looks at the reliability of core financial data. Systems Integration and Architecture, which examines how platforms communicate; Reporting Automation and Efficiency, which measures how fast data becomes usable reports.

It also covers Forecasting and Predictive Intelligence, to assess the ability to anticipate outcomes. Financial Controls and Risk Governance, to review controls around financial activities as well as System Performance and Resilience to test dependability.

The final two are Executive Decision Intelligence, which evaluates support for leadership decisions and People Governance and Adoption, which considers training, processes and culture.

Organisations complete the assessment by answering targeted questions about their financial environment and it then generates a Financial Systems Health Score. It also provides a prioritised improvement plan. This helps leaders know exactly where to focus resources first, instead of trying to fix everything at once.

Rather than starting with a recommendation to buy new software, this tool begins with diagnosis by treating the financial system as an ecosystem.

Poor data integrity affects reporting. Weak integration slows decisions. Low adoption limits the value of even the best technology.

The tool is particularly relevant as businesses embrace AI, analytics and automation. Promising faster insights, the technology however cannot deliver value if the underlying data, processes and governance are weak.

“Organisations don’t just need more tools, they need clarity and this tool provides that clarity by showing how data, systems, people and decisions are connected.”

By combining assessment with prioritisation, the conversation shifts and moves from simply identifying problems to determining what deserves attention first. For organisations investing in digital transformation, this provides a critical starting point before committing to new platforms.

Lamina is a financial systems analyst with expertise in financial operations, system diagnostics and performance improvement. Through FINSIGHT-8™️, she aims to help organisations across Africa and beyond move from fragmented financial operations to integrated, decision-ready systems.