Increasing efficiency and accuracy in finance operations through targeted process automation

Key takeaways

• Repetitive, manual finance and accounting tasks were replaced with software-driven execution operating at a predictable, measurable pace.
• Time spent on time recording, billing, and posting activities was reduced significantly without compromising control.
• Automation improved data accuracy and shortened approval cycles, particularly in sick-leave and cost-related processes.

Gedeon Richter operates manufacturing and research facilities across multiple countries, supported by complex finance, accounting, and controlling processes. These processes must remain accurate and compliant, while also coping with scale, currency volatility, and time pressure.

Before automation, many critical activities relied on manual data entry and validation. Time recording, cost accounting, and supplier or customer billing required significant human effort, often spread across teams and locations. While functional, this approach introduced delays, limited scalability, and increased exposure to human error, especially in processes sensitive to exchange rate changes or approval timing.

The objective was to reduce operational effort and cost while improving consistency and reliability across finance operations.

The challenge

Manual execution of finance and accounting processes created structural inefficiencies.

• Large volumes of repetitive entries consumed disproportionate amounts of skilled employee time.
• Billing and posting activities were sensitive to timing and exchange rate fluctuations, increasing the risk of inconsistencies.
• Approval cycles for sick-leave and related settlements were longer than necessary, affecting internal service levels.
• Error correction required additional effort, extending process cycles and reducing confidence in data quality.

The organisation needed a way to standardise execution without losing control, while keeping processes responsive to changing demand.

Solution overview

A targeted Robotic Process Automation (RPA) programme was implemented using UiPath to automate selected finance and accounting processes. Rather than attempting broad automation, the focus was placed on processes with the highest volume, repetition, and sensitivity to timing and accuracy.

The scope of work covered:

• identification and selection of processes suitable for automation across accounting, finance, and controlling,
• design of an RPA architecture aligned with internal IT and security standards,
• detailed analysis and redesign of eleven selected processes,
• development and deployment of software bots executing these processes in a production environment.

Automation was designed to complement existing teams, taking over repetitive execution while leaving oversight and exception handling with business users.

How the work was executed

The engagement began with process analysis workshops aimed at understanding actual execution patterns rather than formal procedures alone. This allowed automation design to reflect real operational conditions.

Based on this analysis, an RPA architecture was defined to support reliability, scalability, and controlled access to systems. Each selected process was then redesigned with automation in mind, eliminating unnecessary steps and clarifying decision logic before bot development.

Bots were implemented incrementally and stabilised in the production environment. Their activity levels were adjusted dynamically based on workload, ensuring that automation supported demand rather than introducing rigid capacity constraints.

Throughout implementation, emphasis was placed on traceability and accuracy, particularly for processes involving billing, exchange rates, and regulatory-sensitive data.

Operational results

After deployment, finance operations achieved a step change in efficiency and consistency.

• Eleven processes were fully automated.
• Average time spent on manual execution was reduced by approximately 80%.
• Automation coverage reached close to 90% for selected tasks.
• Data entry accuracy improved, reducing the need for rework and corrections.
• Approval cycles, including sick-leave billing, became shorter and more predictable.

Bots now execute repetitive tasks continuously and consistently, while teams focus on supervision, analysis, and exception handling.

Business value

The automation programme delivered measurable cost and time optimisation without increasing operational risk. By reducing dependence on manual execution, Gedeon Richter gained greater predictability in finance processes and improved confidence in data quality.

Shorter processing times improved internal service levels, while higher accuracy reduced downstream correction effort. Importantly, automation capacity can be scaled up or down in response to workload, providing flexibility that manual staffing cannot easily match.

By introducing software-driven execution where it adds the most value, the organisation strengthened control over finance operations while freeing skilled employees for higher-value activities.

By automating selected finance and accounting processes, Gedeon Richter improved speed, accuracy, and cost control while maintaining oversight and flexibility across global operations.