How an AI CFO Works, Step by Step
Thing connects your accounts, reads the numbers, forecasts what's next, and flags what needs attention - automatically, every day.
The Short Answer First
40-word direct-answer callout (AEO block) defining the mechanism in one paragraph before expanding - per the AEO 40-word rule from the strategy doc.
Step 1 - Connecting Your Financial Stack
How data ingestion works: bank feeds, accounting software, CRM/payment data.
Step 2 - Reading the Numbers Like a Finance Executive Would
Explains the analysis layer: anomaly detection, categorization, trend recognition.
Step 3 - Turning Data Into a Forecast
13-week cash flow logic, scenario modeling basics, confidence bands.
Step 4 - Flagging What Actually Needs Your Attention
Alerting logic: runway thresholds, overdue invoices, budget variance triggers.
Step 5 - Delivering CFO-Style Commentary, Not Just Charts
The "explainability" layer - plain-English narrative alongside every dashboard, why this matters for non-finance founders.
What an AI CFO Cannot (Yet) Do Alone
Honest limitations section - builds trust, ties to /experts or /fractional-cfo for edge cases requiring a human signature or judgment call.
Negotiating With Banks or Investors
Relationship-driven conversations still need a human voice at the table.
Signing Off on Audited Financials
Statutory sign-off remains a licensed-professional responsibility.
Judgment Calls Under Ambiguity
Situations with no clean historical pattern still benefit from human judgment.
