You see a client’s margins slipping or question whether they can afford their next hire. You recognize the concern—but do you bring it up?
Insightful Accountant launched CFO Talks last month with a look at where professional judgment adds value as AI changes accounting. The upcoming second session on October 28 takes the next step: building the confidence to start your first advisory conversation.
From financial reports to useful decisions
In the September 30 session, “AI Is Taking the Compliance Work. Advisors Take the Lead.,” Dyanna Salcedo, CEO of The CFO Project, explored how AI can support advisory services within a repeatable process.
Three practical takeaways stood out:
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Context makes analysis useful. AI needs the owner’s goals, business circumstances, and a clear question to produce relevant recommendations.
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Headline numbers can hide problems. An illustrative landscaping business had revenue on target while rising costs and slower collections warranted closer investigation.
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Advisory work moves toward action. Hypothesis setting, forecasting, scenario analysis, and action planning help turn financial information into choices an owner can assess.
For accountants and bookkeepers, a starting point is to identify one change in a client’s numbers and prepare a question about what it means for their next decision.
Ready to start that conversation?
Recognizing the opportunity does not always mean feeling ready. Concerns about being wrong, facing an unfamiliar question, or charging for advice can keep qualified professionals from taking the next step.
On October 28 at 2:00 p.m. ET, join Carla Greenan, Executive Coach to CFOs at The CFO Project, for “You Already Know Enough: How to Start Your First CFO Advisory Conversation.”
Carla will help you distinguish skill gaps from confidence gaps, understand what small-business CFO advisory involves, and recognize advisory work you may already provide without a defined fee.
You’ll also apply a four-question readiness test and leave with one client’s name and a sentence to open the conversation.