1. Overview

AI CFO works best when questions are clear, specific, and tied to operational goals.

Instead of only asking for raw numbers, operators can use AI CFO to understand:

• what changed

• why it matters

• what needs attention

• where risk may be building

• what actions to prioritize next

The more context included in the prompt, the more useful and actionable the response becomes.

2. Asking operational questions

AI CFO is designed to support weekly operational decision-making.

Common operational prompts include:

• What should I focus on this week?

• What changed since last week?

• Which locations need attention?

• Are there any unusual cost spikes?

• What is impacting margin the most right now?

• Which Signals should I review first?

These types of questions help surface priorities quickly.

3. Asking cash flow questions

Operators can use AI CFO to better understand cash movement and short-term obligations.

Example prompts:

• How does cash look over the next few weeks?

• What upcoming payments should I prepare for?

• Are cash outflows increasing?

• What is driving this week’s projected balance change?

• Which vendors are impacting cash the most?

Questions tied to timing and obligations often produce more actionable responses.

4. Asking margin and profitability questions

AI CFO can help explain operational drivers behind margin changes.

Example prompts:

• Why did margin drop this week?

• What costs increased the most?

• Is labor running above normal?

• Which categories are compressing profit?

• Which location has the strongest performance right now?

AI CFO can combine transaction activity, reporting trends, and Signals to explain changes across the business.

5. Asking document and invoice questions

AI CFO can also help operators understand uploaded invoice and vendor activity.

Example prompts:

• Did any vendor prices increase recently?

• What invoices still need review?

• Which products changed price this month?

• Are there unusual inventory purchases?

• Which vendors are becoming more expensive over time?

These prompts become more accurate when invoices are consistently reviewed and verified.

6. Asking better follow-up questions

Follow-up questions often improve the quality of analysis.

Instead of:

• Why are costs high?

Try:

• Which expenses increased the most this week?

• Which vendors contributed to the increase?

• Is this higher than normal for this location?

Breaking questions into smaller operational pieces helps AI CFO provide more precise answers.

7. Questions to avoid

Very broad or incomplete prompts may produce less useful responses.

Examples include:

• Help me

• Is everything okay?

• Tell me about the business

• What should I do?

Adding business context, timeframes, locations, or workflows usually improves response quality.

8. Using AI CFO alongside workflows

AI CFO works best when combined with regularly updated workflows across Finz.

This includes:

• connected QuickBooks data

• connected bank accounts

• categorized transactions

• reviewed invoices

• active Signals

• updated reporting workflows

The more complete the operating data, the stronger the AI CFO context becomes.

9. Recommended next steps

After learning how to structure prompts, operators often continue by:

• reviewing Signals

• monitoring Margin trends

• checking weekly cash flow

• reviewing uploaded invoices

• asking AI CFO about operational changes week over week

Clear questions help AI CFO deliver more focused operational guidance.