Are you Choosing the Right Path to AI?

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Making the smart choice for your finance team

84% of CFOs are implementing AI in 2024 - but not all paths to implementation are equal. In fact, while most (75%) of finance professionals believe AI will make their function more efficient, they're either not using AI yet or just exploring it.

Whether you're considering building in-house capabilities (6-12 month timeline), engaging major consultancies (£200-500k+ investments), or partnering with specialists like us, here's what you need to know to make the right choice for your team.

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The Challenge:

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Most finance teams (75%) are either not using AI yet or just in early exploration. Yet 87% believe AI will make their function more efficient and effective. The question isn't whether to implement AI - it's how to do it right.

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The Reality:

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• Finance teams spend only 20% of time on strategic work
• Most face 3.3% budget cuts over next two years
• 53% struggle to attract and retain talent
• Teams want to double their strategic work capacity

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Your Options:

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As ACA-qualified professionals who've led AI transformations at Big-4 firms, we understand the four main paths forward:

1. Build In-House Capabilities
2. Engage Major Consultancies
3. Hire More Accountants
4. Partner with Finance AI Specialists

Each has different implications for your timeline, budget, and team. Here's what you need to know to make the right choice.

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1. DIY AI Implementation. Building in-house with your team

• Initial Cost: £50-100k software + team time
• Timeline: 6-12 months
• Risk Level: High
• Key Challenges:
  • Trial and error learning curve
  • Team distracted from core duties
  • No expert guidance on best practices
  • Risk of choosing wrong solution

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2. Big Consulting Firms. Traditional consulting approach

• Initial Cost: £200-500k+
• Timeline: 12-18 months
• Risk Level: Medium-High
• Key Challenges:
  • High project costs
  • Long implementation timelines
  • Generic templates vs tailored solutions
  • Junior team delivery
  • Ongoing dependency

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3. Hire More Accountants. Traditional scaling approach

• Initial Cost: £40-60k per head
• Timeline: 3-6 months to hire
• Risk Level: Medium
• Key Challenges:
  • Rising salary costs
  • Training & retention issues
  • Doesn't solve root inefficiencies
  • Limited by human capacity
  • Location dependent

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4. GenFinance.AI Approach. Specialist finance AI transformation

• Initial Cost: Clear service-based pricing
• Timeline: 2-12 weeks (service dependent)
• Risk Level: Low
• Key Benefits:
  • Led by ACA-qualified experts
  • Fixed pricing, no scope creep
  • Practical finance-first approach
  • Rapid time to value
  • Built-in knowledge transfer
  • Fix-it-till-it-works guarantee

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Real Cost Comparison

[Insert table comparing total cost of ownership across approaches Include:

• Initial investment
• Time costs
• Hidden costs
• Opportunity costs
• Long-term value

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Why Specialist Finance AI Partners Win

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The Clear Advantage:

• Speed: Start seeing results in weeks, not months
• Expertise: Get it right first time with ACA-qualified experts
• Cost: Fixed pricing with guaranteed outcomes
• Focus: Keep your team focused on core duties
• Risk: Minimize risk with our proven methodology
• Results: Clear metrics and measurable outcomes

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READY TO DISCUSS YOUR OPTIONS?

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Book a no-obligation call to explore the right approach for your team.

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