ISSUE NO. 67

WEEKLY CFO BRIEF

A practical weekly field note from Basta CPA.

THIS WEEK'S STORY

Your team is already using AI. Do you know what they're putting into it?

Samy Basta, CPA

Here's something I think every business owner should assume:

Your employees are already using AI.

Maybe it's ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, or something else. They're using it to draft emails, summarize documents, analyze spreadsheets, and probably a few things you don't know about.

I'm not against that at all. We use AI in our business too.

My concern is what goes into it.

Think about how easy it is for someone to upload a customer contract and say, "Summarize this for me."

Or paste in payroll information.

Or upload a financial statement and ask AI to analyze it.

Nobody is trying to create a security problem. They're just trying to save 20 minutes.

But that's exactly how sensitive information can end up somewhere you didn't intend.

You don't need to ban AI. And please don't create a 25-page policy nobody will read.

Quick note from your CFO
​AI can make your team faster. Just make sure they're not giving away your data along the way.

Book your free 15-minute call

— What I Would Check This Week

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•✓•

Ask your team one simple question this week: "What AI tools are you using, and what are you putting into them?" You may be surprised by the answer.

•✓•

Agree on a few basic rules. What tools are approved? What information is okay to use? What information should never be uploaded? That's enough to get started.

— Deep Dive

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01

Find out where your construction cash flow is getting stuck Small changes to bidding, payment terms, supplier agreements, and project tracking can make a big difference in how much cash stays available between jobs. ​Read more →​

02

See what AI can take off your plate this week From job notes to follow-ups, a few simple AI prompts can help construction owners save time, stay organized, and keep fewer things from slipping through the cracks. ​Read more →​

03

Are you handling your monthly close the hard way? See when automation, outsourcing, or a mix of both can help you close the books faster, reduce errors, and get better financial visibility. ​Read more →​

Basta and Company

100 Pine Street, Suite 1250
San Francisco, CA 94111

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