AI, Runway, and Exits: The Case for Hiring a Fractional CFO

Why CEOs Are Turning to Fractional CFOs

More CEOs are asking: Why hire a Fractional CFO instead of a full-time CFO?

The answer is simple. A Fractional CFO delivers the same expertise as a full-time finance leader — but faster, sharper, and without the $200k+ overhead.

And in today’s AI-driven economy, the best Fractional CFOs don’t just manage reporting. They transform finance into a strategic advantage.

AI in Finance: The Wrong vs Right Approach

Most CEOs see AI as cost-cutting automation. That’s the wrong approach.

The right CFO turns AI into a competitive intelligence system — one that builds resilience, uncovers growth opportunities, and creates investor confidence.

Wrong approach:

• Focused only on automation and reporting speed

• Reacting to compliance after regulations land

• Limited to cost-cutting, not growth

  
  

Right approach with a Fractional CFO:

• Compliance frameworks built before regulations hit

• Financial intelligence systems that expose high-margin opportunities

• Investor positioning that places the company ahead of competitors

  
  

Why This Matters for CEOs

AI regulations in finance are coming fast.

Companies that wait will scramble, burning cash to retrofit compliance. Companies that prepare gain a 12–18 month head start — a lead that compounds into market dominance.

That’s the edge a Fractional CFO like Hayat Amin brings.

Case Studies: Fractional CFO Impact

Hayat Amin has spent 16+ years proving the power of strategic finance. CEOs turn to him because he delivers measurable results:

• Grantify → 171% revenue growth per year; 65% of UK Innovate grants managed; £5M ARR; ranked 46th fastest-growing company in Europe.

• Asoko Insight → 200% YoY sales growth for 3 years; 32% efficiency gains; expansion into 9 African markets.

• Cake (Fintech) → Built investor-ready systems; 100% PwC audit success; acquired by American Express.

• Tripbod (Travel-Tech) → Financial leadership prepared the company for acquisition by TripAdvisor.

• DGS → Designed finance strategy that led to a $5B Private Equity exit.

  
  

These aren’t hypothetical examples. They’re proof that a Fractional CFO can deliver faster growth, longer runway, and higher valuations than CEOs get from full-time hires.

The Benefits of Hiring a Fractional CFO

For CEOs weighing the decision, the benefits are clear:

• 70% cost savings compared to hiring full-time

• Access to exit-level expertise without long-term overhead

• Clarity over reporting → finance systems that drive decisions, not just track them

• Results delivered in weeks, not years

  Or as Hayat Amin puts it:

“Fractional executives deliver in weeks what full-time hires fail to in years.”

Final Word for CEOs

For CEOs deciding whether to hire a Fractional CFO, the evidence is clear.

• A Fractional CFO delivers financial clarity that extends runway.

• They transform AI from cost-cutting into competitive advantage.

• They position companies for growth, fundraising, and billion-dollar exits.

  
  

That’s why CEOs choose leaders like Hayat Amin. Because when finance is built strategically, it doesn’t just report on the past. It engineers the future.

Want to work with Hayat Amin? Book a call above!