Revolutionizing SME Finance

Revolutionizing SME Finance: My Journey from Frustration to AI Accounting Automation

I have just turned 60, and I have realized an important lesson: I’ve spent years chasing ideas and relying on others’ expertise. Now, I’m focusing on what I know I do best

📌 Life Lesson: Focus on your strengths and do it with passion.

The key to fulfilment isn’t doing everything—it’s doing what you love, what you’re good at, and giving it your all. Indeed, this is a lesson learnt from my mother.

At 60, I see my journey to finding my Voice, and my career as CFO best exemplifies this. and now, using that experience and expertise, I aim to empower Business Owners (and CFOs) by bringing AI Financial Automation to SMEs

Meet Jeffrey Levine, founder of PERSOFI—which stands for Personal Financial Services. It is a UK-registered company formed in 2019 and offered outsourced CFO and Accounting Services. At the time, I was registered as a UK Accountant with ICAEW. I qualified as an Accountant (CA(SA) in South Africa in 1990.

With a decades-long career as a CFO in SMEs across multiple countries and industries, I’ve seen firsthand how financial management can make or break a business.

I’m on a mission to help SMEs leverage AI-powered accounting solutions to streamline their finances, improve cash flow, and unlock growth opportunities.

The launch of Persofi AI-powered Financial Automation didn’t stem from a grand plan but rather from real challenges and a relentless career-long pursuit of accountancy efficiency. My journey first began with maximizing the use Excel in business. A few years ago, I coined the term Digital CFO (which I discovered was trademarked).

Back then, my focus was on large online trading (high number of transactions), international groups, compliance, payments and accounting efficiency, and I have used a wide range of accounting software platforms—including large ERP systems. Yet, each solution left me feeling frustrated and underwhelmed.

Discovering Xero—and Its Limits

Fast-forward to my current role, where we use Xero. I’ve been a Xero-certified advisor for several years, and I’ll be the first to tell you it’s a fantastic solution for small and medium-sized businesses. With its clear dashboard, seamless bank transaction syncing (thanks to Open Banking), and user-friendly collaboration features, it’s easy to see why so many teams, auditors, and advisors love it. Xero also simplifies VAT and annual financial statement filing, backed by strong reporting capabilities. I’m certain that as AI continues to evolve, Xero will only get better.

However, despite its strengths, Xero has limitations—particularly regarding supplier invoice processing and debt collection tools. Xero promotes Hubdoc, which it acquired a few years ago, but in my experience, it lacks the robust features and user-friendliness needed for truly efficient financial operations. These limitations sparked my drive to find a more powerful, AI-driven solution.

DIY Bookkeeping: A Stepping Stone

Before diving deeper into AI, I recognized another significant opportunity for efficiency: the concept of DIY Bookkeeping. I advocate that you don’t necessarily need a dedicated bookkeeper to handle the day-to-day tasks in Xero. With proper training, an office admin or secretary can manage a large portion of the bookkeeping process. This approach not only reduces costs but also helps small businesses maintain better control over their finances.

AI for Automated Invoice Processing

Determined to overcome the hurdles of invoice processing, I integrated an AI-powered invoice automation solution. This step completely transformed our financial workflows. We now process 400 complex, multi-currency supplier invoices—each involving intricate job costing—in less than an hour a day. This has reduced our bookkeeping time and costs by an incredible 80%, allowing us to focus on strategic tasks rather than getting bogged down by manual data entry.

AI for Automated Debt Collection

Invoice processing wasn’t our only challenge. We also struggled with debtor collections, which led us to rely on factoring services costing £3,000 per month. By optimizing debtor automation and fine-tuning our financial processes, we eliminated the need for factoring altogether. This not only saved a substantial amount of money but also streamlined our overall accounting operations, making our financial management more cohesive and transparent.

The Turning Point: Creating Persofi

These AI-driven transformations weren’t just about cutting costs; they were about redefining how we manage our finances. The success we achieved inspired me to develop Persofi AI Accounting Automation. Persofi is designed to empower SMEs to implement robust financial systems, dramatically reduce expenses, and streamline operations. It’s the culmination of my experiences, frustrations, and ultimate breakthroughs in the realm of financial automation.

How Persofi Empowers Businesses?

• Real-Time Invoice Management
  Persofi uses AI to handle invoices efficiently, reducing manual input and potential errors.

• Streamlined Debtor Follow-Ups
  Automated reminders and intelligent follow-up sequences ensure timely payments and better cash flow.

• Optimized Financial Control
  AI-driven insights and analytics offer a clearer, data-backed view of your financial health.

• Reduced Reliance on Traditional Bookkeeping and Factoring
  By automating core processes, Persofi cuts down on the need for costly third-party services.

Join the Transformation

The training course I’ve developed dives into how AI-powered tools can significantly elevate financial decision-making and operational efficiency. Whether you’re a small business owner looking to simplify bookkeeping or a mid-sized enterprise aiming to reduce factoring costs, Persofi could be the game-changer you’ve been waiting for.

Persofi – empowering AI Financial Automation Course

Go Ai Accounting Automation. Save time. Save money. Stay organized.

Complete Course Outline (10 Modules + Introduction)

1. Why AI Matters Now

2. The Three Biggest Challenges in Accounting and How AI Can Help Fix It

3. How AI Can Save Your Business Thousands

4. My Journey: From CFO to AI Financial Automation

5. Introduction to AI Accounting Automation

6. Invoice Automation – Saving time and money

7. Debtor Collection Automation – Improving your Cash flow

8. The Persofi AI Financial Automation Playbook

9. Think Like a CFO

10. The Persofi CFO AI Core Offerings

Join me in transforming how we do business—one automated process at a time. Let’s harness the power of AI to create more efficient, cost-effective financial operations and set a new standard for how SMEs manage their accounting in the modern era.

As part of Persofi, I am considering writing a book titled Think Like a CFO, which could also serve as a base for my training modules or Brand.

Think Like a CFO

A CFO’s Journey from Greed to Ethics, AI, and Sustainable Leadership

How do CFOs really think? How do businesses rise and fall? What’s the future of finance in an AI-driven world?

For decades, Jeffrey Levine has navigated the highs and lows of global finance—witnessing booms, crashes, corporate greed, and the evolution of financial leadership. From Cape Town to London to Israel, he’s worked with millionaires, billionaires, high-tech innovators, and eccentric CEOs, gaining a firsthand perspective on wealth, risk, and the shifting role of finance.

Beyond the numbers, this book explores the human side of finance:
🔹 Mentoring CEOs – Helping business leaders scale, make strategic decisions, and avoid financial disasters.
🔹 Developing Bookkeepers into Finance Professionals – Elevating careers through knowledge and automation. 🔹 The Dark Side
🔹 The Dark Side of Business – A front-row seat to greed, fraud, and financial mismanagement.
🔹 The Rise of ESG & Responsible Business – Moving from profit-first to purpose-driven leadership.

Most importantly, Think Like a CFO explores the future of financial leadership, from AI-driven accounting to the creation of Persofi, Jeffrey’s financial automation platform that is democratizing CFO-level insights for small medium businesses.

This is not just the story of one CFO—it’s a roadmap for business leaders, entrepreneurs, and finance professionals who want to thrive in the next era of finance.

About the Author

Jeffrey Levine is a seasoned CFO, entrepreneur, and finance strategist with a career spanning multiple industries and global markets. He is the founder of Persofi, an AI-powered financial automation company, and a thought leader in ESG, compliance, and ethical business practices.