What should your accounting firm automate first?
I help accounting firms choose a suitable task and build the automation for them. Here are three tasks to consider and a simple time calculation.
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By Kevin Bjorvand · Updated
Three places to look for recurring work.
Start with a frequent, consistent task with available data and a result that is easy to check.
Retrieve recurring reports
A good starting pointYou retrieve the same figures for many clients every month.
How to chooseIf automatic export already exists, use it before buying development. Consider custom development if you still need to retrieve or collect data manually.
Follow up missing accounting documents
A good starting pointYou repeat requests and spend time keeping the overview up to date.
How to choosePrioritise this if you have an up-to-date missing-document list and a consistent client channel. Otherwise, organise the follow-up first.
Copy client details
A good starting pointThe same name, reference and other details are entered in several tools.
How to chooseUse an existing integration if it covers the task. Otherwise, choose which system is the source of truth before commissioning development.
Include review time in your calculation.
Use today's time spent as the starting point. Compare it with what actually remains after the setup has been tested.
Worked example · 80 cases per month. Assumed time spent, no promised saving.
- Today: 80 times × 8 minutes
- 10 h 40 min
- After automation, including review: 80 × 3 minutes
- 4 hours
- Difference per month
- 6 h 40 min
In this estimate, the three minutes include review and normal exception handling. Development, setup, operations and maintenance are additional. Freed hours do not automatically mean lower payroll costs.
Choose one task you can test.
“Retrieve this report for these clients every month” is specific enough to investigate. Wait on tasks that need a new professional judgement almost every time. Clarify the working method first.
- Describe today's work
- What starts the task, which systems do you use, and what should be completed?
- Choose who assesses the result
- An employee compares with known cases and decides whether the setup is good enough to use.
Before you choose the first task.
Does the task need to use AI?
No. Fixed rules or an existing system feature may be enough. AI is relevant when content needs interpretation, and must be tested on the cases you actually handle.
Unsure which task to start with?
Describe a normal working week. We will find a recurring task worth investigating.
Map one task in 20 min
Kevin BjorvandDeveloper and founder