6 Automation Strategies Every Accountant Should Try
It’s no secret: in accounting, time always feels tight. Between managing client needs, balancing books, and staying on top of deadlines, every minute saved counts.
Imagine skipping over all the repetitive, mundane tasks that eat up hours of your week so you can dive into work that really requires your expertise and insight. This is where automation enters the chat.
If you're wondering where to begin with automating your workflow or just looking for a few new ideas, here are six straightforward strategies to make automation work for you. These aren’t just big-picture concepts—they’re practical, everyday tools designed to lighten your load and free up some breathing room.
Simplify Expense Processing
Manual expense tracking is a major time sink, not to mention a potential source of errors. With automation, though, your clients can snap a quick pic of a receipt or upload an invoice straight from their phone, and the software handles the rest—categorizing and entering it automatically, no extra steps needed.
The benefits go beyond just saving time. As your workflow speeds up and the risk of errors goes down, you get to focus your energy on client service, advisory, and other higher-value work. Even with basic automation, the return on investment is real—leaving more room to grow your business without the extra hassle.
2. Close The Books Faster
Closing the books every month is one of those jobs that demands serious focus and eats up a ton of time. Time-consuming data reconciliations, verification, and generating reports are tedious and repetitive tasks, at least for a human being. Automation tools like Uncat handle this with a click, using a centralized dashboard that pulls everything together in one place. No more juggling spreadsheets or losing hours to tiny details.
Tools that pull real-time data and use simple templates make closing the books faster and stress-free. With a clear snapshot of your finances, you can catch issues early—before they turn into big problems. Pure efficiency without losing accuracy.
3. Enhance Client Onboarding
Onboarding new clients traditionally requires substantial time spent on data collection, documentation, and training. However, the solution is simple: implementing automation cuts onboarding times by up to 60%.
Automated onboarding saves your firm valuable time and simultaneously creates a smoother experience for clients. Tools like Uncat’s 1-Click Magic Link, for example, allow clients to submit required documents instantly, minimizing onboarding delays and letting your team focus on building strong, productive relationships.
4. Improve Staff Onboarding
Much like onboarding clients, hiring new staff also comes with extensive processes. From signing documents to organizing access and accounts, onboarding can quickly become a drain on time. But with automation, a lot of that admin work—like digital signatures and account setup—gets handled for you, making the whole process smoother and faster.
Once you automate staff onboarding, the paperwork gets completed digitally and automatically without manual intervention. New hires can dive in right away, contributing faster and feeling like part of the team from day one.
5. Stay On Track With Automatic Client Reminders
We’ve all been there—spending way too much time on client reminders: follow-ups for missing paperwork or waiting on signatures. It’s time-consuming and slows everything down. That’s why automated tools like Uncat send timely nudges to keep clients on track with deadlines, forms, and any outstanding tasks.
This kind of setup doesn’t just keep the workflow steady; it also means you’re staying compliant without the manual back-and-forth. And the best part is your peace of mind—knowing things are moving forward without constant follow-ups, so you can focus on what matters most.
6. Effortlessly Sort Uncategorized Transactions
Dealing with uncategorized transactions is nobody’s favorite task. It’s one of those tedious jobs that eats up hours with manual sorting and review.
With automation software, this process becomes a lot easier. Rule-based software allows you to categorize transactions based on pre-set rules. No more sifting through endless data—just clear, accurate records without the hassle.
Uncat’s intelligent categorization features keep transaction records organized and up-to-date, sparing you from the usual time drain. That means more time for the big stuff, like growing the business and supporting your clients.
Key Benefits of Accounting Automation
With tools like Uncat, automation brings some real perks that go beyond just saving time. Here’s what you and your accounting team can expect after introducing automation:
Saving time
Automating routine tasks can free up to five hours a week. Think about how much easier it is when all the repetitive stuff just... happens on its own. Those hours you’d spend on admin? Now they’re yours to focus on what actually matters—like diving into client work or planning for growth.
Cutting down on errors
We all know manual tasks come with the occasional slip-up. With automation, mistakes become nonexistent. That’s a huge deal when accuracy is everything and clients appreciate it.
Higher productivity
It’s not just about speed; automation actually helps you get more done without feeling stretched thin. Studies show it can boost productivity by 30 percent, so instead of getting swamped, you’re staying on top of it all with a little more breathing room.
Saving money where it counts
The bottom line matters, and automation has a way of lowering costs without cutting corners. With fewer hours spent on manual tasks, operational expenses drop by up to 25 percent. That’s extra cash that can go right back into growing your business.
Handling growth with ease
Automated workflows make it possible to sign new clients without adding more hands to the team. It’s like a bit of extra muscle for growing efficiently and smoothly.
Better client service
With admin tasks out of the way, there’s more time to connect with clients and respond to their needs. It’s about freeing you up to focus on the stuff that really strengthens those relationships—because that’s what clients remember.
Conclusion
Think about it—every hour you save by cutting out repetitive tasks is an hour you can reinvest into client relationships, strategic planning, or just catching a breather. That’s what Uncat is here for. With automation tools that handle everything from categorizing expenses to sending reminders, Uncat lets you focus on what truly matters in your business. Imagine finishing month-end with time to spare or onboarding a new client in record time—all without losing accuracy or control.
So why not make things easier?
