{"id":12124,"date":"2024-12-16T11:31:48","date_gmt":"2024-12-16T16:31:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/?p=12124"},"modified":"2025-05-07T10:04:36","modified_gmt":"2025-05-07T14:04:36","slug":"time-intensive-tasks-accountants-should-automate-now","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/time-intensive-tasks-accountants-should-automate-now\/","title":{"rendered":"6 time-intensive tasks accountants should automate now"},"content":{"rendered":"<header class=\"entry-header has-dark-background-color entry-header--has-illustration entry-header--has-illustration--generic\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-header__row row align-center\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-lg-7 col-xlg-6 entry-header__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"component component-single-header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-header__misc text--subtitle text--uppercase text--small\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/category\/accountants\/\" class=\"entry-header__link\">Accountants<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-title-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"entry-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t6 time-intensive tasks accountants should automate now\t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"entry-header__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"single-post-details container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"col\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2024-12-16T11:31:48-05:00\">December 16, 2024<\/time><\/span><span class=\"reading-time\"> min read<\/span>\n\t\t<button\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\tclass=\"social-share-button button button--icon button--secondary js-social-share-button\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-title=\"6 time-intensive tasks accountants should automate now\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-url=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/time-intensive-tasks-accountants-should-automate-now\/\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-text=\"Please read this interesting article\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__share-label\">Share<\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__copy-label\" hidden>Copy Link<\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__copy-tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\" hidden>Copied<\/span>\n\t\t<\/button>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<\/header>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-author has-dark-background-color alignfull\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"col\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"co-authors\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-author-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"entry-author\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/author\/ashleyhindsmansage\/\">\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"40\" height=\"40\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/02\/Ashley-Thompson-350x350.jpg\" class=\"entry-author__image\" alt=\"Ashley Thompson\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/02\/Ashley-Thompson-350x350.jpg 350w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/02\/Ashley-Thompson.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 40px) 100vw, 40px\" \/>\t\t\t\t<span class=\"entry-author__name\">Ashley Thompson<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Many accounting professionals are still tied up in manual, time-consuming tasks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Are you?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Though 92% of accountants agree they spend too much time on admin, only half automate recurring tasks critical to managing a successful practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/the-practice-of-now-how-accountants-can-go-from-good-to-great\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Practice of Now<\/a>, the latest research from Sage, surveyed 1,000 accountants and bookkeepers to understand their challenges and plans for navigating the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It identified one overwhelmingly common obstacle: manual tasks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Improving manual workflows and processes creates the opportunity for firms to\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/the-practice-of-now-how-accountants-can-go-from-good-to-great\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">go from good to great<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Automation isn\u2019t just a tool\u2014it\u2019s the gateway to a more strategic, client-focused approach. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This article highlights the 6 key areas to automate and get those precious hours back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"#gate-171eeec8-da72-481d-b423-bd0872e243c6\">Get your free copy of the \u201cPractice of Now\u201d 2024-2025 global trends report here<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-here-s-what-we-ll-cover\">Here&#8217;s what we&#8217;ll cover<\/h3>\n\n\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><div class=\"wp-block-yoast-seo-table-of-contents yoast-table-of-contents\"><ul><li><a href=\"#h-1-nbsp-bank-reconciliations\" data-level=\"2\">1.&nbsp;Bank reconciliations<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-2-payroll-processes\" data-level=\"2\">2. Payroll processes<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-3-nbsp-financial-reporting-and-analysis\" data-level=\"2\">3.&nbsp;Financial reporting and analysis<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-4-nbsp-data-entry\" data-level=\"2\">4.&nbsp;Data entry<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-5-nbsp-engagement-letters\" data-level=\"2\">5.&nbsp;Engagement letters<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-6-nbsp-proposals-and-pricing\" data-level=\"2\">6.&nbsp;Proposals and pricing<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-the-ripple-effects-of-automation\" data-level=\"2\">The ripple effects of automation<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-set-solid-foundations-for-automation\" data-level=\"2\">Set solid foundations for automation<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-final-thoughts-transform-your-practice-now\" data-level=\"2\">Final thoughts: Transform your practice now<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-1-nbsp-bank-reconciliations\">1.&nbsp;Bank reconciliations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Doing bank reconciliations manually is time-consuming and prone to discrepancies, yet only 45% of accountants and bookkeepers surveyed say they automate the task.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Automation simplifies this process by matching transactions in real time and flagging inconsistencies, ensuring up-to-date financial records without hours of manual effort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By automating reconciliations, you can focus on resolving issues quickly and providing accurate insights and forecasts to your clients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-2-payroll-processes\">2. Payroll processes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Only 50% of accountants automate\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/accountants\/payroll\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">payroll processes<\/a>\u00a0today, according to the Practice of Now, leaving room for better efficiency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Payroll is a repetitive yet time-sensitive task where even small mistakes can be costly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Automation simplifies payroll by reducing calculation errors and making compliance easier to manage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can also save significant time during each payroll cycle through automation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This lets you shift your focus from the trenches of processing payroll to offering strategic advice, such as optimizing benefits or managing tax planning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Automating payroll improves your firm\u2019s efficiency in this area and enhances the value you bring to your clients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-3-nbsp-financial-reporting-and-analysis\">3.&nbsp;Financial reporting and analysis<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Half of the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/accountants\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">accountants and bookkeepers<\/a>\u00a0surveyed benefit from automated financial reporting and analysis; the rest still rely on manual processes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Reporting is essential for guiding your clients\u2019 decisions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But gathering the necessary data can be time-consuming and prone to errors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Automating these tasks streamlines the entire process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can generate reports in real time, which equips you with the most accurate data to deliver faster, more impactful insights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Move beyond compiling numbers and collating data to focus more on providing strategic, proactive advice to help your clients make better business decisions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This shift saves you time and strengthens your accountant-client relationship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-4-nbsp-data-entry\">4.&nbsp;Data entry<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Less than half of the accountants surveyed have\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/accountants\/automated-data-processing\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">automated data entry<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That means the majority are still stuck with one of the most tedious tasks in the profession.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Errors are highly likely when manually entering data, especially in high volume. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Long hours of frustration are pretty much guaranteed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Automating data entry virtually eliminates those accuracy issues. Some automation tools can handle tasks such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Processing invoices<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Capturing receipts<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Syncing financial data from multiple sources.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The real benefit to you is the time saved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Instead of entering data, you can focus on uncovering insights and providing valuable recommendations to your clients,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/the-practice-of-now-how-accountants-can-go-from-good-to-great\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">elevating your role<\/a>\u00a0as a trusted advisor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-5-nbsp-engagement-letters\">5.&nbsp;Engagement letters<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Engagement letters are critical for compliance and professionalism, yet only 42% of accountants currently use automation to get them done.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Drafting these documents manually is repetitive and an easy time trap.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Through automation, you can create standardized, customizable templates that meet compliance requirements specific to the individual needs of your clients. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This can speed up your client onboarding process and ensure a consistent experience, saving time while enhancing professionalism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-6-nbsp-proposals-and-pricing\">6.&nbsp;Proposals and pricing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Just 41% of accountants surveyed automate\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/accountants\/client-engagement\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">proposals and pricing<\/a>, despite their importance in securing new business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Manually preparing proposals can delay client responses and waste valuable time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can streamline this process by using automation to generate tailored, professional documents quickly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With automated pricing tools, your firm can create competitive, accurate proposals that leave a strong impression and help win more clients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"#gate-171eeec8-da72-481d-b423-bd0872e243c6\">Get your free copy of the \u201cPractice of Now\u201d 2024-2025 global trends report here<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-the-ripple-effects-of-automation\">The ripple effects of automation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The benefits of automation extend beyond time savings and have a holistic impact on your work and practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/accountants\/resources\/practice-of-now\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Practice of Now<\/a>\u00a0report shows, automation can:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Improve your well-being:<\/strong>\u00a0with 86% of accountants feeling burnt out, automation offers a chance to reduce workloads and create a better work-life balance.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Foster your firm\u2019s growth:<\/strong>\u00a0you can dedicate more time to onboarding new clients and expanding your services, helping to grow your practice.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Boost your client relationships:<\/strong>\u00a0with more time to focus on clients\u2019 challenges and goals, accountants can provide deeper, more personalized support.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Automation gives you the tools to evolve your firm into an innovative, client-centred business. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It enables your accountants to shift from being reactive problem solvers to becoming proactive advisors, driving both client and practice success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-set-solid-foundations-for-automation\">Set solid foundations for automation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>You can only benefit from automation, though, if you have the right tools to help. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The research found that just 55% of accountants have the technology to do their roles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>An automation skills gap is likely holding accountants back, too. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Only 4 in 10 feel it\u2019s very easy to focus on their personal and professional development, today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, skills development and tech adoption are both vital to opening the door to a more automated accountancy practice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you haven\u2019t already, now\u2019s your chance to invest in both to put yourself in a great position to take advantage of all the benefits of automation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-final-thoughts-transform-your-practice-now\">Final thoughts: Transform your practice now<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Automation is more than a trend\u2014it\u2019s the growth accelerator for accounting. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By integrating automation into your workflow, you can:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Achieve better efficiency<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Improve accuracy<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Focus on the strategic, human aspects of your role that you and your clients value most.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>As the report highlights, 89% of accountants believe automating processes would free up time to focus on meaningful work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By automating mundane tasks, you can pivot towards what really matters: building relationships, providing strategic advice, and helping your clients thrive in an increasingly complex business landscape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Start automating now and unlock the potential of your accounting practice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are even more tips in\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/the-practice-of-now-how-accountants-can-go-from-good-to-great\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">this article<\/a>\u00a0on where to start.<\/p>\n \n<div class=\"single-cta gated-content\">\n\t<div class=\"single-cta__positioner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__wrapper has-dark-background-color\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"single-cta__title h3\">Practice of now: Global trends update 2024-2025<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>The Practice of Now is a global insights study into the accounting and bookkeeping profession. <\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>In 2024, we interviewed 1,000 accountants and bookkeepers across 6 markets to understand what they\u2019re feeling, the challenges they\u2019re facing, and how they\u2019re planning to thrive in the immediate future.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\t\thref=\"#gate-171eeec8-da72-481d-b423-bd0872e243c6\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"single-cta__button button button--primary\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>Download now<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1214\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2024\/10\/BrandShoot-LND_June2024_Financial-Services_0771-e1731320383828-1214x810.jpg\" class=\"single-cta__image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2024\/10\/BrandShoot-LND_June2024_Financial-Services_0771-e1731320383828-1214x810.jpg 1214w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 33vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The accounting profession is undergoing rapid transformation, yet many accountants are falling behind. Here are 6 ways to get ahead right now.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":281,"featured_media":10123,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_sage_video":false,"post_featured_image_hide":false,"sage_hide_published_date":false,"sage_hide_read_time":false,"sage_hide_share_buttons":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[146,25],"tags":[162,270,163,167,171,202,264],"business_type":[6],"lilypad":[],"context":[],"industry":[],"persona":[82],"imagine_tag":[34,49],"coauthors":[346],"class_list":["post-12124","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-accountants","category-technology-innovation","tag-accounting-101","tag-ai","tag-artificial-intelligence","tag-business-intelligence","tag-cloud-technology","tag-profit-and-loss","tag-workplace-technology","business_type-accountants"],"sage_meta":{"region":"en-ca","author_name":"Ashley Thompson","featured_image":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1451131632.jpg","imagine_tags":{"34":"Accountants","49":"growing business"}},"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"Sage Advice Canada English","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12124","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/users\/281"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12124"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12124\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/media\/10123"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12124"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12124"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12124"},{"taxonomy":"business_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/business_type?post=12124"},{"taxonomy":"lilypad","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/lilypad?post=12124"},{"taxonomy":"context","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/context?post=12124"},{"taxonomy":"industry","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/industry?post=12124"},{"taxonomy":"persona","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/persona?post=12124"},{"taxonomy":"imagine_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/imagine_tag?post=12124"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=12124"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}