Accounting practice owners across Australia are starting to take note of these innovations. After all, building an automated accounting practice using accounting practice management software means a reduction in repetitive tasks for busy practices, and an improvement in efficiency.
In this article, we’ll breakdown the key considerations to building an automated accounting practice.
What is an automated accounting practice in 2025?
Automation tools in Australian businesses have undergone a rapid evolution in recent years, due to the rise of generative AI tools like ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot and Gemini.
In 2025, Australian organisations will undergo further transformation due to rising trends in agentic automation. In 2025, leading business across Australia will prioritise the adoption and scaling of agentic automation whilst also embedding ethics, governance, and compliance into their automation strategies to align with evolving regulations.
Agentic automation powers AI agents to use reason and judgment to address complex tasks. These tools will drive further innovation, more responsive interactions with your clients, and greater productivity.
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Analyse your operational processes
If you’re building an automated accounting practice from the ground up, you should start by diagnosing your processes. This is an exercise you can conduct with your staff to pinpoint areas that are consuming a significant amount of time.
Chartered Accountants ANZ suggests mapping out your current processes and asking these three questions:
- Is there a clear goal for each process?
- Is the process necessary in the workflow?
- Can it be automated?
This will help you to better understand your workflows and identify any bottlenecks, and how they could be standardised with automation.
Check out our guide for a broader look at automation in accounting.
Focus on your clients
Building an automated accounting practice doesn’t just stop at practice workflows. Automation and AI assistants can help establish timely updates to clients and answer their inquiries.
You can also use automation to set timely reminders for upcoming deadlines in busy periods of the year. Take tax planning season as an example, you can use your accounting practice management software to stop the need to consistently chase up late clients for their expense reports or bank statements.
A key accounting automation tool is client management software for accounting practices, which is better known as client relationship management software (or CRM software for short). When this is paired with a secure client portal, you can take your client engagement to new heights.
For a broader look at how artificial intelligence in accounting can be applied, check out our blog: How can accountants harness artificial intelligence?
Implement the right automation tools
Implementing the right automation tools for accounting practices can significantly improve efficiency, accuracy, and client satisfaction.
Here are some of the key tools you could use:
- General ledger software: General ledger software can help accountants to automate client data collection from different accounting software providers to prepare financial statements without having to rekey data.
- Workflow management software: Workflow management software makes jobs and tasks easier for accountants within a single hub rather than spread across multiple systems. Individuals, teams and the entire practice can see their most pressing tasks in real-time and check them off on the same accounting system.
- Client management software: Client management software ensures all client information that is needed in one place. Accounting automation helps elevate this accounting software, making conversations with clients current and meaningful.
Automation and continuous improvement
When building an automated accounting practice, remember that automation and continuous improvement are interlinked.
To keep striving forward, continuous improvement will be your best friend. Automating your accounting practice processes isn’t just a “set and forget” exercise, it’s dynamic. Continuously assess and adjust your processes when you need to.
Adapting to change is vital for effective digital transformation. Learn more about this topic in our blog: digital transformation in accounting practices.
The benefits of automation for accounting practices
Becoming an automated accounting practice leads to numerous benefits:
- Increased efficiencies: Automating repetitive tasks will free up a considerable amount of time in your practice to conduct higher-value activities.
- Reduction of errors: Automation in accounting minimises the risk of manual data entry and human error.
- Improved accuracy: Using automation in your workflows means you can trust that your data is consistent and reliable.
- Enhanced client satisfaction: Automation will help you provide a faster and more efficient service to your practice clients.
- Scalability: With the help of automation, your practice will be able to handle a larger volume of clients without increasing headcount.
Become an automated accounting practice
When implemented strategically, automation can be your accounting practice’s best friend.
Becoming an automated accounting practice means embracing efficient and effective accounting practice management software to help replace repetitive processes and reduce the reliance on practice staff.