The State of Accounting
Workflow and Automation
Your roadmap to a more efficient, profitable accounting firm in 2025
We went full detective mode—surveyed 800+ firm owners, grilled 9 industry experts, and
uncovered the 9 biggest workflow nightmares haunting the accounting world.
The defining moments that led firms to
automate workflows
Moment #1 – Work Falling Through the Cracks
Many firms realized they were missing
deadlines, losing track of tasks, and struggling with visibility into ongoing work. As workload grew, important client tasks were overlooked, leading to
inefficiencies and frustration.
55.5% of firm owners still experience workflow inefficiencies.
The survey highlights the primary challenges impacting firms.
“It is super important to automate everything you possibly can EARLY in the game. Setting up standardized processes (SOPs) and setting boundaries with clients can prevent workflow inefficiencies as your firm grows.”
– KELLY ROHRS, CPA
Owner, K. Rohrs, CPA, P.C.
Moment #3 –
Increased Client Volume Made
Manual Tracking Impossible
Firms that started small were able to manage workflows manually. But, as client
numbers grew, spreadsheets and manual tracking became unsustainable. The
need for scalability and efficient task delegation became apparent.
– KELLIE PARKS, CPB,
Founder, Calmwaters Cloud Accounting.
You need to automate everything, even if you and a couple of part-timers already know how to do everything. Skipping this step and relying on memory or scattered notes only slows you down..”
Moment #3 –
Increased Client Volume Made
Manual Tracking Impossible
Firms that started small were able to manage workflows manually. But, as client
numbers grew, spreadsheets and manual tracking became unsustainable. The
need for scalability and efficient task delegation became apparent.
46.6%
Ineficient
32.1%
Just there
6.2%
Smooth
46.7% described client & Staff onboarding inefficient.
“Scaling isn’t easy, and it’s definitely not for everyone. The real key is to make sure your foundation is solid before you try to grow. That means having the right practice management software, clear internal processes, and a team that’s already working efficiently and effectively.”
– Mike Sylvester, CPA,
Managing Partner, SBS
CPA Group Inc.
Client demands are growing, staffing challenges persist, and manual processes
are no longer sustainable
Firms that improve their processes and embrace automation gain efficiency and work-life balance. This report shows you how.
Get the ReportMoment #4 – Lack of Visibility and Disorganized Workflows
Firms struggled with tracking project statuses, work distribution, and collaboration among team members. Remote and hybrid work environments exacerbated visibility issues, making real-time
updates crucial.
73.9%
of firm owners in 2024 considered a centralized dashboard the most sought-after workflow software feature.
Other features considered:
Client tasks and reminders
69.3%
Client Portal
60.6%
Email integration
53.3%
Recurring Projects
50.7%
“I have a visual dashboard that shows where I’m at with all clients at any given moment. It helps me take quick stock of where I stand, which then allows me to plan my weeks better. This was a game-changer for me.
– Erica Goode, CPA
Owner, Erica Goode CPA
PLLC
Moment #5 – Client Communication and Document
Collection Bottlenecks
Many firms struggled with clients sending documents in multiple formats, forgetting to send
key information, or responding only after multiple follow-ups. The lack of a centralized,
automated request system led to delays and inefficiencies.
The average time for clients to submit requested documents is 5 days across
firms on the scale plan in Financial Cents.
95%
Under 10 days
38%
Under 3 days
20%
Under 24 hours
– Logan Graf, CPA
Owner, The Graf Tax Co
“Schedule out information deadlines for each client instead of having a broad deadline for all clients. This helps spread the workout and sets clear expectations.”
See how firms like yours eliminate manual bottlenecks,
improve collaboration, and
regain work-life balance.
Get the Report
Moment #6 – Stress, Burnout, and Work-Life
Balance Struggles
Many respondents cited stress, burnout, and an unsustainable work-life balance as major
triggers for automation. The inability to delegate effectively or manage workload efficiently
led to frustration and exhaustion.
57.5%
experienced poor work-life balance
Missed Deadlines
37%
Saw impact on revenue
28.1%
Errors and poor work quality
26.2%
Poor work distribution.
25.1%
“One of the biggest mistakes firms make is not having a standardized onboarding process. Early on, we had no structured way to track new clients, leading to inefficiencies, confusion, and a lack of guidance for both the firm and the client.
Now, we have refined our process to ensure every client has a seamless experience while maintaining efficiency for our team. Automation should remove unnecessary manual tasks, but the but the human touch should remain in areas that build relationships and trust.“
– Nick Boscia,
Owner, Boscia & Boscia P.C.
Moment #7 – Learning from Other Firms and
Industry Leaders
Some respondents realized they needed automation after learning from more successful firms
or attending industry webinars. Seeing how other firms leveraged workflow automation
provided the push they needed.
Top areas of impact:
28.7%
Better standardized systems and processes
22.3%
Getting work done faster
11%
Improved team collaboration
10%
Faster document collection
“When I think about AI-driven automation, I’m picturing a system that kicks off processes like interpreting data or classifying information. But proper checks and balances are key. The safest approach is to build in a “human in the loop” function to ensure you’re not relying blindly on the tech.”
– Chad Davis, CPA,
Co-Founder of LiveCA LLP
& AutomationTown.io
Get access to
100+ free workflow templates from our community library.
Who Should Read this Report?
Independent Accountant Strategists
Solo Practitioners
If you’re wearing all the hats — client work, admin, marketing — this report helps you cut admin work and focus on your clients.
(2-5 Staff)
Small Firm Owners
Gain insights into how other small firms streamline work without adding overhead cost so you can stay lean and profitable.
(6-20+ Staff)
Growing Firms
Learn how automation helps you onboard new clients and staff faster, ensuring processes scale with your firm.
Remote & Hybrid Firms
See how firms working across different locations use automation to maintain visibility, collaboration, and client communication.
Firm Admins & Managers
Find strategies to reduce bottlenecks, track work more efficiently, and improve communication between teams and clients.
Cut hours off your week with
15+ automation ideas in the
Workflow Automation Ideas Library
The 2025 State of Accounting Workflow & Automation Report is brought to you by Financial Cents.
Financial Cents is the #1 Accounting Practice Management software that helps firms to track client work, get client responses faster, and organize everything with one easy-to-use practice management software that your team will love.
Used by over 2,500 accounting, bookkeeping, and CPA firms.
See for YourselfHere’s how Financial Cents helped accounting firms get work done in 2024
102k
tasks completed
400m+
client emails sent
1.6m
projects wrapped up
538k
documents uploaded
Many of the other tools are poor at managing updates and bugs. Some use subcontracted developers, providing real client data samples. Others have suffered breaches without proper notifications.
Of the pre-built systems out there, I do think Financial Cents has a solid offering.
One of my top goals is to make the process easier for clients. Glad I made the switch!
Many of the other tools are poor at managing updates and bugs. Some use subcontracted developers, providing real client data samples. Others have suffered breaches without proper notifications.
Of the pre-built systems out there, I do think Financial Cents has a solid offering.
One of my top goals is to make the process easier for clients. Glad I made the switch!
If you’re not using this feature, I highly recommend it! Remembering to follow up with clients can be a serious bottleneck and I love how this solved that problem!
If you’re not using this feature, I highly recommend it! Remembering to follow up with clients can be a serious bottleneck and I love how this solved that problem!