Guides for accountants
Practical references for accounting and finance teams. Where a guide states a rule or a figure, it links to the regulation, standard or official page it came from.
Practice and compliance
- ChecklistThe month-end close process, step by step, with a checklistThe month-end close step by step, a printable checklist by account area, and where close software and AI help with reconciliations, accruals and flux review.
- ExplainerThree-way match in accounts payable, explainedWhat a three-way match compares, how tolerances and exceptions work, two- vs four-way matching, and how AP automation tools match invoices to POs.
- ExplainerSOC 1 vs SOC 2 vs SOC 3, and Type 1 vs Type 2, explainedWhat SOC 1, SOC 2 and SOC 3 reports cover, who may read them, Type 1 vs Type 2, the five trust services categories, and how to read a vendor's SOC 2 report.
- ExplainerSection 7216 consent: the rules and penalties for tax preparersWhat IRC 7216 covers, its penalties, which disclosures need no consent, what a valid consent must contain under Rev. Proc. 2013-14, and AI tools.
- GuideWritten information security plan (WISP) for tax preparers and accounting firmsWho needs a written information security plan, what IRS Publication 5708's template covers, the FTC Safeguards Rule's required elements, and where AI tools fit.
AI in accounting
- GuideAI for Excel: Copilot in Excel and the AI tools accountants use in spreadsheetsWhat Copilot in Excel can do, which Microsoft 365 plans include it, what it costs, how it treats client data, and Excel-based AI tools for accounting teams.
- GuideAI chatbots for accounting: what ChatGPT, Claude, Copilot and Gemini do with client dataWhat ChatGPT, Claude, Microsoft Copilot and Gemini do with what you type, personal vs business plans, retention, and which accounting tools connect to them.
- GuideAI-native ERP: the general ledgers with AI built in, comparedWhat an AI-native ERP is, how Rillet, Campfire, Digits, Puzzle and NetSuite Next compare on SOC 2, data use and review, and when to replace your ledger.
- GuideAI CFO tools: what they do, what they cost, and where they stopWhat AI CFO software and AI-assisted CFO services actually do, published prices from cfo.ai, Zeni and Pilot, and what to check before relying on one.
- GuideAI in accountingWhere AI shows up in the work, how to start, and what to check.
- GuideChatGPT for accountingUses, limits, and OpenAI's data terms by plan.
- GuideAI accounting startups: funding trackerAnnounced rounds with a source for each.
- ToolAI vendor questionnaireThe questions to send a vendor before client data goes in.
- ToolAI acceptable use policy templateA starting AI policy for accounting and tax firms. Copy or print it.
Careers and the job outlook
- DataWill AI replace accountants?Federal employment projections and how AI tools describe human review.
- DataAccounting job outlook, 2025 to 2035: federal projections by roleBLS projections for accountants, auditors, bookkeepers, tax preparers and analysts, 2025 to 2035: jobs, growth, openings, pay and what BLS says about AI.
- DataWill AI replace bookkeepers? What the federal projections showBLS projects bookkeeping clerk jobs to fall 6% from 2025 to 2035, with 144,100 openings a year. The federal data, and what AI bookkeeping tools automate.
- DataWill AI replace auditors? The federal outlook and what audit AI doesBLS projects accountant and auditor jobs to grow 5% from 2025 to 2035. What the outlook says about AI, and how audit AI tools describe testing and review.
- DataWill AI replace tax preparers? What the federal data showsBLS projects tax preparer jobs to grow 5% from 2025 to 2035, with 9,400 openings a year. The federal data, its limits, and what AI tax tools automate.
- DataWill AI replace financial analysts? What the federal data showsBLS projects financial analyst jobs to grow 7% from 2025 to 2035, much faster than average. What it says about AI, nearby roles and FP&A AI tools.
AI built into your ledger
- Ledger AIQuickBooks AIIntuit Assist, now Intuit Intelligence: agents by QuickBooks Online plan, and Intuit's data terms.
- Ledger AIXero AI (JAX)JAX (Just Ask Xero): what it does, what it costs, and what Xero says about training.
- Ledger AINetSuite AINetSuite Next, Ask Oracle, AI Units, and what Oracle's terms leave unanswered.
- Ledger AISage CopilotCopilot in Sage Accounting, Sage Intacct and Sage Operations, and Sage's data ethics policy.
- Ledger AICopilot in Business CentralBank reconciliation, the Payables Agent, Copilot Credits and Microsoft's data terms.
- Ledger AICopilot in Dynamics 365 FinanceThe Account Reconciliation Agent, pricing, and how it differs from Copilot for Finance.