AI & Automation for Bookkeepers and Small Business Accountants
Learn safe, practical AI and automation workflows for bookkeeping and small accountancy work, without coding and without putting client data at risk.
Join the launch waitlist
Get the enrolment link when the course opens, plus the founding-student price and updates on the CPD-ready version.
What students will learn
- Use ChatGPT for drafting, summarising, checklists and analysis support while verifying outputs
- Understand Microsoft Copilot access, licensing and safe use in Excel and Word
- Configure everyday automation in Xero and QuickBooks with human review controls
- Build simple Zapier and Power Automate workflows for document intake and onboarding
- Create starter Power BI dashboards from Excel and CSV exports
- Build a realistic 90-day implementation roadmap for your own practice
Become a US Tax Preparer: Form 1040 Mastery
This is a separate Fileminder course teaching US individual tax preparation from anywhere. The tax course is career training for preparers; this AI course focuses on practical automation workflows for bookkeeping and small accountancy work.
View the US tax courseCurriculum
Introduction: AI as a Practical Assistant
The opportunity, the risks, and the safe working rules before any tool demos begin.
- 1.1 The state of accounting in 2026: what is changingPreview
Explain why AI changes routine accounting work without replacing professional judgement.
8 min - 1.2 What AI can and cannot do for accountants
Separate good AI use cases from risky ones.
8 min - 1.3 Your toolkit overview and safe working rules
Understand the tool stack, access differences and safe learning path.
9 min
ChatGPT for Bookkeepers
Prompting, drafting, transaction review, client communication and research triage with verification.
- 2.1 Setting up ChatGPT and choosing the right planPreview
Set up ChatGPT safely and understand plan/model wording.
10 min - 2.2 The CRAFT prompting framework for accountants
Write structured prompts for bookkeeping tasks.
10 min - 2.3 Transaction categorisation and month-end checklists
Use AI to suggest transaction categories while keeping review control.
10 min - 2.4 Client emails, payment reminders and document requests
Draft client communication faster without losing tone control.
10 min - 2.5 Cash flow forecasting support and analysis summaries
Turn financial data into first-draft summaries for review.
10 min - 2.6 Compliance research safely: official sources and verification
Use AI to organise research while verifying conclusions from official sources.
10 min
Microsoft Copilot in Excel and Word
Access checks, licensing realities and safe Copilot-assisted workflows in Microsoft Office.
- 3.1 Copilot access check and licensing
Check what Copilot access you have before relying on demos.
10 min - 3.2 Excel formulas, reconciliations and report cleanup
Use Copilot/Excel to support formulas and reconciliation review.
10 min - 3.3 Word summaries and management-report drafts
Draft a management-report narrative from reviewed figures.
10 min - 3.4 Invoice templates and letter sequences
Create reusable first-draft client document templates.
10 min - 3.5 Month-end close case study with review controls
Combine Excel and Word support into a controlled close workflow.
10 min
Xero and QuickBooks Built-In Automation
The automations already inside cloud accounting software, plus the review controls students must keep.
- 4.1 Bank feeds, bank rules and transaction matching
Configure bank rules without creating hidden coding errors.
11 min - 4.2 Recurring invoices, bills and payment reminders
Automate recurring work while checking dates, amounts and VAT/tax.
11 min - 4.3 Smart coding and auto-categorisation
Review AI/smart coding instead of accepting it blindly.
11 min - 4.4 Scheduled reports and client delivery routines
Create repeatable reporting routines with approval before send.
11 min - 4.5 Integrations: what connects directly and what needs automation tools
Choose between built-in integrations, Zapier and Power Automate.
11 min
Zapier and Power Automate
No-code workflow automation for document intake, onboarding and notifications, with safety controls.
- 5.1 What a workflow is and why accountants need controls
Map trigger, action, review and failure handling.
10 min - 5.2 Zapier basics and Premium connector warning
Build simple Zaps while understanding paid connector limits.
11 min - 5.3 Build a document intake workflow
Save email attachments and notify the bookkeeper safely.
11 min - 5.4 Power Automate basics for Microsoft 365 users
Create a basic Microsoft workflow with environment awareness.
11 min - 5.5 Automating client onboarding with approval steps
Build an onboarding workflow that requires review before sending.
11 min - 5.6 Templates and pre-built workflows
Adapt templates without copying risky automations blindly.
11 min
Power BI Financial Dashboards
Build a starter dashboard from Excel/CSV exports before attempting advanced connectors.
- 6.1 Why accountants need dashboards
Explain when a dashboard is more useful than a static report.
10 min - 6.2 Connecting Power BI to Excel and CSV exports
Import sample accounting data through the reliable CSV route.
12 min - 6.3 Building your first financial dashboard
Create starter pages for cash, income, expenses and debtors.
13 min - 6.4 AI/Copilot-assisted insights where available
Use AI-assisted insights only where access and data controls allow.
12 min - 6.5 Sharing dashboards with clients
Share dashboards safely with licensing and privacy awareness.
13 min
Your 90-Day Implementation Plan
Turn the course into a practical roadmap, with priorities, controls and realistic next steps.
- 7.1 Building your personalised automation stack
Choose the right first tools for your current work.
8 min - 7.2 Common mistakes: privacy, hallucination, tool sprawl and weak controls
Avoid the most common AI and automation implementation mistakes.
8 min - 7.3 Your 90-day implementation roadmap
Leave with a realistic implementation plan.
9 min
Who this course is for
- Bookkeepers who want to reduce repetitive admin without losing review control
- Small business accountants who want practical AI workflows for client service
- Finance assistants and accounting students who want modern automation skills
- Business owners who manage records and want a safer way to use AI tools
Educational material only. AI outputs, automations and compliance research must be reviewed by a competent professional before use with real clients.