Self discovery: CPA Automation and Efficiency checklist
Takes ~6–8 minutes, no technical knowledge required
Find your automation score: How efficient is your CPA form?
This is a simple, non-technical self-check to help you uncover where automations can save your firm time, reduce errors, improve cash flow, and boost client satisfaction.
1.1 How many professionals work at your firm?
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1.1 How many professionals work at your firm?
1.2 What systems do you currently use (click all that apply)
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1.2 What systems do you currently use (click all that apply)
2.1 Do you have an online intake form that feeds into your systems?
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2.1 Do you have an online intake form that feeds into your systems?
2.2 How often do you manually create client folders and engagement checklists
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2.2 How often do you manually create client folders and engagement checklists
2.3 Are onboarding tasks (welcome emails, checklist creation, folder setup) automated
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2.3 Are onboarding tasks (welcome emails, checklist creation, folder setup) automated
3. Document creation & Management
3.1 Do clients upload documents through a secure portal?
3.2 When clients upload documents, does your system automatically sort them by type (w2, 1099, etc...)?
3.3 Are missing document reminders automated (eg. Follow-ups, Scheduled)?
4. Tax Prep & Filing flow
4.1 Do you check document readiness before import into tax prep software?
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4.1 Do you check document readiness before import into tax prep software?
4.2 Are tax preparation stages (Awaiting Docs--> Prep--> Review--> Filed) automatically tracked?
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4.2 Are tax preparation stages (Awaiting Docs--> Prep--> Review--> Filed) automatically tracked?
4.3 Do you send status updates to clients automatically? (eg. "In Preparation', "Ready for review")
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4.3 Do you send status updates to clients automatically? (eg. "In Preparation', "Ready for review")
5.1 Are invoices generated automatically based on engagement stage or service delivery?
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5.1 Are invoices generated automatically based on engagement stage or service delivery?
5.2 Are payment reminders automated (before/after due dates)?
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5.2 Are payment reminders automated (before/after due dates)?
5.3 Do you track accounts receivable status and overdue clients automatically?
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5.3 Do you track accounts receivable status and overdue clients automatically?
6.1 Are tasks and next steps for each engagement automatically created?
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6.1 Are tasks and next steps for each engagement automatically created?
6.2 Does your system alert staff when an engagement enters a bottleneck stage?
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6.2 Does your system alert staff when an engagement enters a bottleneck stage?
6.3 Are staff assignments and reminders automated?
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6.3 Are staff assignments and reminders automated?
7.1 Does your email system classify incoming client messages (payment issue, document submission, general questions)?
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7.1 Does your email system classify incoming client messages (payment issue, document submission, general questions)?
7.2 Are common replies templated and auto-sendable?
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7.2 Are common replies templated and auto-sendable?
7.3 Do you notify clients automatically when their status changes?
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7.3 Do you notify clients automatically when their status changes?
8.1 Do you have dashboards showing the following? Choose all that do have.
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8.1 Do you have dashboards showing the following? Choose all that do have.
8.2 Are any of these automatically delivered via email?
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8.2 Are any of these automatically delivered via email?
9. Integration & Workflow automation
9.1 Are your core systems connected so the data flows without manual entry?
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9.1 Are your core systems connected so the data flows without manual entry?
9.2 Does your team spend less than 2 hours/week on manual repetitive tasks?
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9.2 Does your team spend less than 2 hours/week on manual repetitive tasks?
9.3 Do you rely on spreadsheets as a single source of truth?
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9.3 Do you rely on spreadsheets as a single source of truth?
For each 'Yes' answer = 2 points
For each 'Partially' answer = 1 points
For each 'No' answer = 0 points
Automation readiness score:
16 to 30 = Some automation, many gaps
31 to 45 = Moderately automated
46 to 60 = Highly automated
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