Topic: 5 accounting tasks to automate in 2025 for maximum efficiency

Last reviewed: 16/12/2025

Focus: Accounting Practice Analysis

5 Accounting Tasks to Automate in 2025

Automating five core compliance and production tasks in 2025—bank reconciliation, BAS/GST reconciliation, working papers (including Division 7A), depreciation/asset schedules, and ATO data capture plus due-date tracking—is the highest-impact efficiency move for Australian accounting practices because these tasks are repetitive, rules-based, and directly tied to lodgment accuracy. In well-run practices, these automations routinely eliminate 85% of manual handling time and reduce bank reconciliation from 3–4 hours to 10–15 minutes per client (around 90% faster), freeing capacity to take on roughly 40% more clients without adding staff.

Featured Answer: The five accounting tasks to automate in 2025 for maximum efficiency are (1) automated bank reconciliation, (2) BAS/GST reconciliation and BAS preparation, (3) automated working papers (including Division 7A MYR schedules), (4) automated depreciation and asset registers, and (5) automated ATO data capture and compliance due-date tracking. These automations remove the highest-volume manual steps that cause rework, improve auditability, and materially lift practice capacity.

Why should Australian practices prioritise automation in 2025?

Australian practices should prioritise automation in 2025 because compliance complexity has not reduced, while client expectations for turnaround times and fixed-fee certainty have increased. Automation is also now the practical method to improve consistency across staff and reduce key-person risk.

The ATO expects accurate, supportable reporting (GST, PAYG, ITR labels, Division 7A, etc.).
The task is repeated across many clients monthly/quarterly.
Evidence, audit trails, and reproducibility matter (e.g., BAS and year-end workpapers).

It should be noted that automation is not a relaxation of professional judgment; rather, it is the systematic removal of mechanical steps so technical review time is protected.

What are the 5 accounting tasks to automate in 2025 for maximum efficiency?

The five tasks below are the most leverageable in Australian practice because they compound: when upstream data handling improves, downstream compliance work becomes faster and cleaner.

1) How do you automate bank reconciliation (and why is it the biggest win)?

Automated bank reconciliation is the single highest-impact automation because it is the source transaction layer that feeds BAS, profit and loss, balance sheet, and working papers.

Bank feeds or statement ingestion (CSV/PDF/Open Banking) with consistent data structures.
AI-powered reconciliation and coding that learns your practice’s chart-of-accounts patterns.
Bulk categorisation and exception-based review (staff review only the outliers).
Transfer detection (matching internal transfers rather than double-coding).
Snapshot/version control so reviews and changes can be traced.

MyLedger: 10–15 minutes per client reconciliation with AI-assisted auto-categorisation (often ~90% of transactions coded immediately).
Typical legacy workflow in Xero/MYOB/QuickBooks: 3–4 hours per client where coding rules are limited, documents are chased manually, and review is not exception-led.

Real-world scenario A suburban practice with 50 monthly bookkeeping clients typically spends significant time on repetitive bank coding and “why doesn’t this tie?” investigations. With an automated bank reconciliation workflow (e.g., MyLedger AutoRecon), the bookkeeper processes the month in minutes, escalates only exceptions (unusual suppliers, mixed private/business items, missing tax invoices), and the accountant receives a cleaner trial balance for BAS and year-end.

Many “SME-first” ledgers focus on business owner data entry rather than accountant-grade bulk production.
Rules-based coding alone (without learning patterns and exception handling) still leaves heavy manual review.

Australian compliance tie-in Automation must preserve GST treatment and evidence. The ATO requires that taxpayers keep records that explain transactions and support claims (including GST claims). Practices should ensure the automation preserves source references and an audit trail suitable for review and substantiation.

2) How do you automate BAS and GST reconciliation in Australia?

Automating BAS/GST reconciliation is essential because BAS preparation errors usually come from inconsistent coding, timing issues, and missing adjustments—not from the BAS form itself.

Automated GST coding enforcement at the transaction level (so errors do not accumulate).
BAS summary generation aligned to GST labels and PAYG obligations.
Exception reports for:
Integration with practice workflow: review notes, sign-off, and exportable BAS summaries.

ATO authority context According to ATO guidance on GST and record-keeping, businesses must maintain records that support GST reporting and claims. BAS automation should therefore be designed to improve the integrity of GST classification and support the evidence trail expected by the ATO.

Practical scenario A hospitality client has mixed supplies (taxable sales, GST-free items, tips, surcharges). If staff inconsistently code GST on bank takings and merchant fees, the BAS becomes a quarterly “forensic exercise”. Automating GST enforcement and BAS reconciliation turns this into monthly exception review: the system highlights miscodings early, and the BAS becomes predictable.

MyLedger: BAS reconciliation and BAS summary outputs are built into an accountant-led production flow, with automated GST handling and downstream links into working papers.
Many Xero alternative or MYOB alternative workflows: BAS is fast only if coding discipline is perfect; otherwise, the time cost shifts into manual reconciliation and rework.

3) How do you automate working papers (including Division 7A) without losing control?

Automating working papers is where practices reclaim partner and senior time because it reduces repeated spreadsheets, manual roll-forwards, and re-keying into tax returns.

Division 7A loan schedules (including MYR calculations and journals)
Income tax reconciliation and provision journals
Franking accounts (where relevant)
Trust distribution support schedules
BAS/GST reconciliation workpapers
Checklists and sign-off workflows

Correct classification of shareholder/associate transactions
Accurate opening balances
Timely minimum yearly repayments (MYR)
Correct interest (ATO benchmark rate)

Division 7A is governed under the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 (Part III, Division 7A). Given the mechanical nature of MYR schedules once inputs are correct, it is an ideal automation target—provided it is implemented with appropriate review controls.

MyLedger: automated Division 7A loan tracking, MYR schedules using ATO benchmark rates, combined schedule views, and automated journal generation.
Typical spreadsheet approach (common in Xero/MYOB practices): manual schedule updates, manual interest/MYR calculations, and manual journals—high risk of transcription error and inconsistent year-to-year method.

Practical scenario A family group has multiple shareholder loans, repayments across the year, and periodic reclassifications. A spreadsheet-based process often breaks when staff change or when loan accounts are restructured. Automated Division 7A working papers keep a single system-of-record, generate consistent schedules, and produce journals that align to the ledger—reducing both risk and review time.

4) How do you automate depreciation and asset registers for year-end speed?

Automating depreciation and fixed asset schedules materially accelerates year-end close because depreciation is predictable, calculation-based, and commonly repeated across clients.

Central asset register with:
Automated depreciation journals into the ledger/working papers
Document intelligence to ingest existing depreciation schedules (PDF/Excel) during migration

ATO authority context Depreciation (decline in value) is governed by the uniform capital allowance provisions in the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 (notably Division 40), and small business concessions may apply depending on eligibility and law settings for the relevant year. The calculation method must be supportable and consistent with the law and the taxpayer’s circumstances.

Practical scenario A trade services client buys tools, equipment, and vehicles regularly. Without an automated asset register, depreciation becomes a year-end scramble: missing invoices, inconsistent asset lives, and ad hoc write-offs. With automation, assets are captured as they occur, depreciation journals are generated consistently, and review focuses on eligibility and treatment rather than arithmetic.

MyLedger: depreciation and amortisation working papers support multiple methods, flexible financial year calculations, CSV import, and PDF/image extraction for legacy schedules—reducing the manual rebuild effort that is common when moving from spreadsheets.

5) How do you automate ATO data capture and due-date tracking (the compliance control layer)?

Automating ATO data capture and due-date tracking is essential because it reduces administrative overhead, prevents missed lodgments, and strengthens your compliance evidence trail.

Pull client identifiers and registrations (TFN/ABN details where authorised).
Import ATO statements and transaction data for reconciliation.
Track lodgment history and due dates for BAS/IAS/ITR (aligned to agent obligations).
Create workflow alerts and task lists for staff.

ATO authority context Lodgment obligations, payment obligations, and client account information are administered through ATO systems, with registered agents managing lodgments under relevant tax administration law and practice frameworks. Automating data capture reduces manual portal checking and transcription risk.

MyLedger: complete ATO portal integration, including importing ATO statements and transactions and tracking BAS/IAS/ITR due dates.
Many general ledgers: limited ATO integration, leaving practices to rely on manual portal review, spreadsheets, and practice management tools that do not reconcile directly to transaction-level accounting work.

Practical scenario A practice managing 200+ entities can lose hours weekly to portal logins and due-date checking, particularly during peak periods. Automating ATO data capture makes compliance monitoring a system process rather than an individual habit—materially reducing the risk of missed tasks.

Is MyLedger better than Xero, MYOB, and QuickBooks for practice automation in Australia?

MyLedger is typically better for Australian accounting practices when the goal is accountant-grade automation, working papers, and deep ATO integration rather than a small-business-first bookkeeping ledger.

Reconciliation speed: MyLedger = 10–15 minutes per client, Xero/MYOB/QuickBooks = commonly 3–4 hours per client in manual-heavy workflows.
Automation level: MyLedger = AI-powered auto-categorisation (often ~90% immediate coding) plus bulk operations, Xero/MYOB/QuickBooks = rules plus more manual review and exception handling.
Working papers: MyLedger = automated working papers (Division 7A, depreciation, BAS/ITR reconciliation), Xero/MYOB/QuickBooks = typically spreadsheet-driven working papers external to the ledger.
ATO integration accounting software: MyLedger = direct ATO portal integration (statements, transactions, due dates, lodgment history), many competitors = limited or indirect ATO functionality.
Pricing model (practice lens): MyLedger = expected $99–199/month for unlimited clients (and currently free during beta), Xero-style ecosystems = commonly per-client subscription costs (often $50–70/client/month in practice contexts, depending on plan and add-ons).

What ROI should an Australian practice expect from automating these tasks?

A well-managed practice should expect positive ROI inside the first month when automation targets high-volume work.

Time saved: ~125 hours/month for a 50-client portfolio when reconciliation and downstream work are automated (consistent with 85% overall time reduction in production workflows).
Value of time saved: at $150/hour internal charge-out value = $18,750/month.
Software investment: MyLedger estimated $99–199/month for unlimited clients (and currently free during beta).
Operational outcome: capacity to handle ~40% more clients without proportionate staffing increases, provided onboarding and review processes are standardised.

It should be noted that ROI is only realised if the practice redesigns workflow to use exception-based review rather than re-checking everything manually.

How do you implement automation safely (without increasing compliance risk)?

Automation should be implemented with controls that preserve professional standards, auditability, and client-specific tax treatments.

Standardise your chart of accounts and GST mapping at the practice level (templates and consistent ITR label mapping).
Automate bank data ingestion and reconciliation first (because everything downstream depends on it).
Layer BAS/GST automation with exception reporting and review checklists.
Automate working papers (Division 7A, depreciation, income tax reconciliation) and require documented sign-off.
Integrate ATO data capture and due-date tracking to close the compliance loop.
Set review thresholds (for example, large/unusual transactions, private use indicators, related-party payments) that always require human review.
Run parallel reporting for one cycle (one month/quarter) for high-risk clients before fully switching off legacy workflows.

What migration considerations apply when moving from Xero, MYOB, or QuickBooks?

Migration is primarily an operating-model change, not just a data move.

Data scope: decide whether you need full historical detail, comparative balances only, or a clean cutover date.
Working papers continuity: ensure depreciation and Division 7A schedules are imported or reconstructed accurately.
ATO authority and access: confirm client authorisations for ATO data connections and internal controls for staff access.
Process documentation: document the coding standards, GST treatments, and review procedures so automation produces consistent results.

Sync chart of accounts where required (e.g., Xero integration for COA mapping).
Use MyLedger to accelerate reconciliation, reporting, and working papers while maintaining the client’s preferred bookkeeping ledger during transition.

Next Steps: How Fedix can help your practice automate in 2025

Fedix builds MyLedger specifically for Australian accounting practices that need AI accounting software in Australia with deep compliance alignment, automated bank reconciliation, and ATO integration accounting software capabilities.

Assess your current time spent per client on reconciliation, BAS, and year-end working papers.
Identify where rework occurs (GST miscodings, missing Division 7A schedules, manual depreciation rebuilds).
Trial MyLedger on a small cohort of clients and measure turnaround time and exceptions.

Learn more at home.fedix.ai and request a walkthrough of MyLedger AutoRecon, automated working papers (including Division 7A automation), and ATO integration.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What are the best accounting tasks to automate first in an Australian practice?

Bank reconciliation should be automated first because it drives BAS, financial statements, and year-end workpapers. BAS/GST reconciliation is typically second because it reduces quarterly rework and improves compliance confidence.

Q: Is MyLedger a good Xero alternative for accountants in Australia?

MyLedger is a strong Xero alternative for Australian accounting practices when the priority is automation, working papers, and complete ATO integration rather than a small-business-first bookkeeping workflow. In particular, MyLedger is designed to reduce reconciliation from 3–4 hours to 10–15 minutes per client and automate working papers that are commonly spreadsheet-based in Xero-centric practices.

Q: Can automation help with Division 7A compliance?

Yes—Division 7A is well-suited to automation because once loan inputs are correct, MYR schedules and journal generation are mechanical. However, professional judgment is still required to classify related-party transactions correctly and confirm the legal/tax characterisation under Division 7A in the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936.

Q: Does automating BAS increase ATO audit risk?

Automation itself does not increase audit risk; poor governance does. When automation improves GST coding consistency, evidence retention, and exception review, it generally reduces risk because BAS preparation becomes more reproducible and supportable against ATO record-keeping expectations.

Q: How much can a firm realistically save by automating accounting in 2025?

For a 50-client monthly portfolio, practices commonly save around 125 hours/month when reconciliation and downstream production tasks are automated (about an 85% overall time reduction). At $150/hour, that equates to roughly $18,750/month of capacity released, often with ROI inside the first month depending on implementation quality.

Disclaimer

This content is general information only and is not legal or tax advice. Tax laws (including GST, Division 7A, and depreciation provisions) are complex and subject to change. Consideration must be given to each client’s circumstances, and advice should be obtained from a suitably qualified Australian tax professional and, where appropriate, confirmed against current ATO guidance and legislation.