CogentIntelligence
AI agents for accountants and bookkeepers
Most of a practice's time doesn't go on accounting. It goes on chasing records, answering 'where are we?' emails and onboarding. Cogent handles the chasing and prepares the paperwork so your team can do the work clients pay for.
01Where the week goes
We work with accountancy practices, bookkeepers and payroll bureaus. The details differ from firm to firm, but the same few jobs come up on almost every discovery call:
- Chasing records. Bank statements, receipts and questionnaires arrive late, piecemeal and by every channel.
- Onboarding. Engagement letters, AML checks, ID and professional clearance follow the same steps every time.
- Status emails. 'Have you filed it yet?' messages interrupt the work all day.
- Deadline tracking. VAT, payroll, confirmation statements and self assessment all run on different calendars.
None of these need your expertise. They need doing quickly, the same way every time, and that's exactly the kind of work AI agents do well, with your Business Map telling them how your business runs.
Key idea
Every hour your team spends chasing paperwork is an hour you can't bill.
02Agents built for accountants and bookkeepers
These are the agents we most often switch on first in this sector. Each one reads your second brain, works around the clock and asks you before anything that matters.
- Trigger
- A deadline is approaching and records are missing
- Does
- Sends friendly, specific reminders listing exactly what's still needed, and logs what arrives
- Asks you
- Before chasing a client a third time
- Trigger
- A new client signs up
- Does
- Sends the engagement letter and questionnaire, collects ID and prepares the AML check for review
- Asks you
- Before the AML decision and before work starts
- Trigger
- Every client email
- Does
- Labels it by client and job, answers status questions from your practice software and drafts the rest
- Asks you
- Before anything is sent
Your first agent is the one with the highest score on your discovery call, not the one on the top of this list. Most firms add a second and third over the following months.
03Ask your business anything
Because every agent writes to the same memory, you can ask questions in plain English that used to mean an afternoon in spreadsheets and inboxes.
YouWhich self assessment clients still haven't sent records?
Cogent27. Nine have been chased twice. Shall I draft a final reminder with the 31 January penalty explained?
YouWhat did we agree on fees with Hart & Co?
Cogent£180 a month for bookkeeping and VAT, agreed in May. Payroll was quoted separately but not accepted.
04Your Monday briefing
At 7am every Monday you get a short briefing built from your own tools: what came in, what's stuck and what changed.
05Find your peak
On the call we score every repeating job by hours a week × how easy it is to hand off (1 hard, 2 medium, 3 easy). The highest score gets built first. Here's how a typical list might look.
| Job | Hours a week | Ease | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chasing client records | 9 | 3 | 27 |
| Answering status emails | 5 | 3 | 15 |
| Onboarding and AML prep | 4 | 2 | 8 |
| Sorting receipts | 4 | 2 | 8 |
| Deadline reminders | 2 | 3 | 6 |
Example · dummy data. Score = hours a week × ease.
In this example, chasing client records is the peak. Run your own numbers with the calculator on our home page, or bring them to the call.
06Where approvals sit
Every agent starts on a short lead. Here's a typical starting point for this sector. Yours is written into your Business Map.
Does alone
- Sorting and labelling client emails
- Drafting reminders and status replies
- Updating task lists in practice software
Asks first
- Anything sent to a client or HMRC
- Fee and billing messages
- AML decisions
Never
- Giving tax advice
- Filing returns
Tax advice, filings and AML decisions are made by qualified staff. Agents prepare, remind and chase, and every action is logged for your AML records.
07Works with the tools you already use
We connect to what you have rather than asking you to move. Common tools in this sector include Xero, QuickBooks, Sage, Xero Practice Manager, Karbon, IRIS, TaxCalc, BrightManager, Dext, Outlook and Gmail. If a system has no integration, a Portal Operator agent can work it the way a person would.
08Questions
Can AI chase clients for their records?
Yes. It sends specific reminders listing exactly what's missing, logs what arrives and escalates to you before a third chase.
Can AI help with client onboarding and AML checks?
It can send engagement letters, collect ID and prepare the AML check. The decision always stays with a qualified person.
Does it work with Xero Practice Manager or Karbon?
Most practice management tools can be connected, and where they can't, an agent can work them the way a person would.
Will it give tax advice to my clients?
No. Anything that counts as advice, and anything sent to a client, waits for your team.