The Role of AI in Client Data Workstreams

Like the ancient saying goes: sh*t in, sh*t out.

In accounting, bad data in doesn’t just mean bad outputs. It means wasted hours, frustrated teams, and a whole lot of cleanup work just to get to “good enough.”

And here’s the thing: this isn’t news. Accountants know this. “Please send your docs on time, in the right format, with the right context” on repeat, over and over.

So if everyone knows the problem, why are we still stuck in the loop?

So thought to ask a different question: what can AI do about it?

You Don’t Need Perfect Data. You Need a Smarter Way Through the Mess.

Every firm knows the drill: clients send over half-finished spreadsheets, a scatter of PDFs, maybe a few vague emails. Sorting it out takes hours your team doesn’t have.

Right now, GenAI is helping firms summarize, surface patterns, and speed up documentation. But what’s coming next is even more powerful: agents that work proactively alongside accounting teams.

Moving work forward, flagging issues, reaching back to clients, and stitching together insights across sources.

And for partners and CAS leaders, that means less time in cleanup, and more time in command.

From Grunt Work to Guidance: What AI Agents Could Do Next

The way the world is headed, agents won’t just assist, they’ll anticipate and resolve before you are even involved. Imagine this:

Spot Gaps Before They Become Bottlenecks

Your team doesn't need to dig for issues manually. Agents will scan incoming data to:

This means fewer surprises at month-end, and more confidence when presenting insights to clients.

Draft Follow-Ups Without Wasting Your Team’s Time

Every CAS team deals with the back-and-forth: chasing clients for missing info, clarifying expense types, confirming context. Agents could handle that lift by:

That saves your team hours, and helps keep client relationships warm, not reactive.

Cross-Check and Reconcile Across Systems

No more tab-hopping. Agents could connect the dots between the different tools, apps and systems. Connected to every piece of content, data or input relating to that client, be it in the GL or expense tools, email threads, meeting notes, or past advisory work and current trends

That kind of synthesis isn’t just faster—it helps teams deliver sharper, more connected advice.

Turn Conversations Into Next Steps, Not Notes

Client meetings often end with a muddle of tasks and takeaways. Agents could:

The result? No more "what did we say we'd do?" confusion—just clarity and momentum.

This Isn’t Just Automation. This Is Readiness.

Yes, automation helped firms speed up repetitive tasks. But agents like Archie will shift the model: from teams pulling all the threads themselves, to agents prepping the work before it hits your desk.

That’s not science fiction. That’s what’s coming. And firms that prepare for it now, by investing in structure, clarity, and smart AI foundations, will be first to reap the benefits.

Bottom Line: Good Data Still Matters. But With Agents, It Gets Easier to Use.

Clean, structured data is always the goal. But now, it doesn’t have to be the starting point.

Agents will help bridge the gap between messy inputs and meaningful outputs. They’ll clean, connect, and coordinate, so your team can focus on strategy, not spreadsheets.