RPA in finance and accounting - a digital transformation

It is little wonder finance and accounting executives are embracing RPA. While the tools can automate tedious, high-volume and repetitive tasks, RPA integration is only feasible when:

• There is considerable potential to save time and/or money
• The processes to be automated are rule-based and standardised and
• The quality of operations is already at a high standard.

The fields of finance and accounting tick all three of those boxes. One doesn’t have to work in an accounting department to appreciate the sector is renowned for repetitive, time-consuming tasks like data entry, reporting and record-keeping. Such functions are ideal for RPA, with their structured and rule-based nature meaning there is little to no need for human decision-making.

What is RPA in finance?

RPA in finance refers to the use of software robots to automate repetitive and manual tasks in financial processes. RPA can be applied to a range of finance functions, including accounts payable, accounts receivable, financial reporting and compliance. By automating routine tasks such as data entry, reconciliation and report generation, RPA can reduce errors, improve efficiency and free up employees to focus on more strategic tasks. 

When it comes to specifics though, there are several finance and accounting tasks that are ideal for automation.

• Accounting: RPA has the tried and tested ability to drastically reduce errors at the same time as saving human employees the time and effort required to complete data entry or gathering. Minor mistakes can cause major headaches in accounting departments but the frustrating reality is they are almost inevitable when staff are forced to spend hour upon hour inputting data. Be it invoicing or completing Business Activity Statements (BAS), RPA is an instant win as it speeds up the process and negates errors, which in turn makes for happier customers and employees.
• Streamlining Card Activation: activating a customer’s card manually can be an incredibly tedious process that requires coordination between departments and meticulous cross-checking for data consistency. Customer demand also means there is often an added amount of time pressure – “I want my card now” – that can result in human errors. RPA tools such as software robots do not feel this stress, let alone make mistakes due to being overworked. They simply deliver what is needed when it is needed.
• Travel & Expenses: navigating the reimbursement of travel costs and other expenses is one of the banes of employees’ lives, all the more so for staff members who spend countless days and nights on the road. Fortunately, RPA bots are creating a better employee experience by reducing the amount of manual work required by both travellers and their accounting colleagues. Cutting-edge software can extract and read data from all types of receipts, check whether they qualify as legitimate expenses and compile them into easy-to-read and accurate expense reports, all in far less time than previously required.
• New Customer Accounts: it has never been more important for banks to thoroughly verify new customers’ details, with identity checks, past credit scores and compliance rules combining to create a labour-intensive and time-consuming process when completed manually. RPA in finance is changing the game by managing the customer detail validation process, with new accounts then created automatically by software robots and electronic details delivered directly to the client. Better still, RPA can facilitate ongoing data management by automatically confirming and updating customer details such as names, addresses and credit scores in real-time.
• Promotion of Investment Options: financial planning and forecasting is a science in its own right and RPA bots are playing an increasing role in delivering better results for customers and the financial firms that guide them. Software robots can not only better track potential investments but assess investors’ existing portfolios to help identify opportunities and minimise risks. Human financial advisors can be a restrictive cost but RPA is increasingly stepping into the breach to make such advice more cost-effective for both customers and companies.
  
  

Summary

There is a lot of hype surrounding robotic process automation in financial services – and for good reason. In an increasingly competitive business world, RPA is allowing finance and accounting organisations to increase productivity and efficiencies, reduce costs and deliver better customer and employee experiences. Whether you are a late adopter exploring the benefits of automation or an advocate looking to expand your RPA strategy, there has never been a better – or more important – time to join the revolution.

Robotic process automation is driving process efficiencies such as faster payment collection across countless sectors. Learn how one of Australia’s leading security companies saved about $80,000 in manual effort costs by introducing RPA to revolutionise traditional workplace practices.