Picture this: it’s the last business day of the month, and you’re facing the accounting close. Emails, spreadsheets, and documents—both physical and digital—are flying everywhere. The finance team is racing against the clock to review data, spot inconsistencies, and make sure everything is ready for leadership and audits. Sound familiar? Automated financial closing may be the solution.
The monthly close has long been one of the most critical (and chaotic) moments in any accounting routine. With so many repetitive and manual tasks, rework, delays, and human error are almost inevitable. And all of that directly impacts the reliability of your numbers and the speed at which you can make strategic decisions.
But what if you could flip that script with intelligent automation? That’s where BPA steps in.
What is BPA, and how can it help with the accounting close?
BPA stands for Business Process Automation. Unlike simple task automation, BPA works across the entire workflow—integrating different systems, people, and rules to make processes smoother, more reliable, and scalable.
When it comes to the accounting close, BPA can:
- Automate data collection and consolidation
- Trigger tasks and notifications automatically
- Standardize steps and approvals
- Ensure compliance and trackability of every action
- Minimize the risk of human error
According to Deloitte, companies that leverage BPA in their finance processes report up to a 30% reduction in monthly close time. And it doesn’t compromise quality—on the contrary, it enhances it.
Accounting close with BPA + AI Agents = improved efficiency
Now imagine pairing the structured automation of BPA with the adaptive intelligence of AI Agents. That’s a powerful duo.
While BPA handles the execution of the process with clear rules and well-defined flows, AI Agents act as proactive assistants. They learn from data, spot patterns, and continuously suggest improvements to the process. Here’s what they can do:
- Automatically detect inconsistencies in accounting entries
- Suggest corrections even before manual review
- Prioritize tasks based on critical deadlines and historical performance
- Answer team questions using your internal knowledge base
The result? A much smarter, faster, and more reliable accounting workflow.
How automation translates to real-world accounting efficiency
Here’s a side-by-side breakdown:
| Before BPA | After BPA with Pipefy |
| Close takes up to 10 days | Close in 3–5 days |
| Approvers lack visibility | Automated approvals with full tracking |
| Manual checklists | Digital workflows that trigger tasks |
| Heavy spreadsheet dependency | Centralized data in a unified platform |
| Frequent human errors | Up to 90% reduction in operational errors |
Companies like Volvo are already using solutions like Pipefy to automate their financial processes and seeing impressive results: faster closes, better control, and increased agility.
Integrating BPA with your accounting software is easier than you think
MA lot of people think automation means tearing everything down and starting from scratch. Good news: platforms like Pipefy are no-code and integrate easily with any accounting software you’re already using—whether that’s a robust ERP or a simpler system.
With connectors, APIs, and native integrations, you can:
- Sync accounting data automatically
- Eliminate duplicate or manual data entries
- Build real-time dashboards with ERP data
- Automatically notify responsible parties about overdue steps
Best of all? You can build up to 85% of your accounting workflow yourself—no code required.
Learn more: Advanced Financial Automation — Why go beyond traditional systems?
Top benefits of automating the monthly close
- Speed: Closes up to 4x faster
- Accuracy: Dramatic reduction in operational errors
- Transparency: Fully auditable and traceable journey
- Standardization: Less dependence on individuals, more consistent processes
- Scalability: Replicable processes across branches or business units
And with the help of AI Agents, the process becomes not just automated but predictive—flagging potential bottlenecks before they even become issues.
AI Agents and the future of automated accounting
It’s hard to imagine accounting productivity today without the power of AI. Intelligent Automation tools that combine BPA, AI Agents, and integration with legacy systems are ushering in a new era for finance.
Some promising applications:
- Classificação automática de despesas com IA.
- Geração de relatórios de desempenho contábil com linguagem natural.
- Assistentes virtuais para responder perguntas da auditoria.
- Monitoramento preditivo de anomalias em balanços.
This doesn’t replace accountants—it empowers them. The focus shifts from repetitive tasks to strategic analysis, compliance, and delivering real business value.
Next Steps: how to kick off automation for your accounting close
Start small and scale quickly. Here’s a simple action plan:
- Map your current close process
- Identify bottlenecks—where the rework and time losses are
- Choose a reliable BPA platform like Pipefy
- Roll out basic automations: checklists, approvals, simple integrations
- Scale with AI Agents to handle smarter, more predictive tasks
For more: AI Agents for Financial Services
Accounting close doesn’t have to be a burden
With BPA and AI Agents, you’re not just speeding up the monthly close—you’re transforming your accounting team’s routine into something more strategic, intelligent, and scalable. Accounting efficiency doesn’t have to be a far-off goal: it’s within your reach with the right tools.
Step into a new era of control, productivity, and automation in your accounting workflow—with Pipefy, it’s entirely possible. Book a demo by clicking the button below!
Elevate your accounting close to a whole new level.
