Skip to main content

Workflow Templates - Document Your Processes

Turn your firm's processes into reusable templates, then keep them organized with categories so the right template is always seconds away.

Workflow templates help you document your accounting processes so your team can efficiently complete work and follow your firm's standards. This allows your firm to maintain work quality as you grow and delegate work to team members.

A workflow template is a guide or SOP that outlines exactly how to complete work.

Open Workflow > Templates to get started. Choose the option that fits how you want to build your process:

Start with

Use it when

An existing template

You want to adapt a template already in your firm's account.

From Scratch

You already know the steps and want to build your own template.

Use AI

You want a suggested checklist to review and customize.

Community Library

You want to import a shared template as a starting point.

Customize an existing template

  1. In Workflow > Templates, find the template you want to update. Use search or expand its category to find it.

  2. Click the template name to open it.

  3. Review its tasks and instructions, then edit the template to match your firm's process. Add the steps your team needs and remove anything that does not apply.

The video below walks through customizing and creating templates.

Create a template from scratch

  1. In Workflow > Templates, click + Template and select From Scratch.

  2. Enter a Title. Add a Description and choose a Category if needed.

  3. Click Next to create and open the template.

  4. Add your tasks and instructions in the order your team should complete the work.

💡 Pro Tip! Already have your tasks in a spreadsheet or another document? Copy and paste them into your template to add multiple tasks at once. See how to copy and paste tasks into Financial Cents for the steps.

Create a template with AI

  1. In Workflow > Templates, click + Template and select Use AI.

  2. Under Create a checklist for, describe the work and click Generate. Include relevant details, such as the service and software you use. You can also click one of the examples shown to generate its checklist automatically.

  3. Review the suggested checklist. Use Try another prompt if you want a different starting point.

  4. Click Create & Customize Template, then review and edit the tasks for your firm's process before using it for client work.

Import a template from the Community Library

  1. In Workflow > Templates, click Community Library.

  2. Search or browse the library, then open a template to review its description and task preview.

  3. Click Get template to open its import page in Financial Cents.

  4. Choose whether to Include roles provided in the template and Include tags provided in the template, then click Add template. If you see Login instead, click it, choose the import options, and select Continue to login to sign in and continue.

  5. Review the imported template and customize it for your firm before creating client work from it.

Download as Excel gives you a spreadsheet copy. Use Get template when you want to add the template to Financial Cents.

Organize your templates with categories

Categories group templates by service line, such as Bookkeeping, Tax, Payroll, or Onboarding. Templates without a category appear in Uncategorized.

  1. In Workflow > Templates, click + Category.

  2. Enter a Category Title, then click Create.

  3. Select the checkboxes next to the templates you want to organize.

  4. Click Move and choose their category. Choose Uncategorized to remove a category assignment.

To rename or delete a category, use the ... menu beside its title. Deleting a category moves its templates to Uncategorized.

ℹ️ Heads up! The Manage Workflow Template Categories permission controls who can create, rename, and delete categories or move templates. If you cannot see those controls, ask your admin to check your permissions.

Before you create client work

Review the template's tasks, instructions and settings before using it. For additional setup options, including tag automators, default settings and non-recurring sections, see Optimize your workflow templates.

⚠️ Please note. Changes to a template do not update projects you already created from it. Finish setting up the template before creating new work.

Need more help? Click the chat bubble in the bottom right corner of your screen to connect with our support team.

Related Articles
Did this answer your question?