THIS WEEK RECONCILED
Most accountants know AI is happening.
They're just not sure it's happening for them.
The demos look impressive. The LinkedIn posts are exhausting. And every software company suddenly has an "AI-powered" button that didn't exist six months ago.
So you wait. Makes sense.
But while you're waiting, something quiet is happening. A small number of practices are figuring this out — not with fancy tools, not with a dedicated innovation partner — just by learning what actually works and doing it.
That's the only gap this newsletter tries to close.
One quick thing before we get into it. You'll see us recommend tools like Claude and ChatGPT throughout these issues. A reasonable concern: what happens to client data when you paste it in? Short answer — don't. Not yet, not without checking the settings first. We'll cover this properly in a future issue. For now, treat these tools like a capable colleague who works at a different firm. Useful. But not someone you'd hand a full client file to without thinking.
Every issue: one thing you can use today. One tool worth five minutes of your time. One prompt that saves you twenty.
No predictions. No hype. No one trying to sell you a transformation.
Just three people sharing what's working.
Welcome to Reconciled.
— Aaron, Loz & Rich
Got a question about AI in your practice?
Hit reply and ask it. We read every one, and we'll answer the good ones in a future issue.
Anything's fair game — tools, workflows, client data, bookkeeping, tax, payroll, pricing, staff, or just where on earth to start.
RECONCILED ROUNDUP
HMRC is using AI to review returns
HMRC has confirmed it is piloting AI tools to identify anomalies in self-assessment filings. Nothing to act on immediately — but worth knowing the other side of the desk is investing too.
PRACTICAL USE CASE
Writing client emails with AI
This is where most accountants begin. No technical setup. No software to buy. Just a browser and a free account.
Client communication takes longer than it should. You know what you want to say. Getting it out of your head and into a professional email is the bit that costs you twenty minutes on a Thursday afternoon.
Here's a workflow that takes ninety seconds.
Open Claude or ChatGPT — both have free versions. Write two sentences: what the situation is, and what you need the client to do next.
Add this to the end: "Write a professional but plain-English email explaining this. Under 150 words. No jargon. End with one clear next step."
Read it. Change the bits that don't sound like you. Send it.
The output won't be perfect first time. But it'll be 80% there in ten seconds — and that's the point.
WORKS WELL FOR
Chasing outstanding information, explaining a tax position in plain English, following up after a call, handling a complaint with the right tone.
ONE RULE
Don't paste in client names, reference numbers, or sensitive details. Keep the prompt general. It works just as well without them.
DEXT RECONCILED
The verdict on one of the most common tools in UK practice
Dext has been in practices long enough that most accountants have a strong opinion on it. Usually either "couldn't work without it" or "my clients can't figure it out."
Both reactions are reasonable.
WHAT IT DOES WELL
OCR accuracy on receipts and invoices is reliable. Supplier rules, once set up, save genuine time. The Xero and QuickBooks integrations are stable. For practices processing high document volumes, it earns its place.
WHAT IT DOESN'T DO WELL
The mobile experience is inconsistent — clients still struggle with it, which defeats a large part of the purpose. Pricing has crept up. There's also very little AI-native functionality beyond the core capture. Don't expect it to flag anomalies or surface anything useful.
WHO IT'S RIGHT FOR
Mid-size practices with clients who generate consistent document volumes. If that's not your client base, compare it against AutoEntry on price before committing.
RATING 3.5 / 5 ✦✦✦✦✧ — Solid. Not exciting. Fine.
PROMPT OF THE WEEK
For when a client asks something you need to answer carefully
"I'm an accountant. A client has asked me [paste their question]. Write a clear, professional response in plain English. Under 150 words. If there are caveats or next steps, list them at the end."
Works in Claude, ChatGPT, or Copilot. Add a tone instruction if the relationship needs it — "reassuring," "direct," or "firm but polite" all work. Try it once. You won't go back to starting from scratch.
One more thing before you go.
If something in here raised a question — or if there's an AI problem in your practice you'd want a straight answer on — just reply to this email. Your question might shape the next issue.
See you next week,
Aaron
Reconciled ✦
AI for accountants, without the fluff.
Aaron Burton ACCA CTA · Laurence Maynard ACCA · Richard Allen, entrepreneur
Reconciled is for informational purposes only. Nothing in this newsletter constitutes professional accounting, tax, or legal advice. Always apply your own professional judgement before acting on anything published here.