The work isn’t the problem. The chasing is.

Your team’s hours disappear into requesting documents, waiting for documents, re-requesting documents, and re-keying what finally arrives. We map where the time actually goes in your firm and build AI that gives it back — before next busy season, not after.

What we build for accounting & bookkeeping firms

PBC lists that chase themselves

Every engagement stalls on the client — the missing bank statement, the unanswered request, the shoebox that arrives in March. We build document collection that tracks what’s outstanding per client, validates what arrives (right account, right period, all pages), and runs the polite-but-persistent follow-up automatically. Your staff works the files that are ready instead of shepherding the ones that aren’t.

Month-end close with a first draft

Recurring closes follow the same checklist — reconciliations, accruals, flux review — across QuickBooks and Xero files that each have their quirks. We build close assistance that runs the mechanical first pass, flags anomalies and unusual variances for review, and keeps the checklist honest in Karbon or Canopy. Your seniors review exceptions instead of grinding through every line.

Categorization review at the speed of scrolling

Bookkeeping margins die in the uncategorized transactions queue. We build review workflows that propose categorizations with confidence flags based on each client’s history, so your bookkeepers confirm in bulk and dig only where it’s genuinely ambiguous.

Client questions answered before they’re asked

“What’s this charge?” “Where’s my P&L?” “What do I owe in estimates?” We wire proactive, plain-English client updates to your workflow milestones — deliverables announced, deadlines flagged, documents requested with context — so your inbox stops being the bottleneck.

What an engagement looks like

We start with an operations audit: 1–2 weeks inside your workflows, ending with a prioritised map of where AI actually pays off and what each opportunity is worth. Audits run $2,500–$5,000 depending on size. Builds are scoped and priced before any work begins — most land between $8,000 and $25,000 and take 3–6 weeks. No hourly billing, no surprises. See how we work →

Client financial data

You hold clients’ books, returns, and payroll data, and you answer for it — including under IRS rules on disclosure and use of return information. We design systems where client data stays in your tools, is never retained by third-party AI providers or used for model training, and nothing AI-drafted reaches a client or a filing without your review. Documented in writing as part of every engagement.

Why us and not another automation shop

Cerebrum is led by a former CTO of a VC-backed startup who has designed, shipped, and scaled production AI systems. We’re tech-agnostic — no reseller kickbacks, no pushing the tool that’s easiest to sell. We build it, deploy it, and stay until your team runs it confidently without us.

Frequently asked questions

How much does an AI project for an accounting firm cost?

Engagements start with a 1–2 week operations audit ($2,500–$5,000), valued in staff hours per engagement. Builds are scoped and priced before work begins and typically run $8,000–$25,000, delivered in 3–6 weeks — timed right, live before January.

Does this work with QuickBooks, Xero, Karbon, or Canopy?

Yes — document chasing, close assistance, and categorization review are built on the stack you already run.

Will AI touch client filings directly?

No. AI drafts, validates, and flags; nothing reaches a client or a filing without your review. Handling of client return data is documented in writing as part of every engagement.

Ready to find out where busy season actually goes?

Book a free 30-minute operations call. No pitch — just an honest look at your workflow.

Book a free call →