6 worked Accounting Workflow Automation case studies — the position a client typically comes to us with, what we do, and what it is worth. Each is an illustrative example built on the rules that apply to accounting workflow automation work, not a specific client's file.
Case Study 1 · Sale and succession
Share Sale Restructured, $620,000 Less Tax On Closing — First Finance Hire, London
Client: A company hiring its first finance staff · Where: London, Ontario · Engagement: 4 weeks, fixed fee
Tax saved on closing$620,000
PriceAs agreed
Post-closing adjustmentsNone
The situation — A company hiring its first finance staff, London, Ontario
A company hiring its first finance staff in London, Ontario was preparing to sell. Due diligence surfaced a single shareholder holding every share, with no room to multiply the exemption. That would have reduced the price or killed the deal outright.
What we did for A company hiring its first finance staff, London, Ontario
We cleaned up the historical file. We rebuilt the reporting around gross margin by service line, which showed two of five offerings were losing money at the current price. Then we prepared the due-diligence package the buyer's advisers actually asked for.
The result — A company hiring its first finance staff, London, Ontario
The deal closed at the agreed price. $620,000 of tax was saved against the structure originally proposed, with no post-closing adjustment.
Case Study 2 · CRA review defended
$91,000 Reassessment Reduced To Nil On Review — Acquiring Clinic Group, Winnipeg
Client: A clinic group acquiring a competitor · Where: Winnipeg, Manitoba · Engagement: 5 weeks, fixed fee
Reassessment reduced toNil
Tax protected$91,000
Prior filingsUndisturbed
The situation — A clinic group acquiring a competitor, Winnipeg, Manitoba
A review notice arrived at a clinic group acquiring a competitor in Winnipeg, Manitoba, covering accounting workflow automation for two tax years. The auditor's working position was an adjustment of $91,000. It was driven by a borrowing drawn for an unrelated personal purchase with the interest claimed against the business.
What we did for A clinic group acquiring a competitor, Winnipeg, Manitoba
Rather than negotiate, we rebuilt the record. We built a rolling thirteen-week cash-flow model, tightened collections, and renegotiated supplier terms so the growth stopped consuming the bank balance. We then submitted a point-by-point response that answered each proposed adjustment with the document behind it.
The result — A clinic group acquiring a competitor, Winnipeg, Manitoba
The auditor accepted the documented position and closed the review without adjustment, protecting $91,000 and leaving the prior filings undisturbed.
Case Study 3 · Planning that cut the bill
$30,000 Saved By Correcting What Prior Filings Had Missed — Expanding Manufacturer, Calgary
Client: A manufacturer planning a plant expansion · Where: Calgary, Alberta · Engagement: 6 weeks, fixed fee
Saving identified$30,000
RecurringYes
Positions documentedAll
The situation — A manufacturer planning a plant expansion, Calgary, Alberta
A manufacturer planning a plant expansion in Calgary, Alberta asked for a second opinion on accounting workflow automation. That followed three years of rising tax. The review found an owner making hiring decisions on last quarter’s bank balance.
What we did for A manufacturer planning a plant expansion, Calgary, Alberta
We built the comparison first: current structure against two alternatives. Then we set a quarterly tax provision, so the instalments and the year-end balance were funded before they came due.
The result — A manufacturer planning a plant expansion, Calgary, Alberta
First-year saving of $30,000, with the same benefit recurring. Every position taken is documented and supported in the file.
Case Study 4 · Records and systems rebuilt
Month-End Close Cut From 9 Weeks To 4 Days — Succession-Planning Family Business, Barrie
Client: A family business planning succession · Where: Barrie, Ontario · Engagement: 6 weeks, fixed fee
Close time before9 weeks
Close time after4 days
Year-endReview, not rebuild
The situation — A family business planning succession, Barrie, Ontario
The accounting file at a family business planning succession in Barrie, Ontario had a weak foundation. It was built on revenue up 40% year over year and a bank balance that kept falling. The year-end had taken 9 weeks each of the last three years.
What we did for A family business planning succession, Barrie, Ontario
We added the balance sheet and a cash view to the monthly package, so the owner saw working capital move rather than only profit. We also moved the reconciliations into the monthly cycle, so the year-end stopped being a rebuild.
The result — A family business planning succession, Barrie, Ontario
The file reconciles. Month-end closes in 4 days instead of 9 weeks, and the year-end is a review rather than a reconstruction.
Case Study 5 · Objection and relief
Desk-Review Assessment Of $15,500 Vacated — Practice Adding Partners, Kitchener
Client: A professional practice adding partners · Where: Kitchener, Ontario · Engagement: 10 weeks, fixed fee
Assessment vacated$15,500
Supporting recordsNow on file
AccountCleared
The situation — A professional practice adding partners, Kitchener, Ontario
A professional practice adding partners in Kitchener, Ontario was carrying $15,500 of penalties and interest. The charges arose from a healthy bank balance made up almost entirely of deposits for work not yet performed. Much of that amount accumulated during a period the CRA itself had delayed.
What we did for A professional practice adding partners, Kitchener, Ontario
We traced each borrowing to what it actually funded and kept the interest deduction on the portion used to earn business income. We framed the relief application on the specific grounds the CRA guidelines recognise rather than on general hardship.
The result — A professional practice adding partners, Kitchener, Ontario
The assessment was vacated. $15,500 came off the account, and the documentation now on file makes the same position straightforward to defend next time.
Case Study 6 · Backlog brought current
Collections Halted And $80,000 Cut From A 3-Year Backlog — Multi-Line Service Business, Saskatoon
Client: A business whose margin varies by service line · Where: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan · Engagement: 10 weeks, fixed fee
Balance reduced by$80,000
Backlog cleared3 years
CollectionsHalted
The situation — A business whose margin varies by service line, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
By the time a business whose margin varies by service line in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan called, 3 years were outstanding. The CRA had assessed on estimates. Underneath it sat a covenant breach discovered only when the bank called.
What we did for A business whose margin varies by service line, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
We reconstructed the records year by year. We separated customer prepayments from earned revenue in the reporting, so the cash position and the tax position were visible at the same time. Each filing replaced an arbitrary assessment with a real one.
The result — A business whose margin varies by service line, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
The account is current. Filing on real numbers rather than CRA estimates reduced the balance by $80,000, and a relief application addressed part of the accumulated interest.
Reviewed by Udit Gupta, Founder and Tax Accountant for the 2025 tax year. These case studies are illustrative worked examples composed from the CRA rules that apply to this type of work, not specific client files; figures are representative and outcomes depend on your own facts.
