Active is designed to fit naturally into how accounting firms already work. It standardises workpapers and accounts, keeps data connected, and gives teams visibility without forcing them into a rigid suite.
Here’s how it works in practice.
Every job in Active begins the same way. You either:
Rolling forward carries across structure, notes, queries, and relevant balances, so teams don’t start from zero each year, with quick checks on opening balances to ensure each client dataset is ready to be worked on. New clients and first-year jobs can be set up just as easily, without forcing teams into templates that don’t fit.
Active connects directly to cloud bookkeeping systems like Xero, QuickBooks and FreeAgent
This means:
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Trial balance data pulls in automatically
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Transactional detail can be retrieved when needed
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Journals can be pushed back to the source system
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Data can be refreshed without rebuilding the file
Workpapers and Accounts stay aligned with live data, even while client records are still moving.
Inside Active, workpapers open in a familiar Excel-style environment.
Teams can:
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Use formulas, schedules, and calculations they already trust
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Add ad-hoc sheets where professional judgement is required
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Work confidently without worrying about broken links or version conflicts
Behind the scenes, Active controls structure, access, and storage. Files are centrally managed, securely stored, and always up to date.
Review happens inside the workpaper file, not across emails and spreadsheets.
Reviewers can:
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Leave notes and commentary directly in context
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Link supporting documents to specific balances
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Raise and track client queries
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See who worked on what, and when
This gives reviewers clarity and context, not just numbers.
Once workpapers are complete, Active prepares clean, structured outputs.
You can:
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Produce the Accounts within the Active platform
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Produce Corporation Tax with our partnership with AlphaTax
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Or export pre-mapped trial balances to legacy accounts and tax systems
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Export a final TB to a tax system, or use AlphaTax automatically
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Generate CSV outputs for legacy or specialist tools
At period end, the entire job can be rolled forward in a single step.
Structure, knowledge, and unresolved items carry through, creating continuity year on year. Over time, Active becomes a living record of how your firm works.
Want to see this in action?
Book a demo and walk through a real job from start to finish.
Active is a cloud-based platform that streamlines workpapers, accounts, and tax with seamless integrations, automation, and standardised workflows.