Bench + Architects: Faster Bank Import
Architects bill in stages against project milestones, manage professional indemnity costs, and track expenses across multiple projects simultaneously. If you use Bench for your accounting, you need a fast way to get bank statement data into the system.
BankScan AI for Architects Using Bench
BankScan AI converts any bank statement PDF to CSV formatted for direct import into Bench. Convert your bank statements to structured spreadsheets to match stage payments against projects, track professional fees, and prepare for your accountant.
The Architects + Bench Workflow
Architects invoice clients at RIBA work stages (concept, developed design, technical design, construction), then reconcile bank statements to verify payments received against each project. They track project-specific expenses like survey fees, model-making costs, and travel, and allocate them against project budgets for profitability analysis.
Key terms you'll encounter: RIBA work stages, stage payment, fee proposal, professional indemnity.
How It Works
Upload any bank statement PDF
Supports all major banks. Saves 1-2 hours per month on project payment tracking and expense allocation across concurrent projects for a typical small practice
AI formats for Bench
Output as CSV with Date, Description, Amount — Bench bookkeepers handle column mapping during their review process — dates in MM/DD/YYYY.
Import and reconcile
Share BankScan AI's converted CSV files with your Bench bookkeeper via the Bench portal. They import the data into your Bench account for categorisation and reconciliation. Bench bookkeepers can use BankScan AI's pre-structured data to speed up categorisation, reducing the typical 5-day turnaround to 1-2 days for historical catch-up bookkeeping.
Supported Banks
BankScan AI works with all major UK and US banks, including:
Bench Features for Architects
- Bench ready — Output formatted as CSV matching Bench's expected column structure
- Smart integration — Bench bookkeepers can use BankScan AI's pre-structured data to speed up categorisation, reducing the typical 5-day turnaround to 1-2 days for historical catch-up bookkeeping.
- Built for Architects — Saves 1-2 hours per month on project payment tracking and expense allocation across concurrent projects for a typical small practice
- Software compatible — Output works directly with Xero, FreeAgent, Harvest
Import Steps for Architects Using Bench
As an architect, here's how to get bank data into Bench:
- Share BankScan AI's converted CSV files with your Bench bookkeeper via the Bench portal
- They import the data into your Bench account for categorisation and reconciliation
Common Import Issues
Bench's human bookkeepers handle most import issues. Main challenge is when bank feeds disconnect — BankScan AI serves as the backup data source for gap periods.
Bench Import — Built for Architects
Unique hybrid model combining software with dedicated human bookkeepers. Popular with US small business owners who want hands-off bookkeeping without hiring an in-house accountant.
Try Free — Bench + Architects