Bench + Consultants: Faster Bank Import
Consultants managing multiple client engagements need to track retainers, milestone payments, travel expenses, and subcontractor costs across accounts. If you use Bench for your accounting, you need a fast way to get bank statement data into the system.
BankScan AI for Consultants 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 client payments, track project expenses, and prepare invoices and tax returns efficiently.
The Consultants + Bench Workflow
Consultants invoice clients on retainer, milestone, or time-and-materials bases, then reconcile bank statements to verify payments received. They track project-specific expenses including travel, accommodation, and subcontractor fees, allocate costs to engagements for profitability analysis, and prepare records for quarterly VAT and annual tax returns.
Key terms you'll encounter: retainer, day rate, scope creep, utilisation rate.
How It Works
Upload any bank statement PDF
Supports all major banks. Saves 1-2 hours per month on client payment reconciliation and expense tracking across multiple concurrent engagements
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 Consultants
- 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 Consultants — Saves 1-2 hours per month on client payment reconciliation and expense tracking across multiple concurrent engagements
- Software compatible — Output works directly with Xero, FreeAgent, Harvest
Import Steps for Consultants Using Bench
As consultant, 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 Consultants
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 + Consultants