Many family offices are cautious when it comes to automation, and for good reason. With sensitive financial data, complex approval chains, and multiple stakeholders, even small missteps can lead to big consequences. But avoiding automation altogether can create a different kind of risk: inefficient workflows, manual errors, delayed decision making, key person risk and limited transparency.
Today’s best-in-class firms are proving that automation and control don’t have to be at odds. With the right systems in place, firms can speed up operations and eliminate mistakes while improving governance and visibility.
Smarter Workflows Start with Customization
One-size-fits-all automation doesn’t work for high-net-worth families. What does work is the ability to build workflows that mirror the family’s unique structure, approval rules, and risk tolerance. Don Ludwig, SVP National Sales, emphasizes the importance of customization, “Some clients will always want to be involved in bill approval, but others only for certain situations and transactions - maybe they are building a home and they want to review all those invoices, or perhaps they just want to review bills over a certain dollar amount.” Your bill pay and accounting platform needs have:
- Custom approval routing that allows offices to define who signs off on what, based on entity, amount, or vendor.
- Granular user permissions to ensure everyone has access to only what they need.
- Audit trails that provide a clear record of every action, helping firms meet compliance standards and reduce liability.
Visibility Without Micromanagement
The right bill pay and accounting platform brings transparency to every stage of the process by keeping a pulse on activity across accounts, without chasing down paper bills, emails or relying on spreadsheets.
Instead of bottlenecks and workarounds, teams gain consistency. Instead of uncertainty, they gain confidence. Check out this Bill Pay Best Practices Checklist for guidelines and ideas for areas of improvement.
Designed for the Way Family Offices Work
Generic accounting tools and spreadsheets weren’t built for multi-entity reporting, discretionary spending controls, or high volumes of complex payments. AgilLink is. With features built specifically for family offices and business managers, AgilLink helps firms automate with precision—without giving up oversight.
Automation isn’t about removing people from the process. It’s about giving them better tools to do their work faster, smarter, and more securely. When done right, it leads to fewer errors, faster approvals, and stronger internal controls. Family offices don’t have to choose between efficiency and accountability. With the right approach, they can have both.
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