Full Review
Microsoft Copilot represents Microsoft’s vision of AI embedded throughout the tools professionals already use. For accountants whose workflows centre on Excel, Outlook, and Word, Copilot adds AI capabilities without requiring a switch to new platforms. The recent introduction of finance-specific agents signals Microsoft’s recognition that accounting needs specialised tools, not just generic AI.
Finance Agents: Purpose-Built for Accounting
The most significant development for accountants is Microsoft’s introduction of specialised finance agents within Copilot. These aren’t generic AI assistants - they’re built with accounting logic for tasks like account reconciliation and variance analysis. The agents understand financial data structures and can process transactions, match accounts, and identify discrepancies with pre-built accounting intelligence.
This moves Copilot from “AI that can help with spreadsheets” to “AI that understands accounting workflows” - a meaningful distinction for professionals.
Excel: Where Copilot Delivers Real Value
For many accountants, Excel is headquarters. Copilot’s Excel integration genuinely improves productivity. Instead of constructing complex formulas, describe what you want in plain English. “Calculate the running total of this column” or “Show me transactions over £5,000 from Q3” produces immediate results.
Beyond formulas, Copilot creates pivot tables, generates charts, and performs analysis on datasets. For accountants dealing with large data exports from accounting software, this accelerates the analysis work that follows.
Outlook Intelligence
Email consumes significant accountant time. Copilot in Outlook drafts replies, summarises long threads, and catches you up on conversations when you’ve been focused elsewhere. The “Catch Me Up” feature is particularly useful during busy periods when client emails accumulate.
It also handles meeting scheduling and can draft responses that you review and adjust before sending - not replacement, but acceleration.
Word and Document Work
Copilot drafts documents from prompts, rewrites content for different audiences, and transforms bullet points into professional prose. For accountants producing client reports, engagement letters, or advisory documents, this handles first drafts that you refine.
It can also summarise lengthy documents - useful when reviewing contracts or regulatory guidance before advising clients.
Pricing Reality
The free Copilot offers basic AI chat and web search. Copilot Pro at £19/month adds enhanced capabilities for individuals. The full Microsoft 365 Copilot at £24/user/month unlocks deep integration with Office apps - where the real accounting value lies.
For a practice of 10 people, that’s £2,880/year in additional licensing. The ROI depends on how heavily your workflows centre on Microsoft 365 and how much time Excel analysis, email drafting, and document creation consume.
Maturity Considerations
Copilot is still evolving. Some tasks work brilliantly; others produce inconsistent results. Complex, multi-step accounting processes may require breaking into smaller prompts. The finance agents are newer features and will likely improve with use and feedback.
Microsoft’s rapid development pace means capabilities grow regularly, but it also means learning what works reliably requires ongoing experimentation.
Our Recommendation
Microsoft Copilot makes sense for practices already committed to Microsoft 365. The Excel integration alone justifies evaluation for data-heavy work. The new finance agents suggest Microsoft is taking accounting seriously as a specialisation. At £24/user/month, it’s not an automatic decision - but for practices where Microsoft 365 is central to daily work, the productivity gains can be substantial. Start with a trial to see how it fits your specific workflows.