Client Accounting Services (CAS) firms are evolving, fast. As they move beyond traditional bookkeeping into higher value advisory roles, their clients are demanding more, including faster service, real-time insights, and seamless financial workflows. For CAS providers looking to scale efficiently, integrated payments have moved from ‘nice to have’ to critical infrastructure.
AR pain points are holding CAS firms back
Even though 87% of SMBs rely on accounting software, just 39% have fully automated AR processes, creating a gap that leads to unnecessary costs, delayed payments, and manual errors. Days Sales Outstanding (DSO) continues to be a thorn in the side of even tech-savvy firms, limiting cash flow and operational flexibility.
These findings come from a 2024 study conducted by Nuvei, which surveyed nearly 200 finance leaders across U.S. SMBs. One of the clearest takeaways? AR inefficiencies are now a top priority at the CFO level, with nearly 80% of survey respondents identified as CFOs or Controllers.
Why integration matters
Embedded payments transform AR from a backend chore into a driver for growth. Instead of switching between platforms or manually reconciling payments, CAS firms using ERP-integrated solutions can:
- Automate invoicing, reminders, and reconciliation
- Track payments in real time
- Reduce manual data entry and errors
- Improve DSO with predictive analytics
- Offer ACH, card-on-file, and alternative payment methods
- Enable invoice financing for clients with liquidity gaps
The right integration turns AR from an operational burden into a strategic asset.
89% of businesses surveyed reported that improving DSO was a critical focus area. And with 60% experiencing working capital challenges in the last 24 months, it’s clear that firms are looking for ways to accelerate collections and unlock liquidity.
Value for CAS firms and their clients
Payments are increasingly central to the modern ERP experience. A leading payment partner recently shared that their clients could quickly add support for ACH, tokenization, and PCI-compliant payments without requiring complex onboarding or separate vendor negotiations. It’s this kind of seamless functionality that enables CAS firms to modernize their own workflows while delivering a better experience to clients.
Integrated solutions also offer real-time tracking, automated dispute resolution, and dynamic financing tools that can help reduce cash gaps and boost retention. In fact, firms using automated resolution workflows reported resolving 90% of payment issues within 24 hours, improving both customer satisfaction and cash flow reliability.
Final thoughts
The future of CAS is integrated. Whether you’re optimizing internal workflows, elevating client service, or enabling new revenue channels, embedded payments offer a low-friction, high-impact path to transformation. As FreshBooks notes in their Future of Accounting report, automation and payment efficiency are set to define the next chapter for accounting professionals. CAS firms that embrace integrated payments are positioning themselves as leaders in a faster, smarter, more connected accounting landscape.
