Overview

There are a number of preparation steps we recommend as best practice for users to follow in order to prepare a job in Active Workpapers. 

The steps are as follows:

1. Create a binder
2. Open the binder
3. Add various records to substantiate account balances
4. Add and send client queries
5. Post journals
6. Add internal notes
7. Review the QA Centre
8. Send job for review
9. Complete and export the binder

Note: The above process has been identified as the best way of working within Active Workpapers however, we understand that every firm has a different way of working through a job and the above process should be used as a guide only. 

1. Create a binder

The first step is to create a binder. There are a few steps involved with this.      

For information on how to do this, click here. 

2. Open the binder

Once you have created the binder, open it. It will default to opening in the web so ensure you also open it in Excel to prepare or review any calculations. 

For information on how to use both the web and Excel binder, click here. 

3. Add various records to substantiate account balances 

After you have opened the binder in Excel, you are able to add various records including record templates, documents such as bank statements, comments, general ledger extracts and external sheets and values. 

Once these records are added and completed, we recommend any built-in checklists are completed and the status of the record is updated accordingly. 

• To link various records to a binder, complete checklists and update statuses, click here
• To add your own worksheet to a binder and update statuses, click here. 

4. Add and send client queries

Once all your records have been linked, you may notice that some information is still missing. If this is the case, add client queries accordingly and send them off to the client. 

For information on how to do this, click here. 

5. Post journals

Throughout the job, you will likely need to post journals in Active Workpapers to account for various factors including movements in balances, incorrect allocation of amounts, etc.. 

For information on how to do this, click here. 

6. Add internal notes

Throughout the job or towards the end of a job, you may need to record internal notes against specific accounts or generally as a to do note, file note, matter for manager or matter for partner. 

For information on how to do this, click here. 

7. Review the QA Centre

Once you are satisfied that your binder is ready to be sent for review, we recommend you first review the QA Centre. This acts as a final check to ensure everything is resolved before the job is sent for review. 

For information on how to do this, click here. 

8. Send job for review

Once the job is finalised and ready for review, you will need to alert the reviewer so they are able to commence reviewing. 

For information on how to do this, click here.

9. Complete and export the binder

Once you have received the job back from review and it's ready to be finalised, the final step is to complete and export the binder. 

For information on how to do this, click here. 

Additional resources

To further cement your knowledge, please refer to the following for guidance: