From data entry to review: What’s new in MyWorkpapers

We’ve been busy behind the scenes, and we’re really pleased to share what we’ve been working on in MyWorkpapers.

Our latest update brings some significant improvements to MyWorkpapers. These include new visual analytics tools, Xero-powered automation, and workflow enhancements that give your firm more control. There’s also a new group audit functionality that changes how multi-entity engagements are managed.

If you’re looking for:

• A clearer picture of your audit risks

• Smarter automation across your Xero workflows

• Tighter control over your planning process

• Better way to standardise how your team works

Here’s what’s new.

See your audit data in a whole new way: Data Analytics and Visualisation

We’ve added two interactive visual charts to MyWorkpapers that change how you analyse and communicate your audit work.

1. Risk Matrix

Plotting risks in a spreadsheet works well enough. Seeing them all at once on a visual grid works better.

The Risk Matrix lets you score each audit risk on a scale for both likelihood and magnitude. The result is a colour-coded grid that gives you an instant overview of your entire risk profile. With this, you can see at a glance which risks need the most attention without scanning through rows of data. You can filter by significant risks, unrated risks, or cases where a scoring outcome has been overridden based on professional judgement.

The Risk Matrix is methodology-agnostic, so it works regardless of which methodology content your firm uses. Available now for UK and EU audit files.

2. GL Transaction Flow Chart

This one’s for anyone who’s ever spent too long trying to trace where a transaction ended up.

The GL Transaction Flow Chart maps out how money moves between accounts through your general ledger. Unusual patterns stand out visually in a way they simply don’t in a list. Hover over any flow to see transaction details, click to drill down further, or filter by specific flows to investigate anything that doesn’t look right, all without leaving the system.

Currently available for files importing via Xero.

What this means for your team:

• Identify which risks need attention faster, using data-driven visuals rather than manual list review

• Spot anomalies you might otherwise miss, because unusual transaction flows are immediately visible

• Communicate your audit approach to clients more clearly, using charts rather than tables

Keep planning on track: Planning Lockdown

Planning sign-off before fieldwork begins is fundamental to audit quality. For firms that want the system to enforce it, Planning Lockdown gives you the tools to do it.

When it’s switched on at firm level, the system will flag if anyone tries to move to fieldwork without planning sign-off in place. They’ll need to either get the sign-off, or provide a documented reason for proceeding without it. Any unlock activity is recorded in the activity feed, creating a clear audit trail.

When it’s switched off, nothing changes. Your existing workflow carries on as normal.

Unlike other audit platforms that block progression entirely with no room for exceptions, we’ve built in a justification mechanism for the times when you have a legitimate reason to move forward. It’s enforcement without inflexibility. Your firm, your choice.

Coming soon:

Group Audit Engagements – aligned to the requirements of ISA600

Insurance Brokers Audit – Based on the Insurance Brokers PQA

A better way to manage group audits: Groups Planning and Workpaper Sharing

If your firm manages group audits, particularly larger groups with multiple subsidiary entities, you’ll know how much time goes into copying the same planning documents across every file, and how difficult it can be to ensure that if the document is updated, all copies of that document in the other engagement files are also then updated.

Groups Planning and Workpaper Sharing changes that.

Parent and subsidiary entities can now be linked within MyWorkpapers. A workpaper created in the parent file can be shared to relevant subsidiaries and appears as a live document in each linked file.

Updates made at parent level are reflected automatically. Subsidiary files show the shared workpaper as read-only, including all information entered and signoffs completed at group level.

If a subsidiary needs its own version, the shared work paper can be unshared at any point to create a local copy based on its current state. No duplication, no version control headaches.

Groups Planning and Workpaper Sharing is scheduled for release in April 2026.

Stop preparing, start reviewing: Xero Workpaper Automation

If your team regularly exports general ledger data, copies figures into spreadsheets, and uploads them back into your working paper system, this is the update you’ve been waiting for.

Workpaper Automation pulls financial data directly from Xero into your workpaper templates. When your trial balance is imported from Xero, the system gathers the relevant data in the background and holds it ready. When you’re ready to work on an automated workpaper, applying the data fields takes seconds. From that point, your time is spent on review and professional judgement rather than data entry.

Automated templates currently include:

• Trade debtors

• Trade creditors

• General ledger

• Fixed asset register

• Bank reconciliation

• Prepayments

• Entertainment

• Legal Expenses

• Fines and Penalties

• Payroll Reconciliation

Data refreshes on demand. If a trial balance is reimported from Xero, reapplying data fields updates the workpapers immediately to reflect the latest figures.

Firms using automation have reported that preparation work that previously took a substantial part of their day can now be completed in a fraction of the time, freeing their teams to focus on higher-value work.

What’s coming next

There’s more in the pipeline. Here’s a look at what’s on the roadmap:

• Workpaper Automation Phase 2: Improvements to existing automated work papers, including better formula handling, support for custom Xero charts of accounts, and dual code file support for firms working across Xero and accounts production systems (IRIS, CCH, and Bright Accounts Production).

• BrightAccountsProduction export with dual mapping: A streamlined workflow for firms using both MyWorkpapers and Bright Accounts Production — import from Xero, work in bookkeeping codes, and export directly into accounts production with mapping handled on the way out. No manual remapping required.

• Group Consolidations: Following the release of Groups Planning and Work Paper Sharing, work is planned on group consolidations to produce a consolidated view of subsidiary financials at group level.

• Data Analytics Phase 2: Further analytics development, with the next phase shaped by feedback from our user group. If you’d like to influence what we build, register your interest below.

Want to see these features in action?

Watch back our latest product update webinar, including a live demo of Data Analytics, Workpaper Automation, and more.

This content may have been developed with the assistance of AI tools. Content is reviewed by a member of the Bright team before publication. Guidance on legislation can be obtained from your industry body.