Short answer Accountants use Bill.com to automate clients’ accounts payable (AP) and accounts receivable (AR), centralize bill/invoice workflows and approvals, make and receive electronic payments, and keep client books in sync with accounting systems (QuickBooks, Xero, NetSuite, etc.). (bill.com)

What Bill.com does for accountants (high‑level)

• AP automation: capture or email bills, route for approval, schedule/pay vendors by ACH, check, virtual card, or wire, and store proof of payment and an audit trail. (bill.com)
• AR automation: create/send invoices, accept online payments (ACH/card), and apply payments back to the ledger. (bill.com)
• Firm‑level management: the Accountant Console lets firms manage multiple client entities, view tasks across clients, assign staff, and deliver services from one place. (bill.com)
• Integrations and sync: two‑way sync with major accounting packages so bills, invoices, and payments flow between Bill.com and the general ledger automatically. (bill.com)

Typical accountant workflows (practical steps)

• Accounts payable (what an accountant or AP team usually does):

  1. Receive/upload invoice (email, vendor portal, or Smart Scan).
  2. Enter or confirm vendor and coding (GL account, department/class, job).
  3. Route to client approver(s) inside Bill.com and track approval status.
  4. Schedule payment (ACH, virtual card, check, wire) and authorize release.
  5. Bill.com sends payment and stores the cleared check/confirmation; payments sync back to the client’s accounting package for reconciliation. (bill.com)

• Accounts receivable (what accountants do to streamline client collections):

  1. Create/import invoices into Bill.com, send invoices by email or link.
  2. Allow customers to pay online (ACH/credit card).
  3. Apply/record incoming payments in Bill.com and sync to the client’s books. (bill.com)

Why accountants use it (benefits)

• Saves time and reduces data entry by automating approvals, payments, and syncs. (bill.com)
• Strong internal controls: role‑based permissions, approval policies, and a full audit trail improve SOX/compliance posture for mid‑market clients. (bill.com)
• Better client collaboration: vendors and client approvers can interact directly in the platform, reducing back‑and‑forth email. (bill.com)
• Scalable multi‑entity management for firms running CAS (Client Accounting Services). (bill.com)

Practical tips and best practices for accountants

• Use the Accountant Console to manage staff access and view firm‑level task queues. (bill.com)
• Set and test sync preferences (how often Bill.com syncs and whether only approved bills are allowed to sync) to avoid duplicate or premature entries in the GL. (bdcneosupport.zendesk.com)
• Enroll high‑pay‑volume vendors in electronic payments (ACH or virtual card) to reduce check volume and speed payments; note payment method fees and vendor acceptance. (bill.com)
• Keep attachments and payment confirmations on the bill record so month‑end close and audits are faster. (bill.com)

Things accountants should watch for

• Sync settings: make sure the sync direction and “sync only approved bills” options match your firm’s workflow to avoid missing or duplicate records. (bdcneosupport.zendesk.com)
• Payment fees: card/third‑party payment options may have processing fees; confirm who bears the cost (client or vendor). (bill.com)
• Vendor adoption: some vendors still prefer checks or won’t accept virtual cards — manage exceptions and communicate changes to vendors. (bill.com)

If you want, I can

• Draft a step‑by‑step SOP for your firm’s AP process in Bill.com, or
• Show the exact sync settings you should use for QuickBooks Online / Xero / NetSuite based on your firm’s workflow.

Which would you prefer?