Time and Billing Software for Accountants and CPAs

Keep billable time connected to client work. Review work in progress, create invoices and monitor receivables in Axis by TPS Software, built for accounting firms.

Time and billing software for accountants should record time against each client and job, flag problems before billing, keep WIP accurate (including progress bills), turn approved time into invoices partners can review, and track what's still owed. Axis does all of that in one system, from $18 USD / $24 CAD per user per month.

Time and Billing Software for Accountants and CPAs
Client Visibility
Deadline Control
Workflow Automation

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Accountant entering billable time in accounting time and billing software

Revenue control

Capture billable time before it slips away

Accounting firms do not just need a timer. They need a dependable way to capture billable work, review WIP, prepare invoices, monitor AR, and understand which clients and services are driving profitability.

Axis keeps time entries tied to the right client, service, staff member, and work code, so billing review starts with cleaner source data and fewer end-of-month surprises.

Multiple Time Input Methods

Support manual entry and real-time tracking so staff can record work in the rhythm that fits each engagement.

Chargeable vs. Non-Chargeable Time

Separate billable, non-billable, write-off, and internal activity for cleaner client invoices and profitability reports.

Customizable Work Code Structure

Map time to the services, departments, and work codes your firm already uses for management reporting.

Enhanced Reporting

Review time, WIP, AR, productivity, and client profitability signals without waiting for manual spreadsheet cleanup.

Billing workflows

One place to run the billing cycle

Move from captured time to WIP review, invoicing, collections, and realization reporting without sending partners through disconnected tools.

Accounting time and billing workflow from time captured to payment tracked

Time tracking

Capture billable work as it happens

Staff enter time against the right client, service, job, and period so billing review starts from clean source data.

Helps replace

SpreadsheetsLate timesheetsManual edits
  • Keep time tied to clients and services from the start
  • Reduce missing billable work before WIP review
  • Give managers a clearer view of staff activity
01

Time entries flow into billing

Approved work is already connected to the client record.

02

Managers see exceptions sooner

Missing or aging entries are easier to catch before month end.

03

Partners review with context

Client, service, staff, and period details stay attached.

Explore practice management

How does time become an invoice in Axis?

In Axis, time moves from entry to invoice in five steps, and each time entry stays tied to its client and job the whole way.

Time entry to invoice: steps and responsibilities
StepWhat happensWho
1. Time entryStaff log time to the client, engagement and work code, by timer or manual entry. Admin time is coded non-chargeable, so it's tracked but never billed.Staff
2. Budget checkThe Issues filter flags time that goes over the hour or dollar budget, and chargeable time logged to a non-chargeable client.Manager
3. WIP reviewUnbilled time builds up as WIP. Any progress bills already sent are netted against it in real time, so WIP shows what is actually left to bill.Partner
4. Draft invoiceThe partner creates the invoice from WIP and can include, exclude, mark up or mark down each line. It stays a draft until they confirm it.Partner
5. SendThe invoice goes out by email or through the client portal (Ultimate). Each entry's status moves from unposted to WIP to billed, so nothing is billed twice.Partner or admin

On Ultimate, clients can pay online from the invoice and the payment is applied to accounts receivable. The example below walks through the same five steps with real numbers.

Worked example

A CPA billing example, from first time entry to paid invoice

Here's how one engagement moves through Axis: a corporate tax return for a small dental practice, with a staff accountant, a manager and a partner. The client and numbers are made up for this example. The steps are how Axis works.

  1. Step 1 — Time is captured against the engagement.

    Each person logs time to the client, the engagement and a work code, using a timer or manual entry. Each employee can carry several billing rates, so the same person can bill at different rates by client or type of work. Administrative time is coded non-chargeable, so it's tracked but never billed.

    Time is captured against the engagement.
    WhoHoursRate (USD)Chargeable value (USD)
    Staff accountant: prepare return10.0$120$1,200
    Manager: review3.0$180$540
    Partner: final review1.5$300$450
    Admin: scanning documents0.5Non-chargeable$0
    Total WIP$2,190

  2. Step 2 — Problems surface before billing, not after.

    The staff accountant's budget for the return was 8 hours. The Issues filter flags the 10-hour total as Hours Exceed Budget, so the manager sees it while the work is fresh, not after the invoice is out. The same filter catches chargeable time logged to a non-chargeable client.

  3. Step 3 — WIP already accounts for the progress bill.

    In February the firm sent a $1,500 USD progress bill. Instead of leaving it sitting unallocated, Axis nets it against unbilled work in real time, so the partner sees the true position.

    Total WIP:
    $2,190 USD
    Already progress-billed:
    −$1,500 USD
    Net unbilled:
    $690 USD

  4. Step 4 — The partner reviews a draft, not a finished invoice.

    The partner opens the client's WIP and creates a detail bill. They mark down 1 hour of the staff accountant's time ($120 USD), because the overrun was a training issue, not client scope. Axis generates the invoice as a draft the partner can edit before confirming.

    Billed value:
    $2,190 − $120 = $2,070 USD
    Final invoice after the progress bill:
    $570 USD
    Realization on this engagement:
    $2,070 ÷ $2,190 = 94.5%

  5. Step 5 — The invoice goes out from where the work lives.

    The invoice is emailed or posted to the client portal, and the client log shows it next to every email and note on the client. Each time entry's status moves from unposted to WIP to billed, so nothing gets billed twice.

    UnpostedWIPBilled

  6. Step 6 — The client pays online, and AR updates itself.

    On Ultimate, the client pays $570 USD from the invoice link through the firm's processor (CPACharge, Stripe, PayPal, Clover or PayClix). The payment is applied to AR and the firm gets a notification. With QuickBooks Online sync, the invoice and payment flow to the ledger too, so nobody enters them twice.

  7. Step 7 — The numbers feed next season.

    The partner can see that preparation took 10 hours against an 8-hour budget, and that the engagement realized at 94.5%. That's the basis for next year's budget and fee.

Billing a whole year-end group at once?

Bill All Outstanding WIP in Batch filters clients by partner, group, year end or engagement, and bills all their outstanding WIP, including progress WIP, in one step.

Example client, hours and rates are illustrative. Online payments, the client portal and QuickBooks Online sync are part of the Ultimate plan.

Which billing models can accounting firms use in Axis?

Axis supports hourly billing and progress billing, and partners can adjust any invoice at billing time to match what was agreed with the client.

Billing models in Axis
ModelHow it works in Axis
HourlyTime is billed at each person's rate. Staff can carry several billing rates, so the same person can bill at different rates by client or type of work.
Progress billingBill part of an engagement before the work is finished. Progress bills are netted against unbilled WIP, and the final invoice bills only the balance.
Fixed feePartners can mark WIP up or down on the draft invoice so it matches the agreed fee.

Firm billing fit

When time tracking has to support the billing review

Standalone time tracking tools can record hours, but accounting firms also need WIP control, invoicing, AR visibility, client context, and reporting that matches how partners manage the practice.

Axis is a better fit when billing has to stay connected to the rest of the client lifecycle instead of becoming another isolated system for staff to maintain.

Recurring services

For teams billing across tax, bookkeeping, advisory, audit, payroll, CAS, or other repeatable client work.

Partner visibility

For firms that need to see unbilled work, collection status, write-offs, realization, and profitability before month-end cleanup.

Billing context

For billing reviews that depend on invoices, documents, client notes, tasks, and communication history being close at hand.

Practice management

For firms that want time and billing inside a broader accounting practice management platform, not a generic employee time clock.

Integrations for Billing, Payments, and Reporting

Keep time and billing connected to the systems your accounting firm already relies on. Axis integrates with tools such as QuickBooks Online, Microsoft 365 Outlook, Microsoft Power BI, native TPS eSign, CPA Charge, Stripe, PayPal, PayClix, and Clover Connect.

Power BI Integration
Microsoft Outlook Integration
Stripe Integration
CPA Charge Integration
TPS eSign Integration
Gmail Integration
Google Calendar Integration
QuickBooks Online Integration
PayClix Integration
PayPal Integration
Clover Connect Integration

When email, calendars, online payments, QuickBooks Online, accounts receivable, and reporting are closer to your billing process, your team spends less time reconciling systems and more time managing the work. Power BI reporting can extend visibility into billing trends, realization, productivity, and firm performance.

Time and Billing Inside a Complete Practice Management Platform

Billing is strongest when it is connected to the work that created it. Axis brings time, WIP, invoices, client records, workflow, documents, and reporting into one accounting practice management system.

That gives partners and managers a clearer path from staff activity to revenue, collection, and client profitability.

Accounting practice management client workflow connected to time, WIP, invoices, documents, tasks, and reporting
Reporting

Advanced Reporting & Analytics

Review billing activity alongside the firm performance metrics partners actually ask for: time, Work in Progress (WIP), Accounts Receivable (AR), productivity, workflow, and profitability.

Axis supports individual office reporting and consolidated reporting across multiple locations, with Microsoft Power BI available when your firm wants deeper dashboards and data visualization.

Clients

Client Management & Communication

Keep client billing history, notes, invoices, emails, documents, and workflow activity close to the client record so billing review starts with the facts already organized.

Use the Client Historical Log and Client Inquiry views to understand time, WIP, AR, and client history without hunting across disconnected tools.

Give clients a more organized experience with secure document exchange, messaging, and portal access tied back to the firm record.

Capacity

Employee Scheduling & Task Lists

Manage staff schedules, task lists, calendars, and time tracking in the same operational environment.

When scheduling and billing activity are closer together, managers can see capacity pressure, missed time, and bottlenecks before they affect invoices or deadlines.

Support

Support From People Who Know Accounting Firms

TPS Software support is built around accounting firm operations, not generic software queues. When your firm has a billing, workflow, or reporting question, you can talk to someone who understands the practice context.

Instructional videos are available in the platform, and the support team is available by phone or email when your staff needs help from a person.

Related Axis workflows

Accounting Practice ManagementConnect the full firm workflowClient Management for AccountantsKeep billing context closeReporting for AccountantsTrack WIP, AR, and realizationDocument Management for AccountantsLink invoices and filesElectronic PaymentsReduce collection frictionAxis PricingReview plans and costs
Accounting time and billing workflow from time captured to WIP reviewed, invoice created, and payment tracked

Questions Firms Ask

Time and Billing Software FAQs

Short answers for firms comparing time tracking, billing, WIP, AR, and practice management options.

What is time and billing software for accountants? +

Time and billing software for accountants helps firms capture billable and non-billable time, review WIP, create invoices, monitor accounts receivable, and report on productivity and profitability.

How is Axis different from basic time tracking software? +

Basic time tracking software usually stops at recorded hours. Axis connects time entries with billing, client management, workflow, documents, payments, and reporting for accounting firm operations.

Can Axis help with WIP management? +

Yes. Axis helps firms review work in progress by client, staff, service, and period so billing decisions can happen before work becomes stale or difficult to collect.

Does Axis support accounts receivable visibility? +

Yes. Firms can monitor open balances, payment status, and collection follow-up alongside billing activity and client history.

Can it connect with payment and accounting tools? +

Axis supports integrations with tools accounting firms use for payments, accounting, email, calendars, native document signing, and reporting, including QuickBooks Online, Microsoft Outlook, Stripe, PayPal, CPA Charge, and Microsoft Power BI.

Who is Axis time and billing for? +

It's built for accounting and CPA firms that need time tracking, billing, WIP, AR, reporting, and client context in one practice management platform.

How does Axis handle progress billing? +

Progress bills are netted against unbilled WIP in real time. The WIP screen shows each client's true unbilled amount, and the final invoice bills only the balance.

Can partners adjust an invoice before it's sent? +

Yes. With detail billing, partners include, exclude, mark up or mark down WIP line by line, and the invoice stays a draft until they confirm it.

How much does time and billing software for accountants cost in Axis? +

Axis starts at $18 USD / $24 CAD per user per month, billed monthly with no annual commitment. That Entrepreneur plan includes full time and billing, WIP, AR, markups and markdowns, and batch invoicing. Pro ($25 USD / $36 CAD per user per month) adds workflow and calendars. Ultimate ($34 USD / $48 CAD per user per month) adds the client portal, online payments and QuickBooks Online sync. See pricing.

Is accounting time and billing included in every Axis plan? +

Yes. All three plans include full time and billing, WIP, accounts receivable and detailed reports. The higher plans add workflow (Pro), and the client portal, online payments and QuickBooks Online sync (Ultimate).

Does CPA time and billing in Axis replace our tax or accounting software? +

No. Axis manages the firm's own work: time, WIP, billing, workflow and client records. Your tax software still prepares and files returns. On Ultimate, invoices and payments sync to QuickBooks Online, so nobody enters them twice. See how it fits into accounting practice management software.

How does time and billing for CPAs handle different billing rates? +

Each staff member can carry several billing rates, so the same person can bill at one rate for tax work and another for advisory, or a different rate for a specific client. Partners can still mark lines up or down on the draft invoice before it goes out.

Ready to review billing?

We will walk through your time, WIP, and AR process.

Bring your current time tracking, billing review, invoice, payment, and reporting workflow. We will show how Axis can keep revenue details connected to the work.

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