Confidential Proposal

AI Strategy for
Elliott & Lee

A practical roadmap to bring AI into your accounting workflow — starting with the tools you already use.

// The Opportunity

AI inside the tools your team already uses

Microsoft 365 Copilot adds AI directly into Outlook, Excel, Word, and Teams. No new apps. No training curve. Your team types what they need in plain English and Copilot does it using your company's own data.

// Biggest Wins for Accounting

Where Copilot saves the most time

✉

Outlook — Email Drafting

Drafts client replies, summarizes long threads, prioritizes your inbox. Ask it: "Draft a reply asking for their T4s and last year's NOA."

Saves 30–60 min/day
▦

Excel — Data Analysis

Analyzes spreadsheets in plain English, writes formulas, categorizes transactions, builds charts. Ask it: "Flag transactions over $5,000 that aren't categorized."

Saves hours at month-end
✎

Word — Document Drafting

Drafts engagement letters, NTR cover letters, and client reports from your templates. 15-minute tasks become 2 minutes.

80% faster drafting
☏

Teams — Meeting Intelligence

Transcribes client calls, pulls out action items and deadlines automatically. No more "what did we agree on?" moments.

Every meeting captured
// Investment

Cost calculator

Slide to see the monthly cost based on how many users you enable.

Number of Copilot users 3
Monthly cost (CAD)
$123
Est. hours saved/month
30+
// Tool Landscape

How the AI tools compare

Multiple tools exist — here's what each does and which ones matter for your firm.

Microsoft 365 Copilot runs on OpenAI's GPT-5.4 by default, with the option to switch to Anthropic's Claude for tasks needing deeper reasoning. Your team doesn't need to know or care about this — they just type what they need.

Claude Cowork runs on Claude Opus 4 (Anthropic's most capable model). Best for complex multi-step analysis and document processing.

Ironically, both platforms can now use Claude models — Microsoft added it as an option in January 2026.
Anthropic's desktop AI agent (went GA April 9, 2026). It works directly on your computer — reads/edits files, runs scheduled tasks, connects to Google Drive and Gmail. Think of it as a virtual assistant that actually does the work, not just suggests it. You point it at a folder of client docs and say "organize and summarize these" and it does it.

Key difference: Copilot is embedded inside Microsoft apps (best for teams already on M365). Cowork is a standalone desktop agent (best for complex multi-step tasks). They're complementary, not competing.
Copilot Studio lets you build custom AI chatbots without coding. E&L could build a "tax question bot" that answers staff questions from internal docs. This is a Phase 5 item — not needed right away.

Power Automate handles workflow automation — "when a new email arrives with an attachment, save it to the client's SharePoint folder and notify the bookkeeper." Already included in your M365 plan. Also Phase 5.
Microsoft 365 Copilot runs within your existing Microsoft 365 security boundary. Your data stays within your tenant, is encrypted in transit and at rest, and is never used to train AI models. It inherits all your existing security policies, compliance certifications, and access controls. For an accounting firm handling client data, this is the safest option — it's the same infrastructure you already trust with your email and files.


Tool What It Is Cost Priority
M365 Copilot Recommended AI inside Outlook, Excel, Word, Teams ~$41 CAD/user/mo Start here
Claude Cowork Desktop AI agent for complex tasks ~$27 CAD/user/mo Optional add-on
Copilot Studio Build custom AI chatbots Included* Phase 5
Power Automate Workflow automation Included* Phase 5
ChatGPT General AI chat Free / $20 USD Already available

* Included with M365 Business Standard or higher

// Rollout Plan

How we get there

Start small, prove value, then scale. No big-bang rollout.

Week 1 — Enable

Add Copilot for 2–3 pilot users

Pick the team members who spend the most time on email and spreadsheets. Activate their licenses.

Week 1–2 — Quick Wins

Focus on Outlook & Excel

Email drafting and data analysis deliver the fastest, most visible productivity gains.

Week 3–4 — Measure

Track time saved, gather feedback

Are pilot users getting faster? What works? What doesn't? Build the business case with real numbers.

Month 2 — Expand

Roll out to full team

If results are positive, activate Copilot for everyone. The ROI case writes itself.

Month 3+ — Advanced

Explore Studio & Automate

Build custom bots, automate repetitive workflows, and connect to external tools.

Ready to get started?

The firms that adopt AI now will have a significant efficiency advantage over those that wait.

Call Joel — 604-700-8588

admin@camano.ca