How Zato compares
How Zato compares.
Zato runs the whole compliance job, end to end, for preparers, reviewers and partners. Here is how the main approaches compare, capability by capability.
Compare Zato with
| What the job needs |  | Excel workpapers | Outsourcing | Desktop workpaper software | Cloud workpaper software | Point AI tools |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Client data inLedgers, IRD, ATO, Companies Office and client documents pulled straight into the job | Built in | Manual | Manual | Partial | Partial | Partial |
| Workpapers prepared40+ workpapers prepared from source data, reconciled and cross-checked | Built in | Manual | Outsourced | Manual | Manual | Partial |
| P&L analysisCurrent year against prior year and prior period, movements explained | Built in | Manual | Outsourced | Partial | Partial | Partial |
| Queries and journalsDrafted from the findings, sent and tracked inside the job | Built in | Manual | By email | Manual | Partial | Partial |
| Every figure linked to sourceClick any number to see the transaction and document behind it | Built in | No | No | Manual | Partial | Partial |
| Review and sign-offAccountant, manager and director review in one place | Built in | Manual | Manual | Built in | Built in | No |
| Annual and management accountsYear-end and monthly to custom periods on the same platform | Built in | Manual | Outsourced | Partial | Partial | No |
| Ledger checksEvery transaction checked against your firm’s rules | Built in | Sampled | Sampled | Add-on | Partial | Partial |
| Specialist supportAccounting and product specialists in NZ and AU hours | Built in | No | Partial | Helpdesk | Helpdesk | Helpdesk |
See every feature
| Feature | | Excel workpapers | Outsourcing | Desktop workpaper software | Cloud workpaper software | Point AI tools |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Data into the job | ||||||
| Ledger connections, including Xero two-way sync and MYOB | Built in | No | Outsourced | Built in | Built in | Partial |
| IRD, ATO and Companies Office data inside the job | Built in | No | Outsourced | Partial | Partial | No |
| Client documents collected, read and filed | Built in | Manual | Manual | Partial | Partial | Built in |
| Preparation | ||||||
| 40+ workpapers prepared from source data | Built in | Manual | Outsourced | Manual | Manual | Partial |
| Every transaction checked against your firm’s rules | Built in | Sampled | Sampled | Add-on | Partial | Partial |
| AI that knows the whole job and drafts queries and journals | Built in | No | No | No | Partial | Partial |
| Annual accounts and financial statements | Built in | Manual | Built in | Built in | Partial | No |
| Management accounts, monthly to custom periods | Built in | Manual | Outsourced | Partial | Partial | No |
| Review and control | ||||||
| Every figure traceable to its source document | Built in | No | No | Manual | Partial | Partial |
| Queries raised and closed inside the job | Built in | No | By email | Manual | Partial | Partial |
| Review and sign-off: accountant, manager, director | Built in | Manual | Manual | Built in | Built in | No |
| Security and support | ||||||
| ISO/IEC 27001 and ISO 9001 certified | Built in | No | Partial | Partial | Partial | Partial |
| Hosted in Australia and New Zealand | Built in | Partial | Partial | Partial | Partial | Partial |
| Support from accounting and product specialists in NZ and AU hours | Built in | No | Partial | Helpdesk | Helpdesk | Helpdesk |
Comparisons describe typical approaches, not individual products, as at November 2026.
Customer results
A 150-person firm, +10 points of margin.
Gilligan Rowe & Associates reported a 10 percentage point increase in firm-wide margin in under six months after moving its compliance production onto Zato, with quality control and partner sign-off staying in New Zealand. Results reflect GRA’s own experience, not a controlled comparison with any other product.
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A complete compliance job, from client data to sign-off.