EXCLUSIVE: Accountants’ Best Fee Friend? AI-Powered Dogs Are Fetching Receipts at a Price

Not Enough Bread has obtained exclusive, leaked documents detailing a shocking new development in the accountancy world: AI-powered dogs are now being deployed to fetch receipts and invoices, all in the name of ‘efficiency’—and, more importantly, billable hours.

These robot canines, officially named F.I.D.O. (Financial Invoice & Document Organiser), are said to be revolutionising the way accountants chase down missing paperwork. Developed by an elite team of engineers and finance professionals (who definitely weren’t drinking heavily when they pitched this idea), F.I.D.O. units are equipped with advanced document scanning, AI-powered fraud detection, and, most importantly, a nose for unclaimed expenses.

A Fetching Investment (If You Can Afford It)

For firms willing to shell out upwards of £50,000 per unit—plus an ongoing monthly subscription fee that costs more than an actual Labrador’s gourmet diet—F.I.D.O. promises to eliminate the age-old excuse of ‘I lost the receipt.’ These robo-dogs reportedly integrate seamlessly with cloud accounting software, sniffing out misplaced invoices, tracking down clients who ‘forgot to send that one over,’ and even barking at the self-employed when they fail to categorise their expenses correctly.

According to industry insiders, Big Four firms have already placed bulk orders, seeing this as an easy way to justify a new ‘AI retrieval surcharge’ on client invoices. Independent accountants, meanwhile, have been left torn between embracing the technology or continuing to nag their clients via passive-aggressive emails.

The Downside: Some Dogs Just Won’t Sit

Despite the hype, some early adopters have reported issues. One firm in Manchester was forced to return their F.I.D.O. after it aggressively shredded an entire year’s worth of invoices, mistaking them for irrelevant paperwork. Another firm’s model inexplicably bolted out the door and was last seen scanning receipts at a rival company’s office.

A further issue has been raised regarding F.I.D.O.’s lack of thumbs. While engineers assure users that the AI compensates with superior grip mechanics, some accountants have complained that the robots struggle with basic tasks like inserting receipts into scanners, signing documents, or even just holding onto paper in strong winds. One firm reported their F.I.D.O. unit tragically losing a crucial VAT invoice when it slipped through its robotic jaws and blew out of an open window.

Meanwhile, self-employed individuals who opted for the ‘freelancer-friendly’ home model have reported unnerving experiences. One user claims their F.I.D.O. unit repeatedly woke them up at 3 AM, growling at a pile of Uber Eats receipts they had ‘definitely intended to expense properly’ but never did.

Will AI Dogs Replace Human Accountants?

Experts are split. While some claim that F.I.D.O. represents the future of accountancy admin, others argue that no AI can truly replace the human ability to creatively justify a questionable expense claim.

‘At the end of the day, a robotic dog might be able to fetch a receipt,’ said one accountant who wished to remain anonymous, ‘but it won’t be able to look a client in the eye and say with a straight face that a PlayStation 5 was a necessary “business productivity tool.”’

For now, F.I.D.O. remains a luxury for firms willing to embrace the bleeding edge of tech-driven financial efficiency—at a price point that conveniently covers an entirely new layer of ‘administrative fees.’

So, if your accountant suddenly hikes their rates, check under their desk. If there’s an AI-powered dog chewing on an expense report, you’ll know where your money’s going.