Setting Up WhatsApp

Setting up WhatsApp with Penny

WhatsApp is the primary way most users interact with Penny, their AI bookkeeper. Setting up the connection is quick and straightforward.

Before you start

You'll need:

• A WhatsApp account on your mobile phone (personal or WhatsApp Business — either works)
• An Accounted account with your email verified
• A UK mobile number — This is the number Penny will use to communicate with you

Connecting your number

1. Go to Settings > WhatsApp in your Accounted dashboard.
2. Enter your mobile number — Include the country code (e.g., +44 7700 900000).
3. Click "Send Verification" — Penny will send a six-digit verification code to your WhatsApp.
4. Enter the code in the Accounted dashboard to confirm the connection.
5. Done! Penny will send you a welcome message on WhatsApp confirming everything is set up.

The whole process takes less than two minutes.

Starting your first conversation

Once connected, you can start chatting with Penny straight away. Try sending one of these messages to get started:

• "Hi Penny" — She'll introduce herself and explain what she can do.
• "What's my tax position?" — Get an instant summary of your estimated tax liability.
• "I have a receipt" — Send a photo of a receipt and Penny will process it.
• "What needs reviewing?" — See any transactions that need your attention.

Penny understands natural language, so you don't need to use specific commands. Just write normally, as you would to a colleague.

Notification preferences

By default, Penny will proactively message you about:

• Transactions that need categorisation review
• Upcoming quarterly submission deadlines
• Bank connection re-authorisation reminders
• Large or unusual transactions

You can customise these notifications from Settings > WhatsApp > Notifications. Options include:

• All notifications — Stay on top of everything in real time.
• Important only — Only deadlines, required actions, and high-value items.
• Minimal — Only critical actions such as upcoming HMRC deadlines.
• Quiet hours — Set times when Penny won't send proactive messages (e.g., evenings and weekends).

Multiple phone numbers

Currently, each Accounted account can be linked to one WhatsApp number. If you change your phone number, update it in Settings > WhatsApp and complete the verification process again with your new number.

Troubleshooting

• Didn't receive the verification code? Make sure WhatsApp is installed and your number is correct. Try again after a minute — there can be a short delay.
• Penny isn't responding? Check your internet connection. If messages show a single tick but never double-tick, the issue is with your network rather than Penny.
• Want to start fresh? You can clear your conversation history with Penny by disconnecting and reconnecting in Settings. Your Accounted data is not affected — only the WhatsApp chat history is cleared.