MCP or Model Context Protocol is an open standard that connects an AI assistant (Claude, ChatGPT or any other) to external tools and data sources. The software publishes an MCP server that describes what to ask it and what can be done with it; the assistant uses these capabilities with your permission and within your rights. For accounting, this means a new door: instead of opening the program, finding the right view and exporting a report, you ask in a chat „how much are our outstanding invoices?” – and the assistant asks the answer directly from the system, rather than guessing it. The same door works the other way around: „create an invoice for Marti for April” can trigger a real action that awaits your approval.
How does it work technically?
Three parties. Your business software publishes an MCP server: a list of tools („search invoices”, „create invoice”, „show balance”) and resources. Your assistant connects to this server – you establish the connection, not a third party. And every action goes through your session: the assistant has no access, he borrows Yours, visible and logged. This architecture is why MCP is spreading faster than previous „AI integrations”: the standard is one, connections are not built in pairs.
What can you actually do with this in accounting?
Two classes, in order of maturity. The questions are already working broadly: balances, unpaid invoices, customer history, cost breakdown – everything that is in the system becomes available in the chat. The actions are the second level: creating an invoice, sending a reminder, classifying a document; here it is a good practice that the assistant prepares and you approve, just like agency financial management A growing number of business software vendors are releasing MCP servers on the market; check to see if yours is among them before you get your hopes up.
Is it safe?
As secure as the implementation is: ask three things. Under whose rights the operations are performed? The correct answer: under the user's own, not under the general "integration account". Do modifying operations require confirmation? They should. And does everything done through MCP remain in the audit log? It must. If the answers are in order, the chat interface does not add new risk: it adds a new, more convenient door behind the same rights you already have.
FAQ
What is MCP in simple terms?
An open standard through which an AI assistant (Claude, ChatGPT, etc.) connects to your business software: the software publishes the tools, the assistant uses them with your permission and within your rights.
What can you do with an AI assistant in accounting?
Request data (balances, unpaid invoices, expense breakdown) and initiate actions with confirmation (create an invoice, send a reminder) — directly from the chat, without opening the program.
Is connecting via MCP secure?
Depends on the implementation — check three: operations are within the user's rights, changing steps require confirmation, and everything is recorded in the audit log.
How do I know if my software supports MCP?
Ask the provider if they have an MCP server and what tools it exposes. A growing number of business software providers are exposing servers.