Finance teams spend hours every week on work that could run automatically: chasing invoices, building cash flow reports, tracking compliance deadlines, processing expense approvals. n8n automates all of it — and because it's self-hosted, your financial data never leaves your infrastructure.
Here are 5 ready-to-deploy workflow patterns with full JSON.
1. Daily Cash Flow & P&L Briefing #
Trigger: Schedule (every weekday at 7:00 AM)
Nodes: Google Sheets → Code → Gmail
Every morning before the CFO opens their laptop, this workflow pulls yesterday's numbers and sends a formatted HTML briefing.
{
"name": "Daily Cash Flow Briefing",
"nodes": [
{
"name": "Schedule Trigger",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.scheduleTrigger",
"parameters": {
"rule": { "interval": [{ "field": "cronExpression", "expression": "0 7 * * 1-5" }] }
}
},
{
"name": "Get Revenue Sheet",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.googleSheets",
"parameters": {
"operation": "getAll",
"sheetId": "YOUR_SHEET_ID",
"range": "Revenue!A:E"
}
},
{
"name": "Get Expense Sheet",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.googleSheets",
"parameters": {
"operation": "getAll",
"sheetId": "YOUR_SHEET_ID",
"range": "Expenses!A:E"
}
},
{
"name": "Build Report",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.code",
"parameters": {
"jsCode": "const rev = $input.first().json; const exp = $input.last().json;\nconst revenue = rev.reduce((s, r) => s + parseFloat(r.amount || 0), 0);\nconst expenses = exp.reduce((s, r) => s + parseFloat(r.amount || 0), 0);\nconst netIncome = revenue - expenses;\nconst margin = revenue > 0 ? ((netIncome / revenue) * 100).toFixed(1) : 0;\nconst html = `<h2>Daily P&L — ${new Date().toDateString()}</h2><table border='1' cellpadding='8'><tr><td><b>Revenue</b></td><td>$${revenue.toLocaleString('en-US', {minimumFractionDigits:2})}</td></tr><tr><td><b>Expenses</b></td><td>$${expenses.toLocaleString('en-US', {minimumFractionDigits:2})}</td></tr><tr><td><b>Net Income</b></td><td>$${netIncome.toLocaleString('en-US', {minimumFractionDigits:2})}</td></tr><tr><td><b>Margin</b></td><td>${margin}%</td></tr></table>`;\nreturn [{ json: { html, revenue, expenses, netIncome } }];"
}
},
{
"name": "Email CFO",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.gmail",
"parameters": {
"to": "cfo@yourcompany.com",
"subject": "Daily P&L — {{ $now.format('MMM D, YYYY') }}",
"message": "{{ $json.html }}",
"options": { "bodyContentType": "html" }
}
}
]
}
Adapt the sheet ranges and recipient. Works with QuickBooks exports, Stripe revenue sheets, or any spreadsheet your accounting team already maintains.
2. Invoice Auto-Entry & AP Approval Queue #
Trigger: Webhook (from email parser, AP platform, or Zapier/Make migrators)
Nodes: Webhook → Code → IF → [Auto-approve branch | Slack approval branch]
{
"name": "Invoice AP Workflow",
"nodes": [
{
"name": "Invoice Webhook",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.webhook",
"parameters": { "path": "invoice-received", "responseMode": "responseNode" }
},
{
"name": "Parse Invoice",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.code",
"parameters": {
"jsCode": "const body = $input.first().json.body;\nconst amount = parseFloat(body.amount || body.total || 0);\nconst vendor = body.vendor_name || body.from || 'Unknown';\nconst dueDate = body.due_date || body.payment_due;\nconst poNumber = body.po_number || body.reference || '';\nreturn [{ json: { amount, vendor, dueDate, poNumber, rawBody: body, needsApproval: amount >= 2000 } }];"
}
},
{
"name": "Log to Sheets",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.googleSheets",
"parameters": {
"operation": "appendOrUpdate",
"sheetId": "YOUR_SHEET_ID",
"columns": { "mappingMode": "defineBelow", "value": { "vendor": "={{ $json.vendor }}", "amount": "={{ $json.amount }}", "due_date": "={{ $json.dueDate }}", "po_number": "={{ $json.poNumber }}", "status": "pending", "received_at": "={{ $now.toISO() }}" } }
}
},
{
"name": "Needs Approval?",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.if",
"parameters": { "conditions": { "boolean": [{ "value1": "={{ $json.needsApproval }}", "value2": true }] } }
},
{
"name": "Slack AP Manager",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.slack",
"parameters": {
"channel": "#accounts-payable",
"text": "*Invoice requires approval* \nVendor: {{ $json.vendor }}\nAmount: ${{ $json.amount }}\nDue: {{ $json.dueDate }}\nPO: {{ $json.poNumber }}\nLog: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/YOUR_SHEET_ID"
}
},
{
"name": "Auto-Approve Email",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.gmail",
"parameters": {
"to": "ap@yourcompany.com",
"subject": "Invoice auto-approved: {{ $json.vendor }} ${{ $json.amount }}",
"message": "Invoice from {{ $json.vendor }} for ${{ $json.amount }} (due {{ $json.dueDate }}) has been auto-approved and logged. PO: {{ $json.poNumber }}"
}
}
]
}
This replaces the AP inbox review process. Under $2,000 invoices log and confirm automatically. Above threshold goes to Slack for human approval — no email threads.
3. Monthly Financial Consolidation Report #
Trigger: Schedule (1st of every month, 8:00 AM)
Nodes: Google Sheets (×3) → Merge → Code → Gmail
{
"name": "Monthly Finance Report",
"nodes": [
{
"name": "Schedule",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.scheduleTrigger",
"parameters": { "rule": { "interval": [{ "field": "cronExpression", "expression": "0 8 1 * *" }] } }
},
{
"name": "Revenue Sheet",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.googleSheets",
"parameters": { "operation": "getAll", "sheetId": "YOUR_SHEET_ID", "range": "Revenue!A:C" }
},
{
"name": "Expenses Sheet",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.googleSheets",
"parameters": { "operation": "getAll", "sheetId": "YOUR_SHEET_ID", "range": "Expenses!A:C" }
},
{
"name": "Payroll Sheet",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.googleSheets",
"parameters": { "operation": "getAll", "sheetId": "YOUR_SHEET_ID", "range": "Payroll!A:C" }
},
{
"name": "Consolidate",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.code",
"parameters": {
"jsCode": "const items = $input.all();\nconst revenue = items.filter(i => i.json._sheet === 'Revenue').reduce((s,r) => s + parseFloat(r.json.amount||0), 0);\nconst expenses = items.filter(i => i.json._sheet === 'Expenses').reduce((s,r) => s + parseFloat(r.json.amount||0), 0);\nconst payroll = items.filter(i => i.json._sheet === 'Payroll').reduce((s,r) => s + parseFloat(r.json.amount||0), 0);\nconst totalCosts = expenses + payroll;\nconst grossProfit = revenue - totalCosts;\nconst margin = revenue > 0 ? ((grossProfit/revenue)*100).toFixed(1) : 0;\nconst now = new Date(); const lastMonth = new Date(now.getFullYear(), now.getMonth()-1, 1);\nconst monthName = lastMonth.toLocaleString('default',{month:'long',year:'numeric'});\nconst html = `<h1>Monthly Financial Report — ${monthName}</h1><table border='1' cellpadding='10' style='border-collapse:collapse'><tr><th>Metric</th><th>Amount</th></tr><tr><td>Total Revenue</td><td>$${revenue.toLocaleString()}</td></tr><tr><td>Operating Expenses</td><td>$${expenses.toLocaleString()}</td></tr><tr><td>Payroll</td><td>$${payroll.toLocaleString()}</td></tr><tr><td>Total Costs</td><td>$${totalCosts.toLocaleString()}</td></tr><tr><td><b>Gross Profit</b></td><td><b>$${grossProfit.toLocaleString()}</b></td></tr><tr><td>Net Margin</td><td>${margin}%</td></tr></table>`;\nreturn [{ json: { html, monthName, revenue, totalCosts, grossProfit, margin } }];"
}
},
{
"name": "Email Finance Team",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.gmail",
"parameters": {
"to": "cfo@yourcompany.com, ceo@yourcompany.com",
"subject": "Monthly Financial Report — {{ $json.monthName }}",
"message": "{{ $json.html }}",
"options": { "bodyContentType": "html" }
}
}
]
}
Connects revenue, expenses, and payroll sheets. Calculates gross profit, margin, and total costs. One email to the right people every month — no one needs to manually build the deck.
4. Expense Report Approval Pipeline #
Trigger: Webhook (from expense submission form, Expensify, or Ramp webhook)
Nodes: Webhook → Code → IF threshold → [Auto-approve | Slack manager → Wait → IF approved → Gmail]
{
"name": "Expense Approval",
"nodes": [
{
"name": "Expense Webhook",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.webhook",
"parameters": { "path": "expense-submitted", "responseMode": "responseNode" }
},
{
"name": "Parse Expense",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.code",
"parameters": {
"jsCode": "const b = $input.first().json.body;\nreturn [{ json: { submitter: b.employee_name, email: b.employee_email, amount: parseFloat(b.amount||0), category: b.category||'Other', description: b.description||'', receipts_url: b.receipts_url||'', submitted_at: new Date().toISOString(), needs_approval: parseFloat(b.amount||0) >= 500 } }];"
}
},
{
"name": "Under Threshold?",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.if",
"parameters": { "conditions": { "boolean": [{ "value1": "={{ $json.needs_approval }}", "value2": false }] } }
},
{
"name": "Auto-Approve",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.gmail",
"parameters": {
"to": "={{ $json.email }}",
"subject": "Expense approved: ${{ $json.amount }} — {{ $json.category }}",
"message": "Hi {{ $json.submitter }},\n\nYour ${{ $json.amount }} expense ({{ $json.category }}) has been approved automatically. It will be included in the next reimbursement run.\n\n— Finance Team"
}
},
{
"name": "Slack Manager",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.slack",
"parameters": {
"channel": "@finance-manager",
"text": "*Expense approval needed*\nEmployee: {{ $json.submitter }}\nAmount: ${{ $json.amount }}\nCategory: {{ $json.category }}\nDescription: {{ $json.description }}\nReceipts: {{ $json.receipts_url }}\nReply 'APPROVE {{ $json.email }}' or 'REJECT {{ $json.email }} [reason]'"
}
}
]
}
Under your threshold, expenses are approved and confirmed in under a minute. Above threshold, manager gets a structured Slack DM — no inbox digging, no forwarded emails.
5. Compliance & Regulatory Deadline Tracker #
Trigger: Schedule (every weekday at 8:00 AM)
Nodes: Google Sheets → Code → Switch (urgency tiers) → [Slack #compliance | Gmail]
{
"name": "Compliance Deadline Tracker",
"nodes": [
{
"name": "Daily Schedule",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.scheduleTrigger",
"parameters": { "rule": { "interval": [{ "field": "cronExpression", "expression": "0 8 * * 1-5" }] } }
},
{
"name": "Get Compliance Calendar",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.googleSheets",
"parameters": {
"operation": "getAll",
"sheetId": "YOUR_COMPLIANCE_SHEET_ID",
"range": "Deadlines!A:F"
}
},
{
"name": "Calculate Urgency",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.code",
"parameters": {
"jsCode": "const items = $input.all();\nconst today = new Date();\nreturn items\n .filter(item => item.json.status !== 'completed')\n .map(item => {\n const due = new Date(item.json.due_date);\n const daysLeft = Math.ceil((due - today) / (1000 * 60 * 60 * 24));\n let urgency = 'NONE';\n if (daysLeft < 0) urgency = 'OVERDUE';\n else if (daysLeft <= 7) urgency = 'CRITICAL';\n else if (daysLeft <= 14) urgency = 'URGENT';\n else if (daysLeft <= 30) urgency = 'WARNING';\n else if (daysLeft <= 60) urgency = 'NOTICE';\n return { json: { ...item.json, daysLeft, urgency } };\n })\n .filter(item => item.json.urgency !== 'NONE');"
}
},
{
"name": "Route by Urgency",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.switch",
"parameters": {
"dataType": "string",
"value1": "={{ $json.urgency }}",
"rules": [
{ "value2": "OVERDUE", "output": 0 },
{ "value2": "CRITICAL", "output": 0 },
{ "value2": "URGENT", "output": 1 },
{ "value2": "WARNING", "output": 2 },
{ "value2": "NOTICE", "output": 2 }
]
}
},
{
"name": "Slack Compliance Channel",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.slack",
"parameters": {
"channel": "#compliance",
"text": ":rotating_light: *{{ $json.urgency }}: {{ $json.deadline_name }}*\nDue: {{ $json.due_date }} ({{ $json.daysLeft }} days)\nOwner: {{ $json.owner }}\nRegulation: {{ $json.regulation }}\nAction required: {{ $json.action_required }}"
}
},
{
"name": "Email Owner — Urgent",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.gmail",
"parameters": {
"to": "={{ $json.owner_email }}",
"subject": "[URGENT] Compliance deadline in {{ $json.daysLeft }} days: {{ $json.deadline_name }}",
"message": "Hi {{ $json.owner }},\n\n{{ $json.deadline_name }} is due in {{ $json.daysLeft }} days ({{ $json.due_date }}).\n\nRegulation: {{ $json.regulation }}\nAction required: {{ $json.action_required }}\n\nPlease confirm completion in the tracking sheet when done."
}
},
{
"name": "Email Owner — Notice",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.gmail",
"parameters": {
"to": "={{ $json.owner_email }}",
"subject": "Compliance reminder ({{ $json.daysLeft }} days): {{ $json.deadline_name }}",
"message": "Hi {{ $json.owner }},\n\nReminder: {{ $json.deadline_name }} is due on {{ $json.due_date }} ({{ $json.daysLeft }} days from today).\n\nRegulation: {{ $json.regulation }}\nAction: {{ $json.action_required }}"
}
}
]
}
For SOX, GDPR, PCI-DSS, or any regulatory calendar. Replace the Switch with more tiers if needed. All workflow logic is in a JSON file you can audit.
Why n8n for Finance Teams? #
| n8n (self-hosted) | Zapier | Make.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Financial data stays on your servers | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| SOX/audit trail (git-versioned JSON) | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Cost at 50,000 tasks/month | $0 | $299+ | $99+ |
| Native Postgres/MySQL integration | ✅ | Add-on | Add-on |
| Complex multi-branch approval logic | Native | Limited | Moderate |
For finance, the self-hosting argument is the strongest in the entire industry. SOX compliance requires auditability. SOC2 requires data residency. GDPR requires knowing where customer financial data flows. With n8n running on your own server, you satisfy all three — and you have the workflow JSON in git to prove it.
Get the Templates #
All 5 workflows above — plus 10 more finance, operations, and reporting automations — are available as ready-to-import JSON files at FlowKit on Gumroad.
Drop any template into your n8n instance, update your credentials, and it's running in under 5 minutes.
Built with n8n. Self-hosted. No vendor lock-in.
source & further reading
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