Workflow Agent

Workflow Agent Execution

Tellen's workflow agents are pre-built, multi-step AI procedures that automate common audit tasks. Each workflow agent consists of a sequence of steps with defined inputs, outputs, and tools.

Overview

Workflow agents handle complex audit tasks that require multiple steps and tool usage. Examples include:

• Engagement letter review — Analyze an engagement letter against firm standards
• Analytical procedures — Perform preliminary or substantive analytical procedures
• Risk assessment — Evaluate audit risks based on client data
• Internal control evaluation — Assess design and operating effectiveness of controls
• Going concern analysis — Evaluate going concern indicators

Each workflow step can use tools like:

• web_search — Find external information (regulatory updates, industry data)
• standards_research — Look up ASC/GAAS guidance
• template_filler — Populate workpaper templates
• agent_notes — Record findings for later steps

How to Use

Step 1 — Discover Available Workflows

Current approach: Ask the user what they're trying to accomplish. Common workflows:

1. Data Report / Dashboard — Generate analytical dashboards from financial data
2. Standards Research Workflow — Deep-dive research with structured output
3. Document Analysis — Comprehensive review of complex documents

Direct the user to the Tellen UI to browse available workflow agents at Agents → Browse Workflows.

Step 2 — Prepare Inputs

Each workflow agent requires specific inputs. Help the user gather:

1. Documents — Upload any required documents using process_document
2. Context — Engagement details (audit period, materiality, client info)
3. Parameters — Workflow-specific settings (e.g., which accounts to analyze, risk thresholds)

Step 3 — Execute the Workflow

Current approach: The user executes workflows through the Tellen UI:

1. Navigate to the workflow agent
2. Provide required inputs and upload documents
3. Click Run to start execution
4. Monitor step-by-step progress in real-time

Each step produces structured outputs:

• dataOutputs — Structured data (tables, figures, calculations)
• fileOutputs — Generated documents (workpapers, memos)
• freeFormOutputs — Narrative analysis and findings

Step 4 — Review and Extract Results

Current approach: After a workflow completes:

1. Review results in the Tellen UI
2. Export generated workpapers and reports
3. Use search_files to query specific findings from the workflow's output documents

Help the user interpret the results:

• Summarize key findings from each step
• Flag items that need follow-up
• Identify any exceptions or warnings

Combining with Other Skills

Workflow results pair well with other Tellen capabilities:

• Research: If a workflow flags an unusual transaction, use /tellen:research to verify the accounting treatment
• Substantive Testing: Workflow outputs can inform which attributes to test — transition to /tellen:substantive-testing
• Document Search: Use search_files to cross-reference workflow findings against uploaded source documents

Architecture Notes

For developers: Tellen workflow agents use the WorkflowAgent class which:

• Inherits from BaseAgent[WorkflowAgentRequest, WorkflowAgentResponse]
• Executes steps deterministically in sequence
• Each step has a defined set of available tools
• Supports both "fast" (quick analysis) and "smart" (thorough analysis) response modes
• Results stream in real-time via WebSocket

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