What is straight-through processing?

Straight-through processing (STP) is the automated completion of a business process from start to finish without manual intervention. In accounting, straight-through processing allows financial transactions to be categorized, reconciled, and recorded automatically, with only exceptions requiring human review.

Example: A recurring software subscription is imported from the bank, categorized, reconciled, and posted to the ledger automatically without requiring an accountant to intervene.

Related terms: Zero-Touch Transactions™, AI Bookkeeping, Agentic Accounting Software, Continuous Close, Human in the Loop