Model Context Protocol

Run your accounting by talking to an AI

The Qontab MCP connector exposes 126 tools over your double-entry books. Connect Claude, Cursor, or any MCP client and record transactions, send invoices, reconcile your bank, run payroll and pull live reports — in plain language, with full accounting integrity preserved server-side.

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In one paragraph

Qontab is an AI-native, double-entry accounting platform. Its MCP connector is a Model Context Protocol server that any AI assistant can connect to using a Qontab API key or OAuth. It offers 126 tools across accounts, transactions, invoicing, expense reports, travel, contacts, banking, documents, recurring entries, projects, assets, budgets and payroll. Read tools work on any plan; write tools need a paid plan; every call is scoped, role-checked and counted against a monthly allowance.

Your connection

Create, reveal once and revoke your MCP keys right here, once you’re signed in.

How the connector works

1 · You ask in plain language

“Record a €1,200 hosting expense paid from my EUR account on Monday.” The assistant turns intent into the right tool call.

2 · Qontab validates & posts

The MCP server checks your scope, role, plan and quota, validates the payload, resolves FX, and writes a balanced double-entry record.

3 · You get a real answer

Live P&L, balance sheet, who owes you money, what you owe the MRA — straight from the ledger, no export, no spreadsheet.

Crucially, the AI never touches your database directly. It calls named, typed tools over JSON-RPC; all the accounting rules — balanced entries, sequential numbering, immutable posting semantics, multi-tenant isolation — are enforced by Qontab, not the model. The assistant is a natural-language front-end; Qontab remains the system of record.

Compatible AI clients

Qontab exposes a remote MCP server with OAuth 2.1 (Dynamic Client Registration + PKCE) and Bearer keys, so any AI agent that supports custom MCP connectors can drive your books — no plugin to build.

Client / agent	Auth	How to connect
ChatGPT (OpenAI)	OAuth 2.1	Settings → Connectors → Create (or Developer mode) → add a custom connector with the MCP server URL. ChatGPT runs the OAuth 2.1 flow; available on Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise and Edu.
Claude.ai (Anthropic)	OAuth 2.1	Settings → Connectors → Add custom connector → paste the server URL. One-click OAuth login, with a company picker for multi-tenant accountants.
Claude Desktop	OAuth 2.1 + Bearer	Add a custom connector by URL (OAuth), or use the mcp-remote bridge in claude_desktop_config.json with a Bearer key.
Claude Code (CLI)	OAuth 2.1 + Bearer	claude mcp add --transport http with a Bearer header, or let it complete the OAuth flow on first connect.
Cursor	OAuth 2.1 + Bearer	Settings → MCP → Add server (URL). Cursor handles the OAuth handshake, or you can pass an Authorization header.
VS Code — GitHub Copilot (agent mode)	OAuth 2.1 + Bearer	Add the server in mcp.json (or the MCP: Add Server command). Copilot agent mode supports remote MCP with OAuth.
Windsurf (Codeium)	OAuth 2.1 + Bearer	Cascade → MCP servers → add the URL; remote MCP with OAuth or Bearer.
Goose · Cline · Zed · other MCP clients	OAuth 2.1 + Bearer	Any client implementing the MCP remote/streamable-HTTP transport can connect with OAuth 2.1 or a Bearer key.

Quick start

Claude Code (CLI)

Claude Code speaks streamable-HTTP MCP natively — one line registers the server.

claude mcp add --transport http qontab https://api.qontab.com/mcp \
  --header "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_KEY"

Claude Desktop

Add this to claude_desktop_config.json. mcp-remote bridge injects the auth header and works on every Claude Desktop build.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "qontab": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "mcp-remote",
        "https://api.qontab.com/mcp",
        "--header",
        "Authorization:Bearer YOUR_KEY"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Claude.ai (OAuth — no key to paste)

In Claude.ai → Settings → Connectors → Add custom connector, paste the server URL. Claude discovers the OAuth endpoints, you log in to Qontab, pick the company, and you’re connected. Tokens are short-lived and refreshed automatically.

https://api.qontab.com/mcp

Generate your key under Settings → API keys. read to let the AI look but not touch, or read_write to let the AI record.

Authentication & scopes

Two ways to connect

Bearer API key — Authorization: Bearer qk_live_… into any MCP client. Works everywhere.

OAuth 2.1 — for Claude.ai / Claude Desktop custom connectors. PKCE, dynamic client registration, short-lived JWTs, and a consent screen that lets multi-company accountants pick a tenant.

Scopes

read every list_* / get_* tool.

write every mutating tool. A write call without a read_write key is refused with JSON-RPC -32604.

delete irreversible / destructive tools — your MCP client confirms before calling them.

The 126-tool catalogue

Grouped by domain. Read tools work on any plan; write tools need a paid plan; domains tagged Enterpriseor Pro require that tier.

Chart of accounts

Inspect and maintain the general-ledger account tree and the trial balance.

read	list_accounts	List the chart of accounts, filterable by type and active status.
read	get_account	Fetch one account with its current balance.
read	get_trial_balance	Trial balance as of any date.
write	create_account	Add a GL account.
write	update_account	Rename or re-type an account.
delete	delete_account	Soft-delete an account.
delete	hard_delete_account	Permanently remove an unused account.

Transactions & reports

The double-entry core: record journal entries and pull the three primary statements.

read	list_transactions	Browse journal entries by type, status, date or text.
read	get_transaction	One entry with every line.
read	get_profit_loss	P&L for any date range.
read	get_balance_sheet	Balance sheet as of a date.
write	create_expense	Record a cash outflow (DR category, CR bank).
write	create_income	Record a cash inflow (CR revenue, DR bank).
write	create_transfer	Move money between accounts, cross-currency with auto-FX.
write	create_capital_contribution	Owner injects funds (CR equity).
write	create_opening_balance	Seed migration opening balances.
write	create_employee_advance	Company advances money to an employee.
write	create_employee_repayment	Employee repays the company.
write	record_director_reimbursement	Settle a director’s loan (1126).
write	edit_transaction	Edit in place, draft or posted, keeping the sequential number.
write	recompute_fx_rates	Re-resolve historical FX on every line (dry-run option).
delete	post_transaction	Commit a draft to the GL (irreversible state change).
delete	delete_transaction	Delete a draft, or hard-delete a posted entry.
delete	bulk_post_transactions	Post up to 500 drafts at once.
delete	bulk_delete_transactions	Hard-delete up to 500 entries.

Invoicing

Sales & purchase invoices, credit/debit notes, payments and FX gain/loss.

read	list_invoices	List invoices with base-currency totals.
read	get_invoice	One invoice with lines, payments and GL postings.
read	list_tax_rates	Configured VAT / tax rates.
read	list_invoices_missing_issuance	Integrity check for invoices missing their issuance entry.
write	create_invoice	Draft an invoice.
write	update_invoice	Edit a draft or posted invoice.
write	send_invoice	Post the invoice to the GL.
write	record_invoice_payment	Record a payment, cross-currency aware.
write	edit_invoice_payment	Correct a payment in place.
write	repost_invoice	Regenerate a missing issuance entry.
delete	cancel_invoice	Hard-delete an invoice and its postings.

Expense reports

Notes de frais: the full submit → approve → pay lifecycle with receipts and duplicate auditing.

read	list_expense_reports	Reports by status, employee, date.
read	get_expense_report	One report with lines and receipts.
read	find_expense_duplicates	Audit for duplicate claims vs bank / journal.
write	create_expense_report	Draft a report.
write	update_expense_report	Edit fields or the full line set.
write	submit_expense_report	Submit for approval.
write	approve_expense_report	Approve (auto-posts for director reports).
write	resubmit_expense_report	Resubmit a rejected report.
write	attach_expense_report_line_document	Attach, replace or detach a receipt.
write	review_expense_report_duplicate	Record a duplicate verdict.
write	repoint_expense_report_payable	Move a director payable leg to 1126.
write	mark_expense_report_reimbursed	Flag reimbursed without posting.
write	bulk_expense_report_action	Bulk submit / approve / delete (up to 200).
delete	reject_expense_report	Reject a submitted report.
delete	pay_expense_report	Pay and post the reimbursement entry.
delete	delete_expense_report	Hard-delete a report.

Travel declarations (per-diem)

Multi-leg travel & per-diem declarations linked to their real transport/lodging expenses.

read	list_travel_declarations	Declarations by status or text.
read	get_travel_declaration	One declaration with legs and linked transactions.
write	create_travel_declaration	Draft a multi-leg per-diem claim.
write	update_travel_declaration	Edit a draft declaration.
write	submit_travel_declaration	Submit for approval.
write	approve_travel_declaration	Approve a submitted declaration.
write	link_travel_transaction	Attach a transport/lodging expense to a trip.
delete	pay_travel_declaration	Pay and post at the trip end-date FX rate.
delete	unlink_travel_transaction	Remove a transaction link.
delete	delete_travel_declaration	Hard-delete a draft declaration.

Contacts

Customers, suppliers and employees.

read	list_contacts	Contacts by type, active flag or text.
read	get_contact	One contact.
write	create_contact	Add a customer / supplier / employee.
write	update_contact	Edit contact fields.
delete	delete_contact	Hard-delete a contact.

Bank & reconciliation

Bank/cash accounts, balances and statement-to-ledger reconciliation.

read	list_bank_accounts	All bank / cash accounts.
read	get_bank_account	One account.
read	get_bank_account_balance	Current balance.
read	get_bank_reconciliation	Unmatched statement vs journal lines.
write	create_bank_account	Create an account.
write	update_bank_account	Edit account details.
write	match_bank_transaction	Pair a statement line to an entry.
write	auto_match_bank_transactions	Auto-match by amount and date.
write	complete_bank_reconciliation	Finalise a reconciliation.
delete	delete_bank_account	Delete an empty account.
delete	unmatch_bank_transaction	Undo a match.

Documents

Receipts and attachments linked to journal entries (export & bulk download).

read	get_document	Document metadata.
read	list_transaction_documents	Documents linked to an entry.
read	export_documents	List / ZIP-export attachments with download URLs.
write	attach_document_to_transaction	Link a document to an entry.
delete	delete_document	Hard-delete a document.

Recurring transactions

Templates that generate repeating entries on a schedule.

Pro

read	list_recurring	Recurring templates.
read	get_recurring	One template.
read	list_upcoming_recurring	Templates due within N days.
write	create_recurring	Create a template.
write	update_recurring	Edit a template.
write	generate_recurring	Generate the next entry now.
delete	delete_recurring	Delete a template.

Projects

Cost & revenue tracking and profitability per project.

Enterprise

read	list_projects	Projects by status.
read	get_project	One project.
read	get_project_profitability	Revenue, cost and margin.
write	create_project	Create a project.
write	update_project	Edit a project.
delete	delete_project	Delete a project.

Fixed assets

Asset register, depreciation booking and disposals.

Enterprise

read	list_assets	Assets by category / status.
read	get_asset	One asset with its depreciation schedule.
write	create_asset	Register an asset.
write	update_asset	Edit an asset.
delete	book_asset_depreciation	Post a month’s depreciation.
delete	dispose_asset	Sell or scrap an asset.
delete	delete_asset	Delete an asset.

Budgets

Budgets and budget-vs-actual analysis.

Enterprise

read	list_budgets	All budgets.
read	get_budget	One budget with monthly lines.
read	get_budget_vs_actual	Budget vs actual for a range.
write	create_budget	Create a budget.
write	update_budget	Edit a budget.
write	upsert_budget_lines	Insert / update monthly lines.
delete	delete_budget	Delete a budget.

Payroll

Employees, monthly payroll runs and payslips with Mauritius statutory (PAYE / CSG / NSF) and MRA remittance.

Enterprise

read	list_employees	Employees, optionally with balance.
read	get_employee	One employee with salary structure.
read	get_employee_balance	Net owed to / by an employee.
read	list_employee_ledger	Journal lines posted to an employee.
read	list_payroll_runs	Monthly runs.
read	get_payroll_run	One run with payslips + MRA summary.
read	list_payslips	Payslips by month / status / employee.
read	get_payslip	One payslip with all lines.
read	get_payslip_pdf	Signed download of the official PDF.
write	create_employee	Hire an employee.
write	update_employee	Change role / salary.
write	create_payroll_run	Draft a monthly run (auto-generates slips).
write	create_payslip	Free-form payslip (auto-posts the entry).
delete	process_payroll_run	Post the consolidated payroll entry.
delete	delete_employee	Soft-delete an employee.
delete	delete_payslip	Delete a standalone payslip + its entry.

Companies

For accountants connected to several tenants — switch which company the other tools operate on.

read	list_companies	Companies the connected user can access.
read	set_active_company	Switch the active company for subsequent calls.

Composite tools (recipes)

Four tools collapse a common multi-step flow into one call, with compensation semantics so a half-finished workflow never corrupts your books. Prefer them over manual sequences.

record_paid_invoice

create_invoice → send_invoice → record_invoice_payment, in one call. Stops after sending if you omit the payment.

process_expense_report

create → submit → approve → pay a note de frais, with optional receipt attachments. Stops at the stage you ask for.

import_bank_and_reconcile

Auto-match a statement, then complete the reconciliation if everything matched — otherwise returns the leftovers.

record_expense_with_receipt

create_expense + attach an existing document, in one call.

Plans & quotas

Every tools/call — read or write — consumes one unit of the monthly MCP allowance. A tier-gated or exhausted call returns -32603 with the tier that unlocks it.

Plan	MCP calls	Access
Free	100 / month	Read tools only
Basic	2,000 / month	Read + standard write
Pro	20,000 / month	Basic + recurring templates
Enterprise	Unlimited	Everything (+ assets, budgets, projects, payroll)

Case studies — doing real accounting with AI

Six concrete ways people run and pilot their company with Qontab + an AI assistant. Each shows what you say, and which tools fire behind the scenes.

Close the month from your chat window

Founder · solo / no in-house accountant

“It’s the end of June. Reconcile my main EUR account against the statement I just uploaded, then give me the P&L and balance sheet for the fiscal year.”

import_bank_and_reconcile auto-matches the statement; anything left over comes back for you to confirm with match_bank_transaction. Then get_profit_loss and get_balance_sheet render the two statements — already in your base currency, FX resolved at each entry’s date.

import_bank_and_reconcileget_profit_lossget_balance_sheet

Invoice a client and get paid — one sentence

Freelancer / agency

“Invoice Acme Corp €4,500 for May consulting, VAT 15%, then mark it paid into my Revolut account on the 3rd.”

The composite record_paid_invoice drafts the invoice, posts it to the GL with the right VAT, and records the payment to the chosen bank — with compensation semantics so you never end up with a paid invoice that has no issuance entry.

record_paid_invoicelist_tax_rateslist_bank_accounts

Process a stack of expense notes with receipts

Operations / office manager

“Here are 8 receipts from the team. Create the expense reports, attach each receipt, approve them and pay them from petty cash.”

process_expense_report runs create → attach → submit → approve → pay for each one, and find_expense_duplicates flags anything that looks like it was already claimed or already on the bank feed (same amount ±2%, within 14 days).

process_expense_reportfind_expense_duplicatespay_expense_report

Run Mauritius payroll and see what you owe the MRA

SME with staff in Mauritius

“Draft the June payroll run for all active employees, then tell me the PAYE, CSG and NSF I have to remit this month.”

create_payroll_run generates each payslip from the salary structure and Mauritius statutory rules; get_payroll_run returns the consolidated MRA summary (PAYE / CSG / NSF) so you know the remittance before you process_payroll_run.

create_payroll_runget_payroll_runprocess_payroll_run

Pilot the business, not just the books

Director / CFO

“Compare this quarter’s revenue and margin to budget, show me the three projects eating the most cost, and which customers still owe me money.”

get_budget_vs_actual, get_project_profitability and list_invoices (filtered to unpaid) turn the ledger into a management dashboard you can interrogate conversationally — no report builder, no spreadsheet export.

get_budget_vs_actualget_project_profitabilitylist_invoices

Let your accountant work across all their clients

External accountant / bookkeeper

“Switch to Beta Ltd, post the supplier invoices I’m pasting, then switch back to Acme and pull its trial balance.”

list_companies and set_active_company let one connected user move between every tenant they’re a member of, so an accountant runs all their clients’ books from a single AI session over OAuth.

list_companiesset_active_companyget_trial_balance

Error handling

JSON-RPC code	Meaning
-32602	Validation failed — the payload didn’t match the tool’s schema (data.issues lists why).
-32604	Insufficient scope — a write tool was called with a read-only key.
-32605	Role denied — your RBAC role can’t perform this action.
-32603	Plan/quota/feature — tier too low or monthly allowance exhausted (data.upgradeRequired names the tier). Surface it as an upgrade prompt; don’t retry.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Qontab MCP connector?

It is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that exposes 126 tools over your Qontab books. Any MCP-compatible AI assistant — Claude Desktop, Claude.ai, Claude Code, Cursor, and others — can connect to it and read or write your double-entry accounting in plain language, while every action is still validated, scoped and quota-limited server-side.

Which AI clients can connect to Qontab?

Any client that speaks remote MCP over streamable HTTP. Because Qontab supports OAuth 2.1, that includes ChatGPT (OpenAI) custom connectors, Claude.ai, Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor, VS Code (GitHub Copilot agent mode), Windsurf, and others. Bearer API keys also work everywhere a key can be pasted.

Is it safe to give an AI write access to my accounting?

Read and write are separate scopes. A read key can never mutate anything. Write tools require a read_write key (or the qontab:write OAuth scope), destructive tools are flagged so your client asks before calling them, and composite tools roll earlier steps back if a later one fails. Every call is also RBAC-checked and quota-limited.

Does it cost extra?

No separate add-on. MCP calls draw on a monthly allowance tied to your plan: 100 on Free, 2,000 on Basic, 20,000 on Pro, and unlimited on Enterprise. Write access requires a paid plan; advanced domains (assets, budgets, projects, payroll) require Enterprise.

How is multi-currency handled?

Foreign-currency amounts are resolved to your base currency at each entry’s date using historical FX rates. create_transfer can auto-convert across currencies, and recompute_fx_rates re-resolves the rates on demand.

Point your AI at your books

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