29 September 2026 · 3 min · Custom Odoo
Sending Odoo entries to your accountant (FEC, Quadra, Sage)
To send your Odoo entries to your accountant, export them every month in the format their software imports (Quadra, Sage 100, ACD, Cegid, EBP, or the FEC by default), attach the invoice PDFs, and check accounts, journals, VAT and balanced entries before each export. This is the most common setup in SMEs using Odoo Community in France: invoicing in Odoo, accounting at the firm. Here is how to make it smooth.
The typical setup
You create quotes, invoices and purchases in Odoo. Your accountant keeps the books, files VAT and prepares the annual accounts in their own software. Every month, entries must be sent — and that is where things go wrong: incomplete exports, mismatched accounts, re-typing.
The FEC: France’s legal file
The FEC (fichier des écritures comptables) is a standardised text file that any French company with computerised accounting must be able to hand to the tax authorities during an audit. Odoo can produce it with the French localisation, depending on version and edition. It can serve as an exchange format, but some accounting packages import it partially, it carries no attachments, and sub-ledger accounts must match the firm’s chart.
Accounting firms’ formats
| Firm’s software | Usual format |
|---|---|
| Quadra (Cegid Quadra) | Fixed-width ASCII file |
| Sage 100 | Configurable import file |
| ACD | Proprietary import format |
| Cegid Loop | Proprietary import format |
| EBP | Configured text or CSV file |
| Others | CSV following a template provided by the firm |
The slightest mismatch (field length, date format, sign of amounts) makes the import fail — hence the value of an export built for each format.
Checks before every export
- All invoices are posted (no forgotten drafts).
- Each entry is balanced (debit = credit).
- Accounts match the firm’s chart, including sub-ledgers.
- VAT codes match the rates (including reverse charge).
- No duplicates: a supplier bill entered twice.
- Numbering is continuous.
- The period is correct and has not been sent already.
The Accountant Bridge
We built and published the Accountant Bridge on the official store for Odoo 18, 19 and 20. It exports entries as FEC, Quadra, Sage 100, ACD, Cegid Loop, EBP or CSV, attaches invoice PDFs, runs the checks before sending and flags anomalies, keeps the history of exported periods to avoid duplicates, and can send directly to the firm. See it with our other Odoo apps.
Account mapping
The trickiest point is often the chart of accounts: the firm uses per-customer accounts where Odoo has a general receivable account. Settle it once with the firm: identical general accounts or a mapping table, customer and supplier sub-ledgers generated by the firm’s rule, and journals with the expected codes. One hour with the firm at the start saves hours every month.
And e-invoicing?
With France’s reform, sales and purchase invoices will flow through approved platforms, which can make them available to the firm too. The accounting export remains useful for entries, payments and miscellaneous operations. See e-invoicing with Odoo.
In short
A format suited to the firm’s software, systematic checks, PDFs attached, a monthly export: a chore becomes a five-minute routine. See also Odoo Community vs Enterprise and automatic Odoo backups. Need a specific format? We build Odoo connectors: contact us.
FAQ
Is the FEC enough for my accountant?
Sometimes. The FEC contains all entries, but some accounting packages import it poorly or lose information (attachments, analytic codes). Ask your firm which format it prefers.
Should I send invoice PDFs as well?
Accountants appreciate it: they can justify each entry without asking you for documents. Ideally, send a batch of PDFs named by invoice number with the entries file.
How often should I export?
Monthly, ideally, or at the pace of your VAT returns. A monthly export avoids year-end catch-up and lets the firm warn you early.
Sources
Mohamed Rahmouni — founder of Ramira, app developer and Odoo consultant in Niort, France. More