The verdict in three sentences
The accountant doesn't want screenshots or PDFs: they want a structured file with date, reference, gross amount, fees and net, column by column. A badly formatted export wastes 3 to 5 hours of re-keying a month and distorts VAT (18 % in Senegal). In 2026 best practice is a scheduled export, mapped once to your chart of accounts, then imported automatically.
The columns your accountant expects
A usable export always separates gross, fees and net. That separation is what lets you compute VAT and reconcile entries without re-keying. An export that only gives the net is useless for accounting.
| Column | Content | Why it's essential |
|---|---|---|
| Date/time | Transaction timestamp | Assigning to the right period |
| Reference | Unique identifier | Matching with the order |
| Gross amount | Paid by the customer | Revenue base |
| Operator fees | Platform commission | Deductible expense |
| Net amount | Actually received | Cash-flow control |
| Type | Sale / refund | Direction of the entry |
| Status | Success / failure | Exclude failures |
Wave vs Paystack: what the exports give you
Platforms don't all export the same way. Wave is strong on local mobile money; Paystack, widely used in Nigeria and expanding across West Africa, offers rich API exports. The common thread: you must map their columns to your chart of accounts.
| Criterion | Wave | Paystack |
|---|---|---|
| Native CSV export | Yes | Yes |
| API export | Yes | Yes (full) |
| Per-line fee detail | Yes | Yes |
| Main currency | FCFA | NGN / multi |
| Schedulable frequency | Manual + API | Schedulable API |
| Custom reference field | Yes | Yes |
Typical mapping to the chart of accounts
| Export data | Ledger account (SYSCOHADA example) |
|---|---|
| Gross sale amount | 701 — Sales of goods |
| VAT collected (18 %) | 443 — State, VAT charged |
| Operator fees | 627 — Banking services |
| Net collected | 521 — Bank / 585 — mobile money |
| Refund | 709 — Rebates, discounts |
Mini case study
Modou sells sports equipment online in Dakar, about 800 transactions/month on Wave/Paystack. His accountant re-keyed everything from a PDF: 4 hours/month at 3,500 FCFA/hour, i.e. 14,000 FCFA, with regular VAT errors. Switching to a mapped CSV export imported automatically, re-keying drops to 20 minutes of review (~1,200 FCFA) and 18 % VAT is rebuilt exactly from the gross. Savings: about 12,800 FCFA/month and sharply lower tax risk.
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
FAQ
Why not just give the accountant the net amount?
Because without gross and fees separated, you can't compute collected VAT or book fees as a deductible expense. Net alone distorts declared revenue.
Can the export be fully automated?
Yes, via the API: a scheduled job pulls transactions each night and feeds the accounting software. No manual handling after setup.
Can Wave and Paystack be handled together?
Yes. We unify both exports into a single pivot format, then to the chart of accounts. Useful for a merchant operating in Senegal and Nigeria.
How is Senegalese 18 % VAT handled?
From the gross amount, we isolate collected VAT (gross / 1.18 × 0.18) and the net-of-tax base. It's only reliable if the export provides per-line gross.
How long to set up the mapping?
One to two days: define the columns, map to the SYSCOHADA chart of accounts, test on a month. After that it's automatic.
Let's talk about your project. We set up your automated accounting export for Wave and Paystack, mapped to your chart of accounts. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.