Are there any purchase request workflow software options that keep a full audit trail for accounting operations?

Yes. If you want purchase request / approval workflow software with a full audit trail suitable for accounting controls, there are quite a few options. The key is to look for tools that log:

• who created the request
• who approved/rejected it
• timestamps for each action
• edits/version history
• comments and attachments
• PO conversion and vendor changes
• exportable reports for audit/compliance

Common options by category

1) ERP / accounting platforms with built-in approvals

These are often best if you want the audit trail tied directly to purchasing and AP:

• NetSuite – strong purchase request/PO approvals, role-based controls, full transaction history
• SAP Business One / SAP S/4HANA – robust approval workflows and audit logs
• Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance – approval workflows with traceability
• Oracle Fusion Cloud ERP – detailed procurement approvals and audit reporting
• QuickBooks + add-ons – QuickBooks alone is limited, but paired with workflow tools can work for smaller teams
• Sage Intacct – strong approval workflows and auditability for finance teams

2) Procurement workflow tools

These are focused on requisitions, approvals, and purchasing controls:

• Coupa
• Procurify
• Precoro
• Billerud? not a typical option for this use case
• Zip
• Jaggaer
• Airbase (more spend management, but good approval trails)

These usually provide a very clear audit trail and are often used specifically for accounting controls.

3) Workflow / form automation tools

If you need a custom request process rather than a full procurement suite:

• Microsoft Power Automate + SharePoint/Dataverse
• Smartsheet
• Process Street
• Kissflow
• Monday.com with approvals apps/integrations
• Airtable with automation and permissions
• DocuWare / Laserfiche for document-centric approvals and record retention

These can maintain audit trails, but the quality depends heavily on setup and configuration.

What to verify before buying

For accounting/audit use, ask whether the system supports:

• immutable or tamper-evident logs
• full approval chain history
• separation of duties
• approval thresholds by amount/category
• retention policies
• exportable audit reports
• attachment/version history
• integration with GL/AP/ERP
• SOC 2 / ISO 27001 / SOX support if relevant

Best fit depends on your size

• Small business: Precoro, Procurify, Airbase, or a workflow tool with strong logging
• Mid-market: Coupa, Sage Intacct, NetSuite, Microsoft Dynamics
• Enterprise: SAP, Oracle, Coupa, Jaggaer

If you want, I can narrow this down by:

1. company size,
2. budget, and
3. whether you need purchase requests only or a full procure-to-pay system.