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Automate SEC Monitoring with n8n

n8n is an open-source workflow automation tool you can self-host or run in the cloud. In this tutorial you will wire an n8n webhook node to the OMNI Datastream API so that every time an 8-K filing is published for a watchlist of companies, n8n extracts the key data and posts a summary to a Slack channel.

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Prerequisites

  • An Omni Datastream API key (set as OMNI_DATASTREAM_API_KEY)
  • An n8n instance (self-hosted or n8n Cloud)
  • A Slack workspace with an incoming webhook URL or the n8n Slack credential configured
  • (Optional) Familiarity with the Build a Filing Monitor tutorial

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Architecture overview

EDGAR filing published
        |
        v
OMNI Datastream monitor (8-K filings, watchlist tickers)
        |
        v
Webhook POST --> n8n Webhook node
        |
        v
n8n Function node (extract key data)
        |
        v
n8n Slack node (post formatted alert)

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Step 1 --- Create the n8n webhook node

  1. Open your n8n instance and create a new workflow.
  2. Add a Webhook node as the trigger.
  3. Set HTTP Method to POST.
  4. Set Path to omni-filings (or any path you prefer).
  5. Under Authentication, select None for now (you will add signature verification in Step 4).
  6. Click Listen for Test Event to put the node in listening mode. Copy the Test URL --- you will need it in the next step.
The test URL looks like: 
https://your-n8n.example.com/webhook-test/omni-filings
Once the workflow is active, use the Production URL instead: 
https://your-n8n.example.com/webhook/omni-filings

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Step 2 --- Register the webhook with OMNI Datastream

Point the OMNI Datastream monitor at your n8n webhook URL.

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Create a webhook endpoint

curl -X POST \
  -H "x-api-key: $OMNI_DATASTREAM_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "url": "https://your-n8n.example.com/webhook/omni-filings",
    "description": "n8n filing alerts",
    "events": ["filing.new"]
  }' \
  "https://api.secapi.ai/v1/webhook_endpoints"
Save the returned signing_secret --- you will use it to verify payloads.

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Create a filing monitor

curl -X POST \
  -H "x-api-key: $OMNI_DATASTREAM_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "name": "n8n 8-K Watchlist",
    "form_types": ["8-K", "8-K/A"],
    "tickers": ["AAPL", "MSFT", "NVDA", "TSLA", "AMZN"],
    "webhook_endpoint_id": "we_abc123"
  }' \
  "https://api.secapi.ai/v1/monitors"
Replace we_abc123 with the endpoint ID from the previous response.

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Step 3 --- Extract filing data with a Function node

Add a Function node after the Webhook node. This node parses the incoming payload and prepares a clean object for Slack. Paste this code into the Function node: 
const webhook = $input.first().json;
const filing = webhook.body.data;

const itemDescriptions = {
  "1.01": "Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement",
  "1.02": "Termination of a Material Definitive Agreement",
  "2.01": "Completion of Acquisition or Disposition of Assets",
  "2.02": "Results of Operations and Financial Condition",
  "2.05": "Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities",
  "5.02": "Departure/Election of Directors or Officers",
  "7.01": "Regulation FD Disclosure",
  "8.01": "Other Events",
  "9.01": "Financial Statements and Exhibits",
};

const items = (filing.items || [])
  .map((code) => `${code} - ${itemDescriptions[code] || "Other"}`)
  .join("\n");

return [
  {
    json: {
      ticker: filing.ticker,
      company: filing.company_name,
      form: filing.form,
      filed_at: filing.filed_at,
      accession: filing.accession_number,
      items_text: items || "No item codes",
      description: filing.description || "No description",
      edgar_url: `https://www.sec.gov/cgi-bin/browse-edgar?action=getcompany&CIK=${filing.ticker}&type=8-K&dateb=&owner=include&count=10`,
    },
  },
];
Add a second Function node between the Webhook node and the extraction node to verify the OMNI signing secret. If verification fails, the workflow stops. 
const crypto = require("crypto");

const SIGNING_SECRET = "whsec_..."; // Replace with your signing secret
const signature = $input.first().json.headers["x-webhook-signature"];
const body = JSON.stringify($input.first().json.body);

const expected = crypto
  .createHmac("sha256", SIGNING_SECRET)
  .update(body)
  .digest("hex");

if (signature !== expected) {
  throw new Error("Invalid webhook signature");
}

return $input.all();
Tip: Store the signing secret in n8n Credentials (type: Header Auth or a custom credential) instead of hard-coding it.

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Step 5 --- Post to Slack

Add a Slack node after the Function node.
  1. Select Message > Send a Message.
  2. Choose the target channel (e.g., #sec-alerts).
  3. Set the Message Text to:
:page_facing_up: *New {{$json.form}} Filing*
*Company:* {{$json.company}} ({{$json.ticker}})
*Filed:* {{$json.filed_at}}
*Description:* {{$json.description}}
*Items:*
{{$json.items_text}}
*Accession:* `{{$json.accession}}`
  1. Click Execute Node to test (you may need to trigger a test event first).

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Importable n8n workflow JSON

Copy this JSON and import it via Workflow > Import from File in n8n: 
{
  "name": "OMNI SEC Filing Alerts",
  "nodes": [
    {
      "parameters": {
        "httpMethod": "POST",
        "path": "omni-filings",
        "responseMode": "onReceived",
        "responseCode": 200
      },
      "name": "Webhook",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.webhook",
      "typeVersion": 1,
      "position": [250, 300]
    },
    {
      "parameters": {
        "functionCode": "const filing = $input.first().json.body.data;\nconst itemDescriptions = {\"1.01\":\"Entry into Material Agreement\",\"2.02\":\"Results of Operations\",\"5.02\":\"Departure/Election of Officers\",\"7.01\":\"Regulation FD\",\"8.01\":\"Other Events\",\"9.01\":\"Exhibits\"};\nconst items = (filing.items||[]).map(c=>`${c} - ${itemDescriptions[c]||'Other'}`).join('\\n');\nreturn [{json:{ticker:filing.ticker,company:filing.company_name,form:filing.form,filed_at:filing.filed_at,accession:filing.accession_number,items_text:items||'No item codes',description:filing.description||'No description'}}];"
      },
      "name": "Extract Filing Data",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.function",
      "typeVersion": 1,
      "position": [500, 300]
    },
    {
      "parameters": {
        "channel": "#sec-alerts",
        "text": ":page_facing_up: *New {{$json.form}} Filing*\n*Company:* {{$json.company}} ({{$json.ticker}})\n*Filed:* {{$json.filed_at}}\n*Description:* {{$json.description}}\n*Items:*\n{{$json.items_text}}\n*Accession:* `{{$json.accession}}`"
      },
      "name": "Slack Alert",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.slack",
      "typeVersion": 1,
      "position": [750, 300]
    }
  ],
  "connections": {
    "Webhook": {
      "main": [
        [{ "node": "Extract Filing Data", "type": "main", "index": 0 }]
      ]
    },
    "Extract Filing Data": {
      "main": [
        [{ "node": "Slack Alert", "type": "main", "index": 0 }]
      ]
    }
  }
}

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Expected result

When an 8-K filing is published for any ticker in your watchlist, your Slack channel receives a message like: 
:page_facing_up: New 8-K Filing
Company: Apple Inc (AAPL)
Filed: 2024-12-15
Description: Results of Operations and Financial Condition
Items:
2.02 - Results of Operations and Financial Condition
9.01 - Financial Statements and Exhibits
Accession: 0000320193-24-000095

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Troubleshooting

ProblemSolution
n8n webhook never firesMake sure the workflow is active (toggle in top-right). Use the production URL, not the test URL.
401 or signature mismatchVerify you are using the correct signing_secret from the OMNI webhook endpoint.
Slack message is emptyCheck that the Function node output includes all fields (ticker, company, etc.). Run the node in isolation with test data.
Duplicate alertsOMNI retries failed deliveries. Make the workflow idempotent by checking accession_number against a dedup store (e.g., n8n’s built-in static data).
Monitor not triggeringConfirm the monitor is active with GET /v1/monitors. Check that the form_types and tickers match what you expect.

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Next steps

  • Add more channels: Route different form types to different Slack channels using an n8n Switch node.
  • Enrich with intelligence: After receiving a filing event, call the OMNI /v1/intelligence/query endpoint to get an AI summary before posting.
  • Store in a database: Add a Postgres or Airtable node to log every filing for historical analysis.
See the Webhook Stream Workflows guide for advanced webhook patterns.