Do you worry that the benefits of outsourced accounting services will be offset by your bookkeeper being off-site? While it's true that you can't walk down the hallway to talk to him or her, is having your accounting department within walking distance truly the goal of your accounting?
In most cases, what you really want is the most efficient way to get the task done. Outsourced bookkeeping and controller services provide several advantages that could get you even more connected to your accounting department than if you were sitting right next to it.
Streamlining Communication
When you walk down the hallway for an informal chat or to pose a simple financial quesiton, the interaction often never happens. The bookkeeper might have stepped out for coffee, be on the phone or be in the middle of an important task that cannot be paused. When he tries to get back to you, you might be unavailable for the same reasons. This wastes time and lowers your productivity. With outsourced accounting services, a clear communication process eliminates time-wasting and keeps everyone on task.
Most communication is done over email or instant messaging applications, so you can send messages when you're ready without worrying your accountant being available. For situations that can't be resolved over email, video and phone meetings combined with meticulous note taking and follow up reporting cover all your bases and more.
Having Instant Access to Reports
Many requests to the accounting department are to run a report that gives a specific set of numbers. To get the numbers, you once again have to catch the accountant when he's available and then wait for him to generate your report. This happens every time you need an updated version of the report.
With online accounting, financial dashboards, and virtual file rooms, your data is available at any time. Most reports can be generated instantly. If you need a different kind of report, you can request a new report template so you can quickly access that report in the future.
Turning Delegation Into Processes
You also spend a lot of time with your accounting department going over to-do lists and deadlines. Depending on your organizational structure, this could be an informal meeting or a scheduled weekly consultation.
Eliminating Company Culture Risks
There is one big benefit to having your accounting department off-site; you don't need to worry about hiring for cultural fit. The typical personality of an accountant may be very different from other workers in your industry. Instead of trying to find the one qualified person who gels perfectly with your office and worrying about keeping him, you just need to select the right outsourced accounting service to serve your needs.
Freeing Up Accounting Staff
Outsourcing isn't about laying off or pushing out your existing accounting staff. Instead, you're giving them time to get more involved in your company.
Rather than spending nearly all of their time on routine tasks, they have a chance to be more involved in day-to-day operations, administrative and managerial decisions. This lets you rely on their financial knowledge to improve your efficiency and profit margins.