The Path to Becoming a Process Lead at AccountingDepartment.com

A Process Lead at AccountingDepartment.com plays a crucial role in our Implementation team's support of new client onboarding. Those who occupy this role are people who thrive in a fast-paced environment, enjoy working with a variety of personalities, and possess strong communication skills.

Accuracy, attention to detail, and follow-through are also critical for success in this position.

Key Responsibilities

A Process Lead works closely with the Implementation Team to deliver accurate and timely results for clients in the onboarding phase.

• Perform full-charge bookkeeping services for clients in implementation.
• Oversee and train bookkeeping staff as clients transition out of implementation.
• Provide support, assistance, and reassurance to clients during the onboarding process.
• Serve as a natural problem solver, managing cleanups for new clients to set them up for success.

Importance in Client Service Delivery

The Process Lead ensures that new clients experience a smooth transition by identifying inefficiencies, improving workflows, and implementing best practices.

We often find that many clients have been using outdated accounting processes for years or have other processes in place that may no longer be efficient, and the Process Lead helps them modernize and streamline their operations so that they're ready to succeed with ADC.

Path to the Position

Typical Path-To-Entry Roles

Most Process Leads come from a Senior Accountant on the Implementation Team (SAI) role. Candidates must demonstrate senior-level expertise before moving into this position. This involves successfully working with high-level, larger clients for some time.

Progression Steps

There is no set timeline for promotion into the Process Lead role. Seats typically open as the business grows and more clients or lines of business (such as QBO and NetSuite) come in the door at ADC. Typically, a recommendation from a current supervisor is necessary for advancement from a Senior Accountant Position into the Process Lead role.

Required Skills and Qualifications:

• Strong bookkeeping and accounting experience - which comes with just about any position here at ADC!
• Flexibility to handle evolving processes in a fast-moving environment.
• Problem-solving mindset and ability to think outside the box.
• Strong communication skills to navigate discussions on process improvements.

Success Criteria

Key Performance Indicators

• Meeting onboarding deadlines and ensuring a smooth transition into the client's permanent team.
• Training and supporting accounting staff effectively.
• Successfully managing and resolving client bookkeeping challenges when they sign on.

Essential Soft Skills

• Adaptability: The implementation team works with clients who are often stuck in old processes, making it essential to be open to change.
• Problem-Solving: Many new clients require extensive cleanup and process improvements to align with AccountingDepartment.com's processes and procedures.
• Communication: Keeping an open line of communication and discussing challenges and solutions with colleagues leads to improved client experiences.

Career Growth Opportunities

Potential Next Steps in Career Progression

After serving as a Process Lead, employees can progress to a Project Manager role.

Employee Spotlight - Jasmine

Current Role: Process Lead

Career Journey at AccountingDepartment.com:

Jasmine began her journey at AccountingDepartment.com as an Accountant on the Client Services team. After four years in the role, she found herself craving something new—something that would challenge her and push her to grow. That curiosity led her to apply for a Corporate Trainer position. While she didn’t land the role, the process lit a spark. The positive feedback she received during the interview gave her the confidence and clarity to keep exploring leadership opportunities.

Eager to take the next step, Jasmine joined the Implementation Team as an Accountant. It was there that she discovered her true passion—training others and helping teams succeed. She shared her goals with her Managers, and together they started mapping out a path for her growth within the company.

When a Process Lead role opened up on the Implementation Team, Jasmine knew it was the perfect opportunity. Backed by the support of her Managers and the experience she had built, she stepped into the role and hasn’t looked back. Her story is a great example of how, at AccountingDepartment.com, growth isn’t just encouraged—it’s made possible.

Key Achievements and Contributions:

• Jasmine feels strongly about the progression and growth she has made within AccountingDepartment.com during her time here.
• She really learned how to strengthen the company’s accounting standards while working with the various types of clients that come through the door.

"The only person holding me back is me."

Employee Spotlight - Sam

Current Role: Process Lead

Career Journey at AccountingDepartment.com

Sam began his career at AccountingDepartment.com as an Accountant Assistant on the Client Services side, where he handled accounts payable, payroll, and other essential tasks. From the start, he was clear about his goal of progressing within the company. After just 6-8 months, he was given his own client and steadily worked his way up to the Senior Accountant position.

As he transitioned into his new role, the Implementation Team took notice of Sam’s work ethic and problem-solving skills, suggesting that he might be a great fit for their team. Although an opportunity arose soon after, Sam felt he wasn’t quite ready to make the jump. He stayed with his client for about a year before another opening in Implementation appeared. This time, feeling confident in his growth, he took the leap and successfully applied for the Implementation Accounting Specialist position.

His first two clients were under the Accountant role on the Implementation team, but by the time he took on his third, Sam was given the chance to step into the Process Lead position. Before that client even completed their transition, Sam was officially promoted to Process Lead—a testament to his dedication and ability to lead.

Key Achievements and Contributions

• Sam successfully worked his way up from an Accountant Assistant to Process Lead through continuous learning and hard work.
• He became a trusted member of the Implementation Team, handling onboarding and ensuring smooth transitions for new clients.
• Sam earned the trust of the management team, who recognized his leadership potential and provided him with new growth opportunities.

The Process Lead's Role in Client Service

Process Leads are indispensable problem-solvers who play a critical role in managing financial cleanups, which involve meticulously reviewing and rectifying any discrepancies or inefficiencies in a client's financial records.

They ensure that clients are set up with efficient accounting practices by implementing streamlined processes and modern accounting solutions tailored to each client's unique needs.

This not only helps in maintaining accuracy and compliance but also enhances the overall financial health of the client's business. By doing so, Process Leads contribute significantly to the client's long-term success and satisfaction, fostering a strong foundation for future growth and collaboration.

Team Dynamics

Interaction with Other Roles and Departments

• Implementation Team Internal Interactions: The Implementation team has various levels from the Onboarding Success Manager, Process Lead, and Senior Accountant. Regular collaboration is essential to ensure smooth client transitions and that all team members are on the same page with clients at any point throughout the onboarding process.
• Implementation and Client Services Teams: The handoff from Implementation to Client Services must be seamless. So there is a large amount of interaction between the Implementation Team and the Client Services team during the transition so that the permanent team is up to speed on the client.
• Sales Team: Since clients originate from Sales, coordination is key to setting expectations and preparing for onboarding. Keeping an open line of communication between the Sales Team and the Implementation Team is key when it comes to the initial steps of a successful onboarding.

Collaborative Aspects of the Position

Teamwork is at the heart of this role. The Process Lead ensures all puzzle pieces fit together, guaranteeing a smooth and efficient onboarding experience.

Training and Development

• Internal Programs: AccountingDepartment.com offers employees programs such as the Stewart Leadership LEAP leadership training and other ongoing learning opportunities.
• On-the-Job Training: Exposure to real-world client scenarios ensures hands-on process improvement and problem-solving experience for any role within our company.

Why This Process Lead Matters at ADC

Impact on Company Growth

A dedicated Process Lead plays a pivotal role in helping the company scale efficiently by meticulously streamlining the client onboarding process. This involves not only ensuring that each new client is integrated smoothly and effectively into the company's systems but also maintaining a consistently high standard of service quality throughout the transition.

By implementing best practices and optimizing workflows, the Process Lead ensures that clients receive personalized attention and tailored solutions that meet their specific needs when they come in the door at AccountingDepartment.com. This attention to detail and commitment to excellence not only enhances client satisfaction but also contributes to ADC's reputation for reliability and professionalism, ultimately supporting sustainable growth and long-term success.

How to Apply or Express Interest

The Process Lead position is typically filled by existing ADC employees, so we encourage our staff members to speak with their supervisors if they are interested in growing into a position like this so that they can begin charting out their growth goals and path to achieve them here at AccountingDepartment.com.