The routine of an accounting office does not need to be so bureaucratic, much less represent an obstacle to growth. Today, it is perfectly possible to adopt some management practices in search of a more efficient and productive environment, generating good results in a permanent and even predictable way.
These actions help to organize the bureaucracy and paperwork that we all know is part of the routine of an accounting office. Furthermore, these practices facilitate an overview of the day's tasks and measurement of productivity and wasted time, in addition to giving the team reasons to work with more dedication and commitment.
If you are looking for more productivity in your office, check out some practices and see how they can help you manage resources in your accounting office more efficiently.
1. Create a financial plan and monitor the results
No action has a real chance of working if it is not properly planned. This happens especially when we deal with bureaucratic issues, as is the case with an accounting office.
Therefore, the first management practice you should adopt is financial planning. After all, it is from there that you can think about the growth of your office in a more controlled way. Be sure to set goals and evaluate the time you think is necessary to achieve them. Don't forget to estimate the expenses that will be incurred, as well as the receipts.
By determining deadlines to achieve your objectives, you will be able to have a more precise view of the path to be taken to achieve your goals, which will allow for more precise interventions whenever necessary.
Accurate control of all income and expenses is also essential. For this control, a good alternative is to use online financial management services, in this article we list some good options .
2. Manage your team's productivity
When looking for employees to join your team, try to analyze the candidates' experiences and evaluate the profile of each of them depending on the nature of your business. It is important that there is compatibility to avoid difficulty in adapting. This measure eliminates the need for the process to be carried out again, ensuring cost savings.
This compatibility will also be fundamental in assembling a team capable of working towards the same office objectives. Therefore, be sure to work with feedback and pay special attention to complaints, suggestions and compliments. Also try to create satisfaction reports and schedule meetings whenever necessary. It is important to keep a team focused and motivated at all times.
Aiming for improvement, there is nothing better than investing in training and training your employees. This way, you can motivate these professionals to produce more and keep them up to date with new practices developed from technological innovations.
In order to ensure increased productivity, set goals for the team. This way, you measure the office's performance as a whole and have a parameter to intervene in problematic sectors. Set clear, objective and achievable goals: do not demand the impossible, as this can have a very demotivating effect.
You can use this management practice when comparing different periods. In the long term, it offers very useful parameters that contribute to more assertive decision-making.
3. Prioritize customer service
To ensure customer loyalty, the best thing to do is to offer relevant and efficient service, which provides necessary information and solves customer needs. To do this, be sure to invest in quality service, with communication channels and a specific, well-trained team to provide this support. Don't ignore the potential of social media. With Social Media work, for example, you can use services like Facebook and Twitter to provide clarifications and answer questions in real time.
This is a good way to acquire and cultivate good customers, something that will be significant for the evolution of the business. Receiving a quality service, security and attention, your client will hardly have any reason to look for another accounting firm.
4. Invest in technologies and tools for your office
To optimize internal office procedures, be sure to count on the help of technology resources. Some of them allow you and your team to automate most processes and produce more in less time.
Consider adopting accounting management software and even smartphone apps. Use task management tools to make managing yourself and your team easier.
Another important point is the lack of focus and waste of time among employees, especially on the internet. To avoid problems with this, the best measure is to use a service that allows the management of internet access , with the possibility of defining rules for internet use, avoiding access to websites outside the scope of work.
This means that, using the right tools, it is possible not only to better manage day-to-day tasks, but also to transform management into a differentiator in your accounting office. Furthermore, this way the customer will see in your care for the internal structure of the business and agility in responses something that they will not find so easily in the competition.
5. Make sure your team is up to date
Likewise, nothing can be worse for your team's credibility than not knowing how to deal with a certain resource or clarifying your customers about certain information or needs. In addition to compromising your employees, this can harm the office as a whole, as this will certainly be a good reason for the client to look for other, more qualified services.
With constant changes in legislation and new technological resources that emerge, it is essential to always be up to date with the latest developments. Therefore, updating the team is essential, both to deal with innovations in a qualified manner, and to transmit the necessary security to clients, given the peculiarities of the accounting service, which we know how complex it is in our country.
6. Define specific roles and responsibilities
Regardless of the size of your office, it is important that your team's duties and responsibilities are distributed clearly and functionally among employees. To do this, it is recommended to create a simple document describing all the functions, tasks to be performed and responsibilities of each professional within your team.
Establishing a clear hierarchy is also important, defining who each employee should report to in each situation and which team members are responsible for managing tasks, making decisions and, consequently, responsibilities in relation to the activities and results to be delivered.
7. Focus on your target market
The corporate accounting market is very vast and broad, with countless different segments and areas of activity for companies. Where each area has its peculiarities in the complex Brazilian accounting legislation.
Of course, in your accounting office you can serve both individual entrepreneurs and companies from different segments and institutions, such as industries or educational institutions.
However, in order not to compromise your results and the excellence of the service provided, it is important that you choose your clients according to the profile of your office and the qualifications of your team. If you happen to want to take a risk and serve as many segments as possible, it is recommended to avoid large companies that may require high complexity for the services to be provided.
The objective of the article is to address improvements and good management practices for your accounting office. If you already follow some of these practices, share your experience with us in the comments!