here’s what you’re looking for: penny breslin

also: how to divide up back office support roles.

by penny breslin
it’s not just the numbers

i’ve developed a series of questions to assess someone’s aptitude for being on a team. each person in your firm who is a possible member of the back office support (bos) team needs to answer these questions. that includes you, as you are a potential team member.

more: build your team, then choose your clients | advisory services done your way | yes, you can be an outsourcer | how back office support adds value | ai is not your enemy
exclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

ask others in your firm or people you work with outside your firm to give you feedback on these questions as they see you and the other potential members of your team. their responses will give you a second filtering of your potential as well as others you would like on your team. notice these are not questions relating to the competencies in accounting functions. the assumption is that you and your people already possess those skills.
read more →

five aspects critical to success … and they’re not accounting.

by penny breslin
it’s not just the numbers

before you can build back office support (bos) practice, you need to assess what kind of team you already have. let’s look at two similar and at the same time, uniquely different accounting and tax businesses who contacted me for help in outsourcing some of their bookkeeping.

more: advisory services done your way | yes, you can be an outsourcer | how back office support adds value | ai is not your enemy
exclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

both businesses have multiple offices; both have multi-partner owners; both do taxes, accounting and bookkeeping; and both list client advisory services. both have ownership and employees of a similar age. both exist along the same coast. both of these accounting businesses appear successful. one business is full of happy employees, owners and cooperative clients. the other business has the word no figuratively imprinted on their front door.
read more →

how to craft a plan to delegate, partner and outsource.

by penny breslin
it’s not just the numbers

back office support for the accounting firm defines you and your firm. are you servicing clients who are part of the past, or are you servicing clients living into the future? remember the new generation of business owners has never owned a filing cabinet, fax machine, landline, printer and turntables (only if they are into retro music!).

more: yes, you can be an outsourcer | how back office support adds value | ai is not your enemy
exclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

the diagram above is how i think about “advisory services.” the traditional role of an accountant has been as steward and operator. if you’re happy there, then that’s ok, this post will help you streamline your processes and technology to deliver these services more efficiently and profitably. and if you want to move into higher valued (and higher paying!) work and play a role in transforming your clients’ businesses, and play the role of strategist and catalyst, then we’ll show you how.
read more →

how bos work lets companies focus on what they do best.

by penny breslin
it’s not just the numbers

what do you want to do for your clients? define it, implement it in yourself and build a team that wants to be a part of your defined image. watch it grow, and adapt it to the changing times.

more: how back office support adds value | ai is not your enemy
exclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

added knowledge and insights assist the client in taking future action on sustainability and growth of their company. cooperation between the client, the account manager and the cloud ai makes this work in order to provide the space for advisory.
read more →

bonus: a case study of how not to do things.

by penny breslin
it’s not just the numbers

accounting businesses have historically provided a range of “after-the-fact” compliance services including year-end accounting and tax return preparation. many firms also provide “write-up” services, which involve the recording of business transactions based on documents generated by the client, such as invoices, checks, deposit slips and documents provided by third parties, such as bank statements and payroll reports. write-up work is typically done once a month, after the fact.

more: ai is not your enemy
exclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

today, major innovations in technology are giving accountants the opportunity to expand their services and to provide much more comprehensive, timely and useful information to their clients.
read more →

eight steps to take.

by penny breslin
it’s not just the numbers

moving from compliance to reliance services is not an easy task. if you are feeling a bit overwhelmed at this point, that’s okay. however, the joy of offering back office support (bos) services and working closely with clients to help them meet their goals is well worth the effort. having a strong team, clear procedures and technology that works for you are the building blocks that allow you to succeed in this endeavor.

more: make cybersecurity a client service option | how to safeguard client information | three demos: pricing your value add | procedures require regular revisiting | why federated search matters | tips for getting clients started on bos | the best tech for your team and clients | marketing? know your goals first | eight things to stop doing now
exclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

the next layer is the clients – meeting with them, working with them and setting up the procedures to ensure that you are truly their advisor. when you carefully select your clients, take the time to understand their needs and goals, and hold them to a paperless work environment, both your team and clients will reap the rewards.
read more →

five areas of information security to cover.

by penny breslin
it’s not just the numbers

your clients trust you with their information; however, in today’s world, where sensitive information can be compromised and distributed, clients want assurance that their information is safe and that you are protecting them from identity theft.

more: how to create effective communication systems | start every engagement with an sla | get the most out of your client meeting | why you need standard naming conventions | how to develop internal procedures | proper workflow demands consistency | workflow tools can deepen client relationships
exclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

although certain state laws (check with your state); federal laws such as gramm-leach-bliley (glb), which covers individual privacy disclosures; and the aicpa rules of ethics do provide some protection, we recommend that as the trusted business advisor, you should disclose to your clients how you:

• safeguard their information in your office and on your servers
• securely transmit sensitive data
• closely supervise access to authorized parties only

read more →

technology makes communication easy – if you let it.

by penny breslin
it’s not just the numbers

open and clear communication is essential when you provide back office support (bos) services. you cannot take on this type of work and not stay on top of it. previous examples have shown what happens when you do it right. here’s what happens when you don’t.

more: start every engagement with an sla | three demos: pricing your value add | set expectations with an anticipatory set | get the most out of your client meeting | why bos calls for flat rates | four steps for controlling source documents
exclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

case study: when you don’t keep up your side of the agreement

a cpa wanting to provide bos services to his clients contacted us to help with the first setup. the software of choice by the business owner was quickbooks.
read more →

you may want someone dedicated to onboarding.

by penny breslin
it’s not just the numbers

once you have signed all the agreements and uploaded initial documents for back office support, your bookkeeper manager (bkm) steps in to connect with the client. the bkm should be on-site for one to five days depending on the size and needs of the client. at that time, the bkm obtains more documents and access points. the information is digitally stored while the bkm is on-site so that the full team has access immediately.

more: start every engagement with an sla | three demos: pricing your value add | set expectations with an anticipatory set | get the most out of your client meeting | why bos calls for flat rates | four steps for controlling source documents | why you need standard naming conventions | procedures require regular revisiting
exclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

caveat: being on site is not necessary. during the covid-19 pandemic, many firms went virtual. here’s a story from five years before covid-19 that shows that virtual onboarding works just fine.
read more →

bonus: an sla sample checklist.

by penny breslin
it’s not just the numbers

anytime there is a business relationship between entities, expect to see a contract or some form of written agreement. in outsourcing, as in many other relationships, this is called a service level agreement (sla). this agreement is used to establish the scope of the engagement. it clearly states who is responsible for what, when, where and how. it provides a quid pro quo that you can verify with the business owner(s), so that both parties are fully aware of their obligations.

more: three demos: pricing your value add | set expectations with an anticipatory set | four steps for controlling source documents | how to use onenote to create a firm playbook | how to develop procedures for bos | top tech tools for building your new bos business | choose your little black dress of technology | pick your favorite clients | keep the accountants focused on accounting | what do you want advisory services to be?
exclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

the important thing is to go through each function and each area with the business owners(s), have them read it with you together and check off each item so that they are clear on what you expect from them, and so you are clear on what deliverables you are promising.
read more →