To ensure your business is run like a well-oiled machine, you need to look into improving your business’s workflow and efficiency. A workflow system that is effective can completely transform how productive your team is on a daily basis, as well as improve staff communication and turnaround times. Improving your workflow involves creating systems for tasks that are done on a regular basis to prevent your staff from wasting time and energy – which will impact your bottom line.
Here’s what you need to consider to improve workflow in your accounting firm:
Systems and Accessibility
There are a number of ways to do this, either by using software, apps or spreadsheets specifically for this purpose. Make sure that whichever method you choose is accessible on a variety of devices, is user-friendly, saves automatically and can be shared between multiple people. A system that allows clients to be sent emails, invoices or billable hours based on the information submitted by the staff could also be a helpful tool to increase productivity in an accounting firm.
Task Management
A member of staff from being allocated the duty of managing the workflow may be essential to task management in an accounting firm. If there is no one available, a management consultant will add value to the team, save time, maximise efficiency and keep the staff focused. They will be able to identify the critical elements of each job and keep each job flowing systematically and logically.
Delegation
Once your workflow is starting to take shape and you’re beginning to see results, take the time to figure out how delegation will work best with your team. Do they appreciate micromanagement? Can they work unsupervised on a daily basis using the workflow system alone? Another helpful option is to consider time-keeping as a method of practising efficiency and task management. How much work can your staff accomplish in the average working day?
Communication
Clear communication is a critical aspect of management to ensure everyone is on the same page and knows exactly what their role is in both the company and each project your team tackles. Be specific and consistent in what is expected for each job so that your staff members have a clear understanding of how to proceed.
In time, the improved workflow will save your firm time and money, and your team will be operating at maximum efficiency. If you need expert advice and guidance on implementing an effective workflow system, please contact me. We offer management services for accountants Melbourne wide.
