If outsourcing is the answer, then what is the question?

Richard Brewin • May 10, 2019

Outsourcing has been around for a long time. I remember looking at it as an option back in the late 90’s but the technology was not around to make it work smoothly enough back then. Now, of course, that’s different and I’m seeing more and more firms engaging outsourcing services. I positively welcome the move in the right circumstances.

And that is the key. Outsourcing can work brilliantly providing:

a) It’s answering the right question

and

b) It’s properly managed in the same way you should manage a team member

What is the right question? I would suggest that the most relevant for consideration are:

  • How are we going to resource our current/planned growth?
  • How are we going to replace lost team members in the current recruitment market?
  • Where can we get good production skills from?
  • How do we free up time in the office to better focus on our clients?
  • How do we maximise the efficiencies we can gain from rolling out cloud accounting?

Outsourcing, whether it be payroll, bookkeeping, accounts, tax, even advisory, should be a strategic decision and not simply a response to a work flow peak.

The second aspect, and just as critical, is the management of the process. If you have a team member who you fail to brief, give the wrong jobs, don’t explain your requirements, don’t teach them your systems and fail to give them feedback, then you won’t be surprised when it goes wrong. Outsourcing is no different.

Have a dedicated person responsible for communicating and managing the outsourcers. The quality of work and dedication from the good outsources these days is outstanding but they can’t deliver in the dark. You must actively manage them and let them work with you.

I love the way that outsourcing is freeing up firms to focus on the client experience and develop a more advisory based framework underpinned by cost effective and efficient compliance and support. I believe it to be the way forward for many small firms, but, like every other aspect of your business, you must understand your strategy and manage it effectively.

Go find the right outsourcers for you.

Being proactive is a culture, not a slogan

By Richard Brewin • June 27, 2025
Look at any accounting firm website and there is a fair chance that the word ‘proactive’ will be prominent. Ask some business owners and taxpayers whether they consider their accountant to be proactive.  There is commonly a gap between the two, between the intent of the accountant and the expectations of the client.

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All accountants are the same! We’ve all heard it said. It’s nonsense, of course, but, when you are asked what it is that your firm does that differentiates it from other accounting firms, it can be a challenge to come up with something tangible.  Accounting firms tend to offer similar services, that’s what makes them accounting firms. Differentiating from competitors based upon services provided is therefore an issue.