The changing landscape on the requirements of business activities may account as to why outsource accounting has become more popular and more beneficial for both large corporations and small businesses. With more global operations and targets, greater compliance regulations, and a myriad of other daily concerns, companies need more efficient and focused daily business models, and outsourcing certain departments or services functions as a pathway to valuable profit increases in several ways.
The Aspen Trust Group identifies why outsource accounting can drive a business forward by taking over tasks such as bookkeeping, payroll, billing and credit control.
What is Outsourcing?
Outsourcing is the practice of using a party outside a company to perform service functions or produce goods that would traditionally be produced inside the company. Outsourcing can be done at all levels of a business, whether for customer support or accounting services. In doing so, a company can focus on its core operations and areas of their business while leaving back office operations to outside service or products providers.
Internationally acclaimed companies also use outsourcing to maintain flexible, effective business operations across borders and account for the diverse requirements and varying production or labor costs of multiple jurisdictions.
The Drive to Outsource
The biggest push for using outside partners to perform routine tasks comes down to saving time and money for most businesses. For large corporations, especially ones with a global presence, outsourcing improves their employees’ ability to stay connected with the most essential core of their business model.
In 2019, the outsourcing market amounted to 92.5 billion USD worldwide. As internal resources become freed for other purposes, small businesses can yield more productive and efficient results, which is why outsource accounting, in particular is a thriving sector of the market. More importantly, companies of any size can save on labor costs as well as equipment or technology expenses in-house.
According to Clutch, one-third of small businesses outsource some aspect of their business and more than half of small business owners plan to do so in the future. The largest areas of outsourcing are accounting, payroll, digital marketing, and IT services.
The Aim for Better Business Models
The 20th-century business model encouraged the formation of large, all-inclusive business functions that allowed companies to retain control over all aspects of doing business and handling their assets. As a result, when the concept of diversification arose, many companies were too large or “bloated” to be able to remain competitive.
In 1989, the idea of outsourcing emerged as a flexible and creative solution to the overarching self-sufficiency model of business. Some of the first companies to use this business strategy were publishers and other businesses that could use outsourcing for tangible goods. Then in the 1990s, outsourcing became highlighted as a cost-saving mechanism for a range of business services.
Since then, outsourcing has developed into a far-reaching industry that forges strategic partnerships among companies and invites global businesses to consider restructuring options. Today, the strategic advantage of why outsource accounting leads to, not only cost-saving solutions but also time efficiency and resource improvements, has created a valuable cross-connected network of professionals.
Types of Outsource Accounting for Greater Efficiency
Although a popular choice for businesses, many companies are still unsure what type of outsourced accounting services are available or beneficial for their operation.
Outsource financial accounting services can be broken into 6 main areas, each unique with its own range of services:
- Management of Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable
- Invoices
- Expense reporting
- Online payment approval
- Vendor inquiries
- Check processing
- Management of orders
- Billing and payments of clients
- Collections
- Debt management
- Forecasting
- Bookkeeping
- Balancing books
- Expense processing for employees
- International currency processes
- Subscription management
- Software setup
- Expense management
- Invoice processing and payout
- Record keeping
- Controller Services
- Management reporting
- Audit reporting
- Compliance management
- Communication between employees and vendors
- Policy adherence
- Cash flow analysis
- Performance indicators
- Cost-reduction and review processes
- Financial Documents and Reports
- Internal and external statements and reports
- Financial Planning
- Research
- Analysis
- Interpretation
- Forecasting
- Budgeting
- Structural and Organizational Adjustments
- Integration Support
- Investment Reporting
- Tax-Related Financial Planning, Reporting, and Management
- Tax reporting, both internal and external
- Tax planning
- Compliance statements
Why Outsource Accounting Makes a Difference
There are plenty of reasons why outsource accounting generates success for businesses. As expectations, legislation, regulation and standards continue to rise, companies must juggle both daily responsibilities as well as complex ongoing tasks. Outsource accounting provides an optimal solution by allowing a business owner to receive accounting support from skilled experts without the cost of in-house labor, resources, or valuable time.
The Aspen Trust Group, a leader in professional accounting and financial services, crafts outsource accounting strategies for our clients to benefit from, in a number of ways.
Increased Access to Support and Advice
Why outsource accounting has demonstrated huge wins for companies that use it, comes from the fact that these businesses are receiving up-to-date information and services from professionals that have in depth experience from all types of business and financial concerns. Outsource accounting partners offer modern strategies to fit any complex, global industry, often having a greater depth and range of experience than the in-house accounting staff of a particular company in a select industry. Moreover, a business owner can find greater confidence in the quality and objective handling of financial advice and services.
Saving Money Opportunities
Whether choosing to outsource accounting jobs part-time or full-time to a professional accounting service, companies gain flexibility in cutting costs associated with hiring and training employees. Further, companies with high turn-over or currently facing staff shortages can discover why outsource accounting gives them more allocation of money as well as time to other areas of their business besides recruitment and training. Companies already equipped with financial departments can outsource and only pay for some of the routine tasks and even the intricately detailed ones to their financial partners, allowing their in-house employees to focus on more specialized, core aspects of the business.
Reclaim Valuable Time and Productivity
The right outsource accounting partner gives companies peace of mind that financial duties will be completed on time and streamline the process of production of higher quality financial results. From an outsider’s perspective to the business, analysis of risks and budget concerns, as well as suspicious cash flow activity, is more accurate and well timed. Developing this relationship in the long-term also aids a business to better manage changes in the world economy and variances in their industry. Why outsource accounting is so useful for the saving of time comes down to the delegation of the workload and allowing an outsourcing partner to handle tedious or time-consuming tasks that are necessary to the company but not within the scope of their focus and future goals.
Ensure Compliance Standards Are Met
Every company has some form of compliance requirements that must be met and these regulatory requirements increase the more global a business becomes. A qualified accounting expert, or a team of them, can carefully monitor what is happening across jurisdictions and prepare documents to meet these standards or plans to adjust quickly as they change. Staying current on the compliance processes that impact a business is why outsource accounting increases a company’s competitive edge.
Can Accounting Be Outsourced At Any Stage?
The accounting outsourcing process can yield positive results for businesses at any stage of their growth. Many companies are discovering the benefits of outsourcing accounting and bookkeeping at each level of success, propelling them further towards the next steps in their development.
Emerging into the Market
There are so many operational aspects of new business, be it for small business owners or newly established corporations. With so many administrative tasks to complete, such as registration of a business and license obtainment, alongside marketing development for product and service outreach, outsourcing accounting and bookkeeping can help minimize the risk of errors, oversights, and work overload.
An accounting outsourcing service provider can ensure that expenses are carefully observed and costs remain low as well as keeping records accurate and timely. This attention to a key component of administrative responsibility of a company is not only one less stress, but also a vital aspect of laying the foundation for a business’s longevity.
A Budding Business
Outsourced accounting services are flexible enough to grow with the expansion and changes of your company. Many business owners recognize the value of their time when it comes to overseeing the entire scope of company operations. Outsource accounting and bookkeeping allows for the focus of the management team or business owner to remain on the core of the business rather than micromanaging every little component of daily business activities.
Outsourced accounting services are equipped to handle the billing, collections, deposits, reconciliations, taxes, payroll, and document preparations for both internal and external use. Financial reporting capabilities guarantee your business stays in compliance and provide your management teams more attention to management reporting for better business decisions.
Cross-Border Operations
As corporations reach and operate beyond the borders of one jurisdiction, outsource accounting keeps all the moving pieces of your business’s finances in order and can double-check that international regulations are upheld. Moreover, as the complexities of the financial components of the company increase, outsourcing providers remove the in-house burden found with the necessity to hire employees, train, and manage entire departments. Further, acquiring outsourced accounting services comes with the advanced technology of financial service providers at a fraction of the time and cost that would be necessary to provide the same services in-house.
Scaling Up and Attracting Investors
For corporations, and even start-ups needing fund providers, outsource accounting is a way to ensure that finances and accounting platforms are scalable and able to provide clear, reliable business operation plans to attract stakeholders and investors. Professional financial service providers continually research, train, and upgrade analytical capabilities while becoming keen observers of markets and trends across a wide range of industries and jurisdictions. In addition, many establish valuable partnerships and networking communities in which to access the best knowledge, advice, and up-to-date practices to assist businesses. Finance and accounting outsourcing may provide your business with the most accurate, detailed reports and plans to achieve investment success.
What to Look for in an Accounting Outsourcing Service Provider
Several factors will determine if an outsourcing accounting and bookkeeping provider will be the right fit for your company, including client relationships, resources, philosophy, and associated fees.
However, once the choice has been narrowed down, a business should take the necessary steps to determine the goals, requirements, and purpose of hiring an outsourcing financial partner.
A good starting point is to use guiding questions, such as:
- Which services are necessary?
- Which services might be valuable if costs allow?
- What areas of expertise are required?
- Are there any data security complications or issues that may arise?
- Is the time commitment on a continual basis or specific times of the year?
- Does your company already have dedicated employees or departments to reporting or resource management?
The Aspen Trust Group – Your Reliable Outsource Accounting Partner
The Aspen Trust Group has many years of expertise in the field of accounting and financial planning for a diverse network of clients. Our professionals use modern and current business solutions that include quality outsource accounting services.
From payroll preparation, cash flow and consolidated financial statements, digital accounting records across jurisdictions, billing and VAT preparation and submission our team is there to make your business process streamline and effective. Have an international business or thinking of expanding in the future? Our financial professionals are also equipped to provide the best in international support and services. We want your business to grow and with the outsource accounting strategies we offer you can spend more time crafting the company you want!
Become a client and see why outsource accounting can get your business focused for the future. Contact us to consult about your needs or learn more about the quality services we offer both to large corporations and small businesses for their accounting success.
