As we dive headfirst into the busy season, you might already have noticed there are some mundane processes at your firm that are cutting into your productivity way too much. Imagine how much time you would save if all the little, repetitive tasks you do throughout the day went away. That precious, saved time would lead to more efficiency at your accounting firm AND allow you to focus your energy on doing valuable work for your clients.
Luckily, we have the answer: automation!
Automate Your Accounting Processes
Despite all the horror stories about robot takeovers out there, automation isn’t actually scary. In fact, it can be a great way to free up your time so you and your team can focus on the things that matter most. This is especially paramount during the busy season when your time is already tied up enough. As we push through this season and look ahead to the next one, here are some ideas for what processes YOU can automate at your firm.
Payroll
One of the key things to consider when looking for processes to automate is this: how often do I do this task and is it the same every time? Surely payroll came to your mind as a task that is repetitive and occurs frequently! With automation, you can easily calculate net pay and send out paychecks with the click of a button.
Expense Reports
If you’ve read our blog on going paperless, you know that it’s possible to make paperwork a thing of the past! The same goes for your expense reports. Instead of writing down expenses by hand and submitting them, you can enter information digitally and let the computer do the heavy work of inserting that information into the appropriate spreadsheet.
Accounts Payable
One of the best ways to use automation is by paying and sorting invoices! This is an incredibly important, but very repetitive task that a computer can easily pick up. Use automation to keep track of due dates and process payments. There’s no better way to reduce invoicing mistakes at your firm.
Accounts Receivable
Just like accounts payable, accounts receivable can also be automated to make sure you collect what you’re owed on time, every time. Automating can help you sort incoming invoices, keep track of due dates, send reminders to clients, and approve invoices.
Monthly Closes
Let’s face it, reviewing the books at the end of the month takes a lot of time. It’s easy to feel rushed through your review, and this can lead to missed errors. Automation can take the stress out of the end of the month!
Though you undoubtedly have your hands full right now, consider taking some time to write down the processes that you’ve noticed eating into your schedule and your bottom line. Once the busy season is behind you, you can eliminate these time consumers through automation!
If you’re looking for ways to be more efficient NOW, be sure to check out our year-end checklist so you don’t miss a single significant step this time of year.
