Success looks different for each tax firm, but the definition of efficiency is pretty universal: Get the most (and best) work done with the least amount of staff expenditure. To boost your firm’s efficiency, you need to focus on streamlining your processes. Here are five signs your tax workflow is outdated.
1. You’re still using paper route sheets.
It’s essential to keep track of who’s working on what, but doing so with a paper‑based or spreadsheet-based route sheet is more hassle than it’s worth. Update to a digital format to simplify the steps needed to make updates and check project status. Plus, if you choose an integrated system with access to route sheet right within the software, there’s no excuse for outdated information.
2. You send updates via email.
Email is cumbersome to search and not always the most secure. To ensure every staff member has instant access to all the info they need, rely on tax workflow system with a dashboard that puts schedules, projects notes, client information, and notifications front and center—and accessible to everyone in real time.
3. Your project management processes are inconsistent.
When project workflow steps are clear and consistent, employees are more autonomous and client expectations are easier to fulfill. Standardized project templates that account for staff, time, and precursory work, enable staff to start jobs faster and finish them more accurately.
4. You use static vs. dynamic reports.
A broad view of your business is just as essential as the nitty gritty details of specific workflow steps. Looking at the big picture helps you identify trends and be proactive about problems before they create trouble. Dynamic reports and dashboards identify bottlenecks, budget issues, and other concerns that could affect your firm’s bottom line.
5. Your staff can’t self-assign work.
You work hard to find, hire, and train quality employees. But if they’re sitting around waiting for their next assignment, all that talent is going to waste. Firms that use self-assigned project pooling empower more junior staff to choose projects that fit their skills and schedules so managers can focus on higher-level work.
Feeling like your firm’s tax workflow is out of date? Get some great tips for getting with the times by downloading the “Keys to Project Management Success” ebook.
