Businesses could be more willing to embrace this new working environment if more company owners were aware of how effective their remote employees performed. Remote workers will not necessarily spend as much time commuting, are likely to interact with coworkers more occasionally, and will have more time to manage duties and social engagements. Productivity will almost certainly follow.
If you are thinking of starting up or already have a virtual accounting company. Let’s take a look at some appropriate tools that can help remote accounting firms do their tasks more effectively. Let’s start with the most important remote issues, disregarding work-life balance:
Remote Accounting Issues
Future work will be done more commonly remotely, although everyone is aware that working remotely has issues. If you were aware of these issues, you would unquestionably be at a competitive advantage over those other remote accounting firms. Along with maintaining a work-life balance, the following are the most common issues that workers may run into when working from home:
Collaboration Issue
Collaboration is a big issue for remote accounting teams. According to a Sage survey, 35% of accountants said that when working remotely, teamwork is their biggest issue. The inability to communicate face-to-face, the limited access to information, and the difficulties with file sharing may make it difficult for distant teams to collaborate effectively.
Communication Issue
Effective communication is a must for any accounting team, but it can be troublesome when working remotely. According to a poll conducted by Accounting Today, 64% of accountants claimed that communication is difficult when working remotely. Effective communication with remote teams can be challenging due to time zones, technical issues, and a lack of face-to-face connection.
Technology Issue
Accounting specialists must have access to reliable software to perform their duties effectively while working remotely. However, a Robert Half poll found that 40% of accountants cited technological concerns as their top challenge while working remotely. Technology problems, such as out-of-date software and trouble accessing information, can delay and frustrate remote accounting employees.
Now that we are aware of the common issues that remote employees encounter with communication, teamwork, and technology, let’s talk about the kinds of appropriate software that a remote accounting expert should have to overcome these necessary remote issues.
Appropriate Software for Productivity That a Remote Accounting Team Needs
Working remotely has the potential to cause some issues as we discussed above, which could have an impact on a company. To overcome these issues, remote accounting firms must have the right productivity tools in place. So, let’s discuss the appropriate software you should have.
Communication Software
The fact that communication is so important in teams working remotely is not an exception for accounting teams. According to a Buffer analysis, communication issues are the biggest challenge for remote workers. Remote accountants need to communicate frequently to keep everyone informed and able to work together effectively. Thanks to communication innovations, team members may exchange information, ask questions, and provide comments in real-time. So, you better have a communication software.
Project Management Software
Remote accounting teams need to manage multiple tasks, and without a clear view of each, it can be an issue to meet deadlines and achieve objectives. Project management software for accountancy firms can help teams of accountants track their work, set priorities, and collaborate effectively. So, you should also have a project management software as well.
Time Tracking Software
Remote accounting organizations require time-tracking software. According to a TSheets survey, 77% of employees who use time-tracking software maintain improved productivity levels. Time-tracking tools can be used by team members to record the time they spend working on each project, and managers can use this data to decide how to allocate resources and set project deadlines. So, you better have it also.
Cloud-Based Accounting Software
A cloud-based accounting software is necessary for a work-from-home accounting firm. Thanks to these accounting innovations, team members can access financial data at any time and from any location. Accounting processes can be streamlined and remote team collaboration made possible via cloud-based accounting software.
Your accounting team will surely find it difficult to meet client needs if your business doesn’t have the proper accounting workflow software. Your online accounting firm will benefit from the software listed below:
Wrike
Wrike assists teams in achieving their project management objective by giving them access to all the tools they require in their dashboard to plan, carry out, and keep track of work. Additionally, it gives staff members access to real-time reports on the project’s status, procedures, and timekeeping.
Financial Cents
Accounting company owners and project managers can assign tasks, notify assignees, manage clients, and track and keep an eye on staff tasks with the aid of this application. Because this accounting practice management software was developed particularly for accountants, accounting firm managers can more easily arrange the many moving pieces of their accounting system, freeing up their team to concentrate on providing exceptional client service.
Basecamp
You may arrange the work schedule for your remote team using Basecamp to keep track of advancements. On its home page, you may assign tasks to your staff, create projects for your team, and keep tabs on who is and is not working. You can create a list of tasks in Basecamp To-do lists and then assign them to your coworkers for quick completion.
Jetpack Workflow
As their business expands, managers may create and oversee the projects of their team using Jetpack Workflow. Jetpack Workflow enables you to view all overdue projects, communicate with your team about a task, and monitor progress. Jetpack Workflow enables your team to create and automate repetitive activities and templates for numerous clients, rather than wasting hours on not eligible for billing client work.
Conclusion
Accounting and their supervisors must overcome these three main remote issues to maintain productive and effective remote work. By using the appropriate productivity solutions, remote accountants may surely overcome those issues and thrive in the new world of remote work.
