Did you receive any kind of an SBA loan recently, including a PPP loan, and have no idea how to maximize it? Are you getting timely financials to make timely decisions for your business? Do you feel overwhelmed and unsure of how to fix any of these, or other financial or accounting problems? If so, it may be time to hire an accounting and finance consulting firm.
What is an Accounting and Finance Consultant?
When you feel like you or your team can no longer solve problems in an efficient way, it could be time to hire a professional. As with any service that isn’t your area of expertise, it can be wise to outsource. Finding a skilled professional in certain areas, such as finance, HR, Accounting, Marketing, or even a business coach, can take your company to the next level. Consultants provide value-added services that you don’t have time to do, don’t want to do, or can’t do yourself.
As finance professionals we have the unique capacity to provide tailored advice and can support you each step of the way. Because our consultants act as the clients’ accountant and sometimes as the entire finance, HR and accounting department, we are well-positioned to help you solve your most pressing problems. Our consultants can see the inner workings of your organization by becoming a part of your executive management team and we focus on supporting you in a strategic and systematic way.
As accounting and finance professionals, most of us have seen businesses succeed and fail. But more importantly we’ve helped solve lots of issues. We have “been there, done that” experience and bring the tools to help you succeed. By offering our expertise and providing guidance to you and your team, we bring a fresh perspective, and can help your business thrive.
Laying the foundation for an outsourced accounting and finance team
Outsourced accounting and finance consulting services are valuable for any size company. Small businesses can benefit from a skilled team who can manage your finance department and work with you to achieve your goals.
As your trusted advisor, a consultant can help educate you in areas you may be less confident in, advise you on trends, recommend policies, and provide tools to help your company run efficiently. One trait of an excellent consultant is being able to actively listen and gather as much information to understand your situation and goals. Once your consultant understands you and your business, the recommendations are easier to design, are tailored to your needs, and can provide long-lasting ROI.
The Outsourced Accounting and Finance Team at Optima Office comes with decades of experience in every size business across multiple industries. The breadth of experience that comes with our consulting teams is invaluable. Often, for what would be paid for a full-time person, you can get an entire team of professionals working in tandem with you and your team to tune up your financials, books, and records, while also advising you on best practices.
Here are some ways our consultants can help you:
Offer advice. One way we can help is to filter out the noise and focus on the most relevant information to assess your situation. Starting with your bookkeeping and financial management, including making sure that you receive accurate and timely financials, we can help you save money, improve processes for faster growth and seize opportunities.
Give a fresh perspective. Sometimes the best way to solve a problem is to bring a fresh set of eyes. It is easy to miss important cues or ignore problems when you are busy running your business. You’re focused on the day to day operations and may not see the high-level issues that may be occuring. We can help you see areas for improvement more clearly and start designing solutions to keep you moving forward.
Set realistic expectations. We all know Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither was your company. And like any great city or organization, it takes time to evolve. While we all want to see improvement as fast as possible. Moving too quickly, or worse yet reacting to problems instead of proactively solving them, will cost you money and could ultimately make your problems worse. Let us help you identify your priorities and develop a blueprint for achieving success.
Recommend tools and best practices. There is no shortage of cool apps and ideas. However, not all of them are best for your business. Frequently our clients are either woefully unaware of the technological tools available to them, or have so many tools they aren’t properly used, or not used at all. Our consultants can help you improve processes by recommending the right tools and implementing them using best practices. This area alone can save a company money and release capacity for continued, scalable growth.
Communicate regularly. There is no substitute for regular meetings with your financial team. Our professionals conduct meetings with an agenda that is relevant to what is needed at that time. They will leave you with action items and goals for the next meeting. Over time you will see significant progress and will have the ability to make better-informed decisions throughout your organization. The changes you make now could set you up for years of profitability.
We want you to succeed
Our goal is to provide every business with sound finance, accounting, and HR advice. When you succeed, we succeed. We believe healthy books make for a healthy community. What makes us different is that we hand-select the right person or team for your unique business. Optima’s approach is not one size fits all. We pride ourselves on our ability to become part of your team and grow alongside you. Focusing on relationships is key and we are highly motivated to have happy clients and happy staff.
From bookkeeping, to process improvement, to strategic planning and human resources, we are here to help you thrive. If you are struggling to achieve the success you deserve, consider hiring Optima Office. It may be the best investment you make for your business.
by Kristen Ford, Sr. Accounting Manager, Optima Office, Inc.
