Nowadays, accountancy firms can be stretched across multiple locations, especially since Covid and the rise of work from home.
Often, this can arise from mergers or acquisitions where your firm takes control of another in a different city or town.
On the one hand, this is a good thing!
You can serve a wide array of clients and even have different offices for various aspects of your trade.
The beauty of having specialised teams and departments lies in the depth of expertise each brings to the firm.
But with that specialisation comes a challenge – how can you maintain consistency in practice, approach, and data handling from one office to another?
This consistency is not just a matter of process – it’s integral to client satisfaction, regulatory compliance, and ultimately, the firm’s reputation.
Clients expect the same high standard of service whether they’re dealing with your head office or a branch miles away.
Consistency reassures them that they’re working with a cohesive and professional firm where every branch is up to date, informed, and operating with the same level of expertise.
This seamless experience builds trust, and trust is everything in a client relationship.
But in multi-office firms, consistency is often challenged by local practices and differences in data handling – even outdated systems still being used by your recently acquired colleagues.
Standardising data collection and storage
A significant part of maintaining consistency is in the management of data – from client information to reporting structures.
When each office gathers and stores data differently, it creates a fragmented environment that can lead to inefficiencies and errors.
Standardising data collection and storage practices is one way to ensure that your team is on the same page, regardless of location.
When all offices follow the same guidelines, data can be accessed and used by any team member with confidence.
Beyond data, having standardised workflows is crucial for consistency.
When every department follows the same processes, it becomes easier to maintain quality, ensure compliance, and integrate best practices across the firm.
Moreover, it simplifies training and onboarding, as staff can easily transition between locations without having to learn a whole new way of doing things.
This also minimises the risk of discrepancies in how tasks are completed, reducing errors and improving accuracy in client reporting.
One of the most efficient ways to achieve this consistency is through cloud-based information-gathering technology, like Glasscubes.
Our platform standardises data collection and storage practices across all your offices and ensures that your information is uniformly accessible, formatted, and processed. It also provides full real-time progress visibility across team members.
By centralising data handling, we give your firm a cohesive structure where every branch can operate seamlessly, allowing your accountants to focus on delivering excellent client service, no matter where they’re based.
Try Glasscubes to connect your offices and team members.
