Tackle Seasonal Peaks of Work through Outsourcing

Understanding the Challenge of Increasing Workloads

During busy seasons, the volume of client work can change quickly – and usually not in a positive way. From processing periodic payrolls and tax returns to management reporting and statutory filings, deadlines can quickly converge at key points in the accounting year.

Hiring temporary staff may seem like an obvious solution, but it comes with challenges: recruitment costs, training time, variable quality, and compliance concerns.

In contrast, outsourcing offers a scalable, flexible solution that allows accountants to quickly increase capacity without the overheads and administrative burden of temporary appointments. Outsourcing work enables accountants to stay agile, efficient, and competitive throughout the year.

The Strategic Advantage of Outsourcing

Partnering with a specialist outsourcing provider provides access to experienced professionals who work seamlessly as an extension of the onshore team. Some of the ongoing benefits of outsourcing include:

• Scalability: Increase resources during peak times and scale back when workloads ease, maintaining full control and cost efficiency.
• Time Savings: Outsourced teams handle routine, time-consuming tasks, allowing onshore accountants to focus on supporting clients and business growth.
• Consistency and Quality: Professional outsourcing firms have effective quality control arrangements and are expert in UK accounting standards and tax rules, ensuring compliance at all times.
• Cost Efficiency: Minimise recruitment, training, and overtime costs, paying only for the resources needed.
• Work-Life Balance: Avoid staff burnout by managing workloads effectively, boosting morale and retention.

When to Consider Outsourcing

Many accountants begin exploring outsourcing when faced with familiar ‘red flags’:

• Recurring overtime and staff stress at peak periods for deadlines
• Delays in completing work or deteriorating turnaround times due to insufficient resources
• Increasing overheads during peak months
• A desire to focus more on client advisory and growth rather than routine compliance work.

Undertaking a critical review of financial and operational performance compared to planned outcomes will quickly identify red flags which need to be managed.

How Outsourcing Works in Practice

Accountants can test the outsourcing process with a small amount of work, such as digital bookkeeping, VAT return preparation, or year-end accounts preparation. Outcomes can be evaluated for quality, technical accuracy, and turnaround against performance consistent with in-house targets. Many offshore suppliers, including Initor Global, offer a free-trial period, where accountants can test the service before entering into a contract.

Accountants can also choose to access offshore capacity as and when they need it by using a pay as you go service. This maximises the flexibility to use an offshore option at peak periods or when an unexpected backlog of work occurs, ensuring deadlines are met without compromising on quality.

Additional Benefits of Outsourcing

While outsourcing is invaluable during cyclical peaks, many accountants find the benefits extend year-round. By delegating routine work, accountants create capacity to focus on client relationships, advisory services, and business development. Over time, outsourcing becomes not just a reactive solution to seasonal peaks in work, but a proactive strategy for sustainable growth.

Hiring an offshore resource from Initor Global typically costs 50% less than hiring a UK resource. In addition to cost savings, outsourcing offers other benefits:

• Specialist expertise: Access professionals for tax, audit, and compliance tasks.
• Reduced risk: Smooth transitions when onshore staff leave at short notice.
• Change enablement: Support digital transformation, automation, and cloud accounting solutions.
• Business continuity: Maintain delivery during peak periods or sudden changes.