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Grow Your Firm with Process Automation Advisory Services
Accountex USA 2019
Presented by Heather Satterley, EA
Copyright © 2019 ADP, LLC.
Welcome!
This information is the property of ADP, LLC (ADP). It may not be distributed, reproduced, modified, sold or used without the written permission of ADP.
The information is provided “as is” without any expressed or implied warranty, is based on generally accepted HR practices and is advisory in nature.
This content provides a high level overview and practical information concerning the subject matter covered. It is provided with the understanding that neither the publisher nor the writers are rendering legal advice or other professional services.
Employers are encouraged to consult with their in-house legal counsel, or with an experienced employment law attorney for legal advice regarding specific facts concerning the organization’s compliance with applicable legislation.
Copyright © 2019 ADP, LLC.
Today’s Presenter
Heather D Satterley, EA
• Accounting Technology Expert• Trainer/Educator• Co-host of The QB ‘Appy Hour with
Liz & Heather
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Agenda
1. Accountants as Process Automation Advisors
2. Identify the Need to Automate
3. Deconstruct the Process
4. Design an Effective Workflow
5. Key Components to a Successful Implementation
6. Case Study
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Learning Objectives
• Recognize how technology & advisory services can add value to client relationships and help grow your practice
• Identify the various HR functions within a business, the steps to analyze existing processes and how to recognize the need for automation
• Where to find apps that can automate client processes
• Understand and apply best practices when developing and executing an implementation plan
• How to utilize reporting and analytics tools within Accountant ConnectSM to help streamline workflow processes and expand advisory services
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Accountants as Process Automation Advisors: A Natural Progression
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Business Needs are Evolving
37% of an accountant’s small business clients ask for advice on technology
consulting or systems integrations
62% would like to receive HR & talent management
insights from their accountant
The average accounting client uses FOUR software
systems to manage payroll, HR, time, talent &
finance
96% want at least two systems integrated,
starting with payroll & finance
ADP Research Institute, March 2019
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Benefits of automation
Increased efficiency
Consistency & reliability
Reduced costs
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“…intelligent automation typically results in cost savings of 40% – 75%, with the payback ranging from several months to several years”
– David KirkManaging Director, Digital Labor / RPA KPMG
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Skills needed in a typical job posting
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Identify the Need to Automate
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Repetitive and
consistent
Nohuman
interventionneeded
High-volumeAnd
Time-consuming
When should a task be automated?
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Examples
Tracking time
On-boarding employees
Recording payroll
Expense management Scheduling
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Deconstruct the Process
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Best practices when analyzing an workflow
• Surveys
• Interviews
• Observation
Gather info
• Map process
• Pain points
• Outcomes
Define goals
• Must haves
• Nice to haves
Determine needs
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Gather info: Surveys and interviews
Collect valuable feedback on processes & employee engagement
Document your findings
Use blind surveys or have an outside consultant conduct them
Use open-ended questions as much as possible
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Map the existing process
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Design an Effective Workflow
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Systems thinking approach
Purpose Components Sequence Feedback
What is the objective of the system (process)?
What must be part of the system for it to accomplish its purpose?
Which order of steps in the process will produce optimal results?
Is the system producing the desired results?
19
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Systems thinking approach
Events
Patterns
Structure
Expense report is returned to employee for non-compliance
Expense reports are returned frequently to employees
What factors in the system influence the patterns? What are the relationships between the steps?
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Pain points: look for bottlenecks and opportunities for automation
What is the trigger for the event?What is causing pattern?What can be done optimize?
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Optimized expense report process
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Organizing your search
http://bit.ly/sampleappevalwkst
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Where do I search for apps?
apps.adp.com
apps.intuit.com
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Best practices for evaluating technology
Research
Ask questions
Read reviews
Request a demo
TestingSet up a “sandbox”
Don’t connect live data
DecisionWeigh must haves / nice to haves
Consider a grading system
Pay attention to details
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Optimized process using apps
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Key Components of a Successful Implementation
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Things to consider
TIMING
• Is it a good time to introduce something new?
• How much time is need to implement and train?
PEOPLE
• Who is involved?
• What are their roles?
• Availability
• Get everyone on board
TECHNOLOGY
• What other systems could be affected ?
• What support and implementation resources are available
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Planning & Timeline
• Set expectations (and keep them realistic!)• Allow for hiccups and delays• Organize into phases and milestones• Communicate
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How to price Process Automation Advisory Services
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Case Study
Accounting firm with over 200 SMB clientsSome payroll is done in house by bookkeeping staffSome payroll is managed by staff using clients’ systemSome payroll is managed by clients
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Systems thinking approach
Events
Patterns
Structure
Payroll services are not profitable
Takes too much timeReconciliations are difficultEntries are wrought with errors
Staff must take time to review procedures before each payroll• Each client is managed differently• Payroll is managed by different
staff members
THERE IS NO STRUCTURE, THEREFORE THERE IS NO SYSTEM!
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In this case, we need to create a firm-wide system
MUST HAVES• Integrates with clients’ accounting systems
• Allows both client and accountant access
• Can be customized to fit each client’s needs
NICE TO HAVES• An accountant dashboard
• Ability to generate all client reports at once
• Can easily store in cloud-based storage
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Integration with accounting solutions
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Accountant ConnectSM
Everything at your fingertips:
• Generate reports and tax forms in batches for multiple RUN clients
• Seamless GL setup & mapping
• Compensation benchmark data
• Payroll calculators, tax forms and useful reference guides
• CCH Resource Library
Accountant Connect℠ is a cloud-based portal providing simple access* to view your ADP clients’ payroll information, process payroll, and much more!
Oh, and it’s free. *Access is based on your clients’ consent.
50k+ users
More than 2MM reports generated!
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Client and accountant access / Accountant Dashboard
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Can be customized to fit each client’s needs
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Ability to generate all client reports at once
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Can easily download to cloud-based storage
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Special tools and resources for accounting professionals
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See a full demo of Accountant Connectin the Tech Theater!
Friday, Sept. 69:40 am
Tech Theater 1
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Thank you!
Stop by the ADP booth to learn more
adp.com/accountant
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