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five areas of information security to cover.

by penny breslin
it’s not just the numbers

your clients trust you with their information; however, in today’s world, where sensitive information can be compromised and distributed, clients want assurance that their information is safe and that you are protecting them from identity theft.

more:how to create effective communication systems|start every engagement with an sla|get the most out of your client meeting|why you need standard naming conventions|how to develop internal procedures|proper workflow demands consistency|workflow tools can deepen client relationships
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although certain state laws (check with your state); federal laws such as gramm-leach-bliley (glb), which covers individual privacy disclosures; and the aicpa rules of ethics do provide some protection, we recommend that as the trusted business advisor, you should disclose to your clients how you:

• safeguard their information in your office and on your servers
• securely transmit sensitive data
• closely supervise access to authorized parties only

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technology makes communication easy – if you let it.

by penny breslin
it’s not just the numbers

open and clear communication is essential when you provide back office support (bos) services. you cannot take on this type of work and not stay on top of it. previous examples have shown what happens when you do it right. here’s what happens when you don’t.

more:start every engagement with an sla|three demos: pricing your value add|set expectations with an anticipatory set|get the most out of your client meeting|why bos calls for flat rates|four steps for controlling source documents
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case study: when you don’t keep up your side of the agreement

a cpa wanting to provide bos services to his clients contacted us to help with the first setup. the software of choice by the business owner was quickbooks.
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you may want someone dedicated to onboarding.

by penny breslin
it’s not just the numbers

once you have signed all the agreements and uploaded initial documents for back office support, your bookkeeper manager (bkm) steps in to connect with the client. the bkm should be on-site for one to five days depending on the size and needs of the client. at that time, the bkm obtains more documents and access points. the information is digitally stored while the bkm is on-site so that the full team has access immediately.

more:start every engagement with an sla|three demos: pricing your value add|set expectations with an anticipatory set|get the most out of your client meeting|why bos calls for flat rates|four steps for controlling source documents|why you need standard naming conventions|procedures require regular revisiting
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caveat:being on site isnotnecessary. during the covid-19 pandemic, many firms went virtual. here’s a story from five years before covid-19 that shows that virtual onboarding works just fine.
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bonus: an sla sample checklist.

by penny breslin
it’s not just the numbers

anytime there is a business relationship between entities, expect to see a contract or some form of written agreement. in outsourcing, as in many other relationships, this is called aservice level agreement (sla). this agreement is used to establish the scope of the engagement. it clearly states who is responsible for what, when, where and how. it provides aquid pro quothat you can verify with the business owner(s), so that both parties are fully aware of their obligations.

more:three demos: pricing your value add|set expectations with an anticipatory set|four steps for controlling source documents|how to use onenote to create a firm playbook|how to develop procedures for bos|top tech tools for building your new bos business|choose your little black dress of technology|pick your favorite clients|keep the accountants focused on accounting|what do you want advisory services to be?
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the important thing is to go through each function and each area with the business owners(s), have them read it with you together and check off each item so that they are clear on what you expect from them, and so you are clear on what deliverables you are promising.
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bonus: a case study of what not to do.

by penny breslin
it’s not just the numbers

“we can evade reality, but we cannot evade the consequences of evading reality.”–ayn rand

the reality is that the robots and ai are here, and they will eventually take over much–if not all–of the day-to-day work that is typically done by a human interacting with a computer. you may not like it, but you cannot avoid it. so utilize robots to make your life easier.

more:why bos calls for flat rates|four steps for controlling source documents|how to use onenote to create a firm playbook|how to develop procedures for bos|top tech tools for building your new bos business|choose your little black dress of technology
exclusively for pro members.log in hereor2022世界杯足球排名 today.

prepare for your meeting

do your homework before going out to the client’s office. if this is an existing client where you have been doing standard compliance work, review the data in their accounting program and make sure you are working with up-to-date information. if this is a new back office support prospect, ask to review their accounting data before going out to their offices. if they are not open to this, it may require an extra visit. the steps below assume you have either worked on the client’s accounting in some capacity, or you have had the opportunity to review the accounting files.
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