Outsourcing the Finance Function: Smart Bet or Risky Business?

For years, small- to medium-sized companies have outsourced specific niche functions of their businesses, such as tax preparation, legal assistance, financial portfolio management and actuarial services.

Today, more and more companies are outsourcing core functions, such as accounting/finance, IT, payroll and HR, so they can shift time, money and other resources to strategic business activities, instead of focusing on administrative functions.

What was once appealing to smaller companies has since expanded to larger organizations that now see outsourcing as a smart and viable option to optimize business processes and ultimately improve the bottom line. However, outsourcing is not for everyone.

It’s important that companies take the time to understand and assess the pros and cons involved, such as cost/benefit ratio, potential risks, service level agreements (SLAs) and necessary controls, before making any changes.

Considerations – do your homework, set expectations upfront

When considering whether or not to outsource key accounting/finance functions, such as the underappreciated, yet critically important, financial close process, there are several factors to think about. First, do a cost/benefit analysis. Compare the cost of maintaining the finance department (or portion thereof, depending on the scope of the project) in-house, taking into account expenses like salaries, benefits, training, office space, equipment and software, compared to the overall expense of using an outsourcer to achieve the same goals.

All costs associated with outsourcing need to be clearly documented in the written agreement in order to reduce (or, better yet, eliminate) the potential for hidden costs. Setting mutual expectations at the onset, such as deliverables and deadlines, facilitates this process (and will keep costs down in the end). The more detailed and specific the agreed upon expectations are, the better chance of avoiding unexpected costs down the line.

In the case of a finance department outsourcing agreement, it is especially important to clearly understand and agree on how any relevant data is accessed, how frequently, what format it is in and who (from both the company and the outsourcing partner firm) can access it. Company management needs to make sure they are comfortable with the arrangement and that it won’t impede their normal course of business (for instance, seeking a loan and needing real-time financials).

The level and range of services the potential outsourcer provides is another area to contemplate. Given that there are likely other clients vying for their time and attention, it is critical to understand how resources are allocated to ensure deadlines are met and that someone is always available to address any questions or concerns. If the outsourcer is located overseas, it is important to understand how the differing localities, time zones, cultures and languages are handled. In some cases, potential outside legal or political risks may need to be addressed ahead of time as these, too, could impact the relationship or service provided.

The transition process is another major consideration. An experienced outsourcer typically has a streamlined process in place to help minimize any delays in getting the work done, without anything slipping through the cracks. As a best practice, the company outsourcing the work can help ensure a smooth transition by having thorough documentation of all policies and procedures prepared ahead of time. Additional time may be required to help with this documentation, if it isn’t readily available, but it will prove well worth it when actually handing the work over to a third party.

One of the final, but most critical, challenges in transitioning accounting/finance operations to an outsourcer is ensuring that appropriate controls are in place to protect the company’s sensitive financial data. It’s critical that the service provider meets or exceeds all of the requirements a company would mandate in-house to safeguard the confidentiality and security of its data; for instance, having a disaster recovery plan in place and any other controls required by auditors, such as compliance with SSAE 16/ISAE 3402 reporting standards.