Become the "Source" in Outsourcing
Source: Accounting Today
In this article, Daniel Hood highlights the outsourcing services offered by Piascik & Associates, a Richmond, Va.-based firm. “Piascik Outsourced” began in response to clients repeatedly asking the firm to take care of necessary financial details that they didn't have the time, people, or inclination to handle. According to firm president Steve Piascik, a major corporation that would have to pay $150,000 to hire a comptroller can get the same services from Piascik Outsourced for $90,000. In general, Piascik's outsourced services will cost companies about one-third less than hiring an in-house financial executive.
Piascik & Associates is committed to excellent customer service, and that includes services it offers through Piascik Outsourced. Each Piascik Outsourced client has three team members assigned to it: one manager and two staff, who are available to the client all the time – including nights and weekends.
It has taken Piascik several years to determine the right pricing model for its extensive outsourcing services. At first the firm underestimated how much time it would take to serve outsourced clients. Now it estimates the amount of time necessary for each client and provides the client with a cap on the costs of outsourced services. If the firm has to work more, the client doesn't have to pay more. If the firm works less than anticipated, the client receives a credit in the following year's engagement letter.
Piascik has found that it takes at least a year of working with a client to most accurately anticipate a year's costs, making long-term relationships with clients especially desirable. With that in mind, keeping staff satisfied is in Piascik's best interest. The relationships and insight staff members gain while working with outsourced clients are critical to keeping clients pleased with Piascik's services.
For the complete article, read “The firm that can't say no.”
From Accounting Today, January 1, 2012, SourceMedia Inc., One State Street Plaza, 27th Floor, New York, NY 10004, 800-221-1809.