As has been the trend in the modern-day business world, companies continue to streamline to cut costs. From downsizing in the 1990s to streamlining today--whatever you choose to call it--it still means less overhead and less personnel to manage for companies. A big part of constant streamlining is outsourcing. Whether overseas or local, outsourcing saves businesses money and time. Why keep an advertising department, for instance, when you can outsource the work to independent contractors or temp agencies? In some cases, a company may want to maintain a department, like Accounting, but when things are slow, finds that only a few accountants, accounting assistants or bookkeepers are needed. Utilize accounting temp agencies to hire accounting personnel for accounting temp jobs, projects or on an as-needed basis. Also, find and try out skilled professionals working accounting temp jobs before hiring them full-time.
What you need to know:
1) With the exception of keeping a few full-time accountants on staff, you can hire well educated and trained accounting personnel on a temporary basis and only when you need help.
2) Although many temp accountants enjoy the flexibility of working contract and temporary, some are available for long-term or full-time employment. This is a good way to try out potential permanent employees.
3) Change is often good in some departments. Utilize accounting temp agencies to keep your accounting department fresh and rut-free without having to constantly train new employees.
Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done
Maintain a Pool of Qualified Accounting Personnel
Most accounting temps have the necessary skills and education to jump right in on any temporary accounting work or project. Several established accounting temp agencies rigorously screen and test employees, whereas agencies that used to focus primarily on temporary clerical and office work may not. However, you may find qualified accounting personnel through any of these types of agencies.
I recommend: Try out different accounting temp agencies, such as
Accountemps,
Accounting Principals or
Aerotek, as well as different accounting temp personnel. If things aren’t going well with an agency, it’s easy enough to switch accounting temporary agencies, especially if you’re located in a larger metropolitan area. Or if you find an accounting temp is not the right fit for your department or company, accounting temporary agencies make it easy for you to call for a replacement. Relax in knowing that you’re not stuck--you don’t have to dissolve contracts or go through a lengthy HR process to let someone go.
Hire Permanent Employees Through Accounting Temp Agencies
Try out different employees when you're looking to hire full-time accounting personnel. Many accounting temps are available for full-time employment and are trying out different companies too. Take advantage of the temporary arrangement through accounting agencies.
I recommend: The best way to determine who to hire long-term is to work with them first. Look for temp-to-hire accounting agencies, such as
frontline source group. Make it clear to accounting temp workers when projects or stints are short-term, so there’s no miscommunication about expectations. However, if you’re thinking about hiring someone full-time and permanent, take some time first, even if you let the potential candidate know they are being considered for hire. For one thing, you both need a period of time to determine if it’s a good match (e.g., 3 months).
Also, many accounting temp agencies have rules and stipulations about hiring their temp workers. Usually, an accounting temp agency will charge your company a large fee, known as a separation fee, if you hire a temp without waiting for a few months. This is because most accounting temp agencies have spent time screening, hiring, training and placing their temp employees, and they want to get their money’s worth before letting temps go. Sometimes temp companies, such as accounting temp agencies, will negotiate with your company over the fee if you’re anxious to hire a certain person. Most of the time, though, it’s best just to wait it out and after the accounting temp agency's required period of time, you can hire without paying a fee. Contact other temp-to-hire accounting agencies, such as
Robert Half Finance & Accounting or
AccountPros to learn more.
Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide
- Remember that temps are valuable employees too. Often times they get the jobs or tasks no one else wants or don't get treated with the same respect as do permanent employees. However, keep in mind that temporary employees have usually gone through extensive screening and typically have excellent training and/or education. Accounting temp personnel, especially, usually arrive with superior qualifications and a strong educational and work background.
- Be upfront with all temporary workers about expectations and probable lengths of stay. Often times, also, it's easy to forget that they are new and don't know your company culture yet. Even though they may be able to hit the ground running with work, give them time to adjust and get to know people and company ways.
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