It’s here! The accounting and finance busy season, which brings with it long days of sorting through tedious paperwork, navigating complex and often redundant government filings, creating reports, managing data and myriad other spreadsheet-and-database-related year-end tasks. Everyone on the finance team knows it’s coming and mentally prepares for this time of year, but there are some things leaders can do to help lead the team through this stretch.
Remind Other Departments of the Impending Rush
The end of the year and the start of tax season isn’t an ideal time for other departments to request non-critical reports or make last-minute requests from the accounting and finance team. Finance leaders should remind other department heads to put in requests much earlier than usual and to be patient with the group from December through March.
Jump in With the Group
Effective leaders roll up their sleeves and get their hands dirty when the chips are down. Your team will respect you much more if you show you’re willing to jump in and do the work with them. During the busy season, managers should set a good example by clocking the same number of hours as their teams, offering to pick up some of the slack when work hits backlogs and doing whatever it takes to help the group achieve its goals.
Take Time to Reward and Recognize Success
One of the best ways to keep your team connected to their work is to recognize them for their successes, milestones and hard work both formally and informally. Hand out rewards at the company’s year-end meeting, or hold your own team luncheon to formally recognize members of the group. Informally, make it a habit to thank people both individually throughout the day and as a group at the end of each team meeting.
Stay Focused on Goals
The only way to make it through the busy season intact is for everyone to work together. Keeping the team focused on both their individual and group goals will ensure that everyone is pulling in the same direction and pulling their own weight. Make sure goals are clearly spelled out, and consider putting up a bulletin board or sending out a weekly email that outlines the progress the group has made. You can entice the group to achieve their goals more efficiently by offering a reward for early completion.
The end of the year and the start of tax season are stressful times for finance teams and leaders. If you’ve got the right people in place, however, this season can go much more smoothly. If you are looking for full-time, part-time or temporary finance professionals for your organization, the expert recruiters at Systems Personnel in Buffalo can help. Contact us today to learn how we can help you achieve your recruiting goals.