Staffing Challenges in Uncertain Times

The Benefits of Flexible Staffing

The economic downturn has created a shortage of many things, but staffing challenges aren’t one of them. Today’s uncertain business environment means accounting and finance managers need to be thoughtful about every personnel decision they make. Hiring the wrong people or hastily cutting staff levels too deeply can jeopardize quality and service levels, leaving clients disappointed when you need them the most.
One way to ensure that your workforce size remains in line with customer demand is to augment your full-time team with well-chosen interim professionals. Temporary staff can help you address unforeseen workload fluctuations by providing assistance on time-sensitive projects that demand immediate attention. Moreover, adopting a flexible staffing strategy enables you to easily expand or contract personnel levels with minimal disruption as business ebbs and flows. Here are some additional advantages of flexible staffing:

You’ll save money. You’ll turn some of your fixed costs into variable expenses by paying only for the human resources you need when they’re truly needed, not year-round. You can minimize overtime expenses and lower the high costs associated with hiring, training and keeping employees on board.

You’ll save time. Whether you’re hiring for a full-time role or a mission-targeted temporary position, staffing firms can offer valuable assistance. Firms that specialize in accounting and finance staffing are experts on your local market, and they can save you time and resources in your search. Remember that it’s not the hourly rate of the assignment that matters most but the overall cost of the project. Businesses can save money in the long run using a first-rate staffing firm because a higher quality candidate will finish the job more quickly and with greater accuracy.

You’ll keep burnout at bay. Most companies today are having to ask staff to do more with less. But if employees are stretched too thin for too long, you’ll notice a drop in morale, productivity, innovation and overall work quality. Bringing in temporary professionals to tackle highly specialized assignments or day-to-day responsibilities helps take the burden off your staff, freeing them up to focus on the most pivotal projects. As a result, you’ll bolster retention of your core employees – especially important in preparing for when conditions begin to improve and your best people may be tempted by other opportunities.

For more advice on management and career issues, listen to The Management Minute, Robert Half’s podcast series at www.rhi.com/podcast.

Submitted by Accountemps. Accountemps is the world’s first and largest temporary staffing service specializing in the placement of accounting, finance and bookkeeping professionals. The company has more than 360 offices nationwide and offers online job search services at www.accountemps.com.

Teleconference Meeting - Tips

Teleconference Meeting Tips -
Kimberly Shark, Robert Half Finance & Accounting

The use of teleconferences is increasing as companies tighten travel budgets. When moderated effectively, teleconferences enable geographically dispersed professionals to quickly touch base to share information and make important decisions. But poorly planned and unstructured conference calls waste valuable time. Following are tips on managing these meetings:

Plan ahead. After deciding which individuals truly need to be in on the call, send participants an e-mail noting the date and time of the meeting. (Be sure to include the time zone.) It’s also wise to mention the topics to be covered, the desired outcome and the expected duration of the meeting. If you’re using a dial-in option, remember to provide number and the access code.

Play the name game. At the outset of the teleconference, conduct a roll call by asking participants to introduce themselves. To minimize confusion later on, remind people to identify themselves each time they comment.
Focus, focus, focus. It’s the moderator’s job to keep participants on track. Tactfully redirect the discussion if tangential banter, crosstalk or a long-winded accounting colleague is overtaking the meeting.

Offer verbal cues. Unless you’re using videoconferencing equipment, people can’t see your expressions and body language. While nodding and smiling are effective in face-to-face meetings, teleconferences require you to make your voice heard. A simple, “Yes, I understand” or “I see your point” can go a long way toward aiding the flow of the conversation.

Beware of background noise. Whether you’re facilitating the conference call or not, display good etiquette by resisting the urge to multitask. In short, don’t peck on your keyboard, shuffle papers or eat a snack during the meeting. While teleconferencing technology has made advances in allowing participants to better hear and be heard, these seemingly innocent activities are magnified by teleconferencing equipment.

Watch the clock. Respect people’s time by adhering to your original schedule. If it’s approaching the ending time and there’s still ground to cover, set aside the last few minutes to schedule a follow-up meeting.

Submitted by Robert Half Finance & Accounting. Founded in 1948, Robert Half Finance & Accounting, a division of Robert Half International Inc., is the world's first and largest specialized financial recruiting service. Robert Half Finance & Accounting is headquartered in Menlo Park, CA, and has more than 360 staffing locations in North America, South America, Europe and the Asia-Pacific region.