Top 8 Hacks for Maximising Your Productivity as an Accountancy Partner

Being a partner at an accounting firm is a demanding role. The responsibilities of managing clients, overseeing firm operations and ensuring team productivity can often lead to overwhelming workloads and the risk of burnout.

For many partners, striking the right balance between professional responsibilities and a healthy personal life can feel like an impossible task. This article discusses proven back to help you manage your workload, protect your free time, and maximize your productivity as an accountancy partner. Remember, the key is not just to work hard but to work smart.

Hack 1: Block Timeslots and Switch off Notifications

In the constantly connected work environment of the digital age, notifications cause frequent interruptions, reducing focus and productivity. When you see notifications, you are tempted to respond instantly to emails and messages, even though the other person may not be expecting an immediate response.

Block time for key tasks, switch off notifications during those slots by setting ‘do not disturb’ on your devices and check your messages only at given intervals. Do not worry about the slight delay in responses. Consider adding a note in your email signature indicating your response time, such as “I typically respond to emails within 24 hours.” This sets clear expectations and allows you to maintain a focused workflow.

Hack 2: Guard Your Personal Time with Boundaries

Set clear work-life boundaries to prevent work from invading your free time. Giving out your personal phone number can blur the line between work and personal life. Colleagues and clients can often call for questions or support during the out of office hours.

Consider using a separate phone number for work or managing notifications on work applications during personal time. Instead of taking direct calls, ask clients to schedule meetings. This approach not only helps manage your time better but also maintains a professional boundary.

Hack 3: Manage Your Workload Before It Piles Up

Clients usually ask to file returns or taxes or provide data at the last minute, so accountants can face a surge in workload during this time, which can cause stress and a potential backlog. Proactively manage client expectations to prevent stress during the end-of-month or busy period and ensure a steady workflow.

To avoid a bottleneck, have proactive discussions with your clients to understand their needs and timings. Work with your team to give you a clear indication of when the final drafts will be ready for your review. Propose dividing the workload throughout the period, ensuring the team completes associated tasks promptly, and not leaving everything for the last minute.

Hack 4: Keep Timeframes Real and Achievable

One can easily fall into the trap of overcommitting, promising clients that work will be completed within a certain number of days. However, this can lead to unrealistic expectations, especially if unexpected issues arise or the client cannot deliver their side of the bargain.

To manage this challenge, share a completion window with clients and explain that the turnaround time depends on certain inputs or tasks being completed according to the plan. This allows you to manage your workload more effectively and avoid unrealistic expectations.

Hack 5: Make Health and Well-being Non-Negotiable

Your success depends on a healthy body and mind; prioritise well-being to avoid burnout.

Failing to manage the stress and demands of your role can lead to burnout, decreased productivity and even serious health issues.

Keep time for important well-being recommendations such as exercise and sleep. Incorporate regular exercise into your schedule to boost your energy, mood, and efficiency. Consider short workouts or walks round the office block during breaks. Switch devices during sleep time and aim for 7-8 hours each night.

Remember, a healthy mind and body are key to leading a successful firm and enjoying a fulfilling and balanced life outside of work.

Hack 6: Empower Others with Email Delegation

Emails can consume a significant portion of your day. Consider delegating your inbox management to a trusted team member or setting up a generic email for partner-level communications.

Team members can filter through emails, move those that require your attention to a separate folder and draft responses, reducing the clutter in your inbox and ensuring you focus only on high-priority messages.

You can also use email management AI applications such as Mailbulter to summarise your emails and draft responses.

Hack 7: Charge Time’s Worth from the Start

Consider assigning an experienced team member to deal with the new queries and filter the serious approaches for your involvement. Further, consider charging for initial consultations to avoid wasting time on clients only looking for the cheapest options.

This will help filter out non-serious inquiries, meaning you can be sure that your time is spent with clients who value your expertise and are willing to invest in quality services.

You can also provide more value during these initial meetings by charging for these consultations, leading to stronger client relationships.

Hack 8: Keep Improving—Always

As a partner, you have the authority and perspective to challenge existing processes and implement improvements. Continuously seek ways to improve operations and reduce manual work. For example, using tools like Receipt Bot can automate data entry for bills, receipts and bank statements, saving significant time and ensuring that bookkeeping data is up to date and accurate allowing reports to be in real time.

Regularly review and update your firm's processes to adapt to changing client needs and industry trends. By optimising processes, you will not only increase productivity and accuracy but will also create a more responsive firm that can better serve its clients.