Who couldn’t use an extra pair of hands when you’re getting ready for year-end? Of course, needing help doesn’t always mean you get it. Still, even if you don’t have the budget to hire a temp, let alone full-time help, that doesn’t mean you can’t find someone to give your department a boost with the heavy lifting. 

Use this time now — before the worst of year-end hits — to cross-train people throughout your department. All it takes is some creative thinking and a little flexibility. 

Best of all: It doesn’t require learning entire new areas of tax law or IRS requirements. All it really boils down to is communication and balancing each others’ schedules. 

An A/P clerk who’s already finished her 1099s can easily help Payroll double-check W-2s before they mail. Does Receivables have a little extra this week? Ask them to help out with filing last year’s invoices and POs.  Even people in other departments can lend a hand. For example, maybe the receptionist can make vendor TIN follow-up calls during lulls in the day. (Just make it clear that you’re willing to offer similar aid in the future. And a “thank you” memo CC’d to your helper’s boss is a must.)

With just a little give-and-take everyone in Accounting can ease their own workload and really eliminate stress. 

Bonus: Far from adding more work to your plate, the chance to stretch your mental muscles, learn something new and interact with folks you normally don’t can boost morale. 

Who knows? A fresh pair of eyes observing your processes may even help you come up with some ways to streamline processes throughout the rest of the year.

Tags: A/P, Best practices, Cross-training, Internal controls, Payroll, Year-end