After experiencing, albeit unintentionally, full remote work, accounting firms are now facing the challenges of hybrid work. It is crucial for them to find a new balance in their relationship with their employees while never losing sight of mission progress.

Hybrid Work: The Best of Both Worlds?

The Covid crisis has demonstrated that accounting and audit firms can function effectively even when most of their employees are working from home. Thanks to SaaS business tools, video conferencing solutions, and collaborative work software, accounting professionals have been able to continue supporting their clients during these challenging times. For many, it was a surprise.

The advantages of remote work quickly became evident: saved commuting time, reduced travel expenses, decreased carbon footprint, and the ability to expand the recruitment pool geographically. Moreover, various studies have shown that employees are more productive at home than in the office, with unexpected increases ranging from 35-40%. However, the limitations of full remote work soon became apparent: the isolation of employees ultimately raises more management questions than productivity concerns.

All employees in the tertiary sector embrace remote work, but certain aspects thrive better in the office! It is the most conducive environment for group activities, colleague interactions, and concrete individual coaching. It is also where the firm's corporate culture is best fostered. Between the office, home, or third places, there is room for a hybrid work model. Today, in the United States, 80% of companies plan to adopt a hybrid model. In France, it has already become a reality:

• Before the health crisis, 35% of firms practiced remote work, with an average frequency of one day per week.
• After the crisis, 82% of firms intend to allow remote work, with an average frequency of two days per week.

The number of firms offering their employees the option to telework has more than doubled compared to 2020. Hybrid work is becoming the norm, but it also brings new challenges.

Challenges of Hybrid Work and How to Overcome Them

The hybrid work model presents real challenges for accounting firms. Among the most common difficulties are:

• Communication and collaboration: Physical distance does not facilitate communication and collaboration among team members. Collaborative tools can only do so much remotely, so significant time in the office should be dedicated to this aspect.
• Planning and allocation of tasks and assignments: Hybrid work makes it more challenging to manage time spent and distribute workloads fairly. To obtain an immediate response, managers need to implement efficient planning tools capable of managing both situations, optimizing available resources, and avoiding overburdening some employees or underutilizing others.
• Visibility: Knowing the status of assignments, meeting deadlines, and being able to evaluate their profitability requires a real-time internal management tool that allows proactive action before it's too late.
• Transparency: Transparency is particularly important in a hybrid work model. It is crucial to avoid any resentment among employees, such as feeling overloaded compared to others, being assigned uninteresting tasks, or never being "there" when needed.
• Maintaining corporate culture: Even partial remote work can affect the cohesion and identity of a company. Initiatives are needed to foster a sense of belonging and increase opportunities for social interaction, whether remote or in-person.

A Planning and Staffing Tool Adapted to the Success of All

Technology can undoubtedly bring significant benefits to accounting and audit firms. Video conferencing and collaborative tools have experienced rapid expansion during lockdowns, becoming standard practices. However, many firms continue to manage their planning using Excel spreadsheets.

Beeye offers a planning and staffing tool specifically designed for accounting and audit firms for effectively organizing hybrid work and improving the work-life quality of employees. It contributes daily to a smooth and respectful utilization of hybrid work through:

• Optimized planning
• Performance tracking
• Communication and collaboration
• Flexibility and adaptability

Hybrid work has become a reality in accounting firms, and the need for a modern planning and staffing tool is now essential. By using such a toll, accounting and audit firms can leverage the advantages of hybrid work while preserving productivity and team cohesion.