When Your Accounting Team is Too Swamped: Why Hiring a Contractor Might Just Be the Answer
Running a restaurant is no small feat. Between ensuring that you never run out of ingredients and that your staff is always fully trained, the last thing you need is a financial snafu brewing in the back office. As someone who has spent three decades steering the financial helm of restaurant businesses, let me tell you — keeping your books as clean as your kitchen is crucial.
Now, picture this: your in-house accounting team is juggling invoices, payroll, and end-of-month reports like they’re auditioning for a spot in Cirque du Soleil. They’re swamped, to say the least. Suddenly, a small yet important task lands on their plate — maybe it’s itemizing the equipment purchases for your newly built location or managing an ERP conversion. It may even be a tiny job in the grand scheme of things, but it's the proverbial straw that could break the camel’s back.
Enter: the contractor. Yes, that’s right. Sometimes the best solution to avoid overwhelming your already busy team is to bring in a fresh set of eyes. And before you start thinking, “But do I really need to hire someone just for that?” — hear me out.
Why a Contractor Makes Sense
Avoiding Burnout: Your team is already maxed out. Forcing them to stretch even further can lead to mistakes, burnout, and an unhappy crew. And trust me, an unhappy accountant is almost as dangerous as an unhappy chef.
Expertise on Tap: Contractors are often seasoned pros who can dive into a project, tackle it efficiently, and then disappear into the night like accounting superheroes.
Cost-Effective: Hiring a contractor for a small job can be more cost-effective than you might think. You’re not committing to a full-time salary or benefits. It’s like renting a movie for one night instead of subscribing to an entire streaming service.
Fresh Perspective: Sometimes, a fresh pair of eyes can catch things that your regular team might overlook simply because they’re too close to the issue. Contractors can offer insights and solutions that might not have been considered otherwise.
When to Call in the Cavalry
So, how do you know when it’s time to bring in a contractor? Here are a few telltale signs:
Your Team is Underwater: If your team is working late nights and weekends just to keep up with the basics, it’s time to lighten their load.
Specialized Tasks: Need to tackle something that’s outside your team’s usual scope? Contractors often have niche expertise.
Short-Term Projects: If the job is a one-off or has a clear end point, it’s perfect for a contractor. Think of it as hiring a specialist to fix a leaky faucet instead of getting a whole new plumbing system.
Quality Over Quantity: When precision is critical, and you need to ensure the job is done right the first time, a contractor’s focus can make all the difference.
A Personal Anecdote
Recently, I navigated the complex transition from Quickbooks to a more comprehensive ERP solution. This shift was critical for our growth, but it added an unexpected layer of complexity. Imagine trying to perfect a soufflé while simultaneously remodeling the kitchen — challenging, to say the least! Our already-busy team had to juggle their regular duties, like payroll and month-end closing, with an additional 10 hours per week dedicated to the ERP migration for four solid months. We managed to get through it, but not without significant team burnout. Looking back, it was a textbook example of when bringing in a specialized consultant could have saved us a lot of stress and fatigue. They could have handled the data migration and testing, allowing my team to focus on their core responsibilities. Next time, I won’t hesitate to call in the cavalry for such projects.
Final Thoughts
Hiring a contractor doesn’t mean your regular team is failing; it means you’re smart enough to recognize when they need a helping hand. Think of it as bringing in another staff member to stock, clean and break the other staff. This additional staff member can lead to increased revenue because the restaurant is running smoothly.
So next time your accounting team is buried under a mountain of paperwork, don’t hesitate to call in reinforcements. Your books (and your team) will thank you.
Jennifer Posner Restaurant Accounting Veteran & QuickBooks Wizard
