As the world of accounting gets more and more challenging and demanding, accounting firms need to find an efficient solution that seamlessly manages both staff and client workflows without adding complexity to their processes.
Usually, if you need to assign multiple clients to an individual, various applications provide additional users as paid add-ons. Although this approach may suit business owners that don’t have many clients or simply don’t need this functionality that much, it may not be ideal for accounting firms managing lots of clients, each with distinct needs and platforms. What’s more, accounting firms often operate under contractual agreements, where the cost of services is fixed.
Fortunately, Synder presents a great solution to the challenges faced by accounting firms across various accounting software – Synder Firm Workspace. This innovative functionality addresses the complicated task of managing staff and client workflows seamlessly, regardless of payment and accounting platforms used.
Let’s explore how this functionality can transform and simplify processes within the dynamic landscape of accounting practices.
Contents:
1. Synder Firm Workspace: How does everything work?
2. Organizational structure and roles for seamless collaboration
3. Conclusion
Synder Firm Workspace: How does everything work?
Addressing core challenges in accounting
Synder Firm Workspace is a single hub for your team and clients, mirroring the structure of a real-life accounting firm and empowering you to take full control over the bookkeeping and accounting processes while ensuring flawless multi-client management. Firm Workspace is tailored to specifically address the pain points accountants face, eliminating the need for multiple applications, manual work, and additional costs.
Now, within Synder, accountants can streamline their operations in one place – connect with as many clients as necessary and efficiently organize the way their colleagues work. This process grants different access levels to each team member allowing for a seamless workflow across the team.
It’s important to note that this system isn’t a full-scale new CRM that you have to adapt to; rather, it works exclusively within Synder, enabling you to view all Synder clients and collaborate with colleagues effectively. This ensures top-notch service for clients, who may not even be aware of individual team members working on their accounts.
How to set up and use Firm Workspace
Firm Workspace is designed to be more than just a tool; it’s a digital ecosystem that mirrors the collaborative essence of real-world accounting practices. While you may need to invest some time in customizing your Synder Firm Workspace to automate staff and client workflows, this will enable you to focus on other tasks for smoother and more efficient accounting practices in the future. Where should you start?
Let’s imagine you decide to create a Firm. You’ll begin by creating a Synder account, picking the role of “Accountant in practice”. Then you’ll go through an intuitive onboarding process and set up the first Client (Organization), connecting all the necessary platforms for smooth data syncing. That’s how you become the Firm Admin.
What happens next? The Firm Admin provides a name for the firm, and the system automatically assigns it a unique ID, serving as an exclusive identifier that can be easily copied and shared with clients by any team member. Just like a digital conductor, the Firm Admin manages colleagues, clients, and their roles, exercising full control over roles and client access.
That’s it! Now it’s time to dive deeper into the structure and roles within Firm Workspace.
Organizational structure and roles for seamless collaboration
In the organizational framework of the Firm, it’s important to capture the difference between the roles of the users both within a Firm and within a Client (Organization): Admins, Colleagues, and Clients. Understanding these basics is vital for effective collaboration.
Within the Firm, the essential components are its team members, known as Colleagues, who are individuals employed by the accounting firm. These Colleagues can be assigned to clients through the Firm and serve two main roles: Admin and Colleague.
Admin
As we mentioned before, the Firm Admin plays a major role in the efficient functioning of the Firm, possessing maximum permissions. Here’s the list of their responsibilities:
- Add or remove Colleagues, ensuring the Team composition is always up-to-date.
- Assign Colleagues to the Firm’s Clients, tailoring their permissions to align with various roles and responsibilities.
- Appoint trusted Colleagues as Firm Admins, creating a collaborative environment.
- Deciding who does what by assigning roles such as Manager or Member. This includes overseeing Clients (Organizations) and determining each Colleague’s capabilities within the Firm.
- Expand the team by adding colleagues, whether from existing Synder users or by inviting new people outside of Synder (who aren’t yet registered).
Colleagues
Now, let’s talk about Colleagues — the essential teammates. There are two roles any Firm colleague can have within the Client they are assigned to: Manager or Member.
The Manager role has higher permissions. Managers have extended capabilities when it comes to the Clients they oversee:
- Edit the Client’s organization details.
- Connect/disconnect integrations (ecommerce platforms and payment providers).
- Have full control over the synchronization process and settings.
In contrast, the Member position offers restricted access, limiting functionality compared to the Manager:
- View the Client’s organization details.
- Adjust synchronization Settings.
- Synchronize transactions in the Client’s books.
Client
Clients, or Organizations, connect to the Firm using a distinctive 10-digit code known as the Firm’s ID. Both the Firm and the Client need to agree on this connection.
Thus, Admins, Colleagues, and Clients collaborate within a central hub, each with their specific roles and responsibilities.
Conclusion
Synder’s Firm Workspace redefines how accounting firms operate in the digital era, bridging the gap between traditional accounting practices and digital innovation. By seamlessly integrating traditional accounting practices with cutting-edge digital innovations, it simplifies what were once intricate and challenging tasks for accountants. With its role-based functionalities, it empowers accountants to efficiently manage clients and foster team collaboration, ensuring streamlined communication and resource savings.
Sign up for a 15-day free trial or join our Weekly Public Demo to explore Firm Workspace’s capabilities for your practice. Our team is ready to answer your questions and make sure the client and staff management processes within your firm are optimized.
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