As the peak busy season ends in April, it’s time for accounting firms to shift their focus to what’s next—tax team hiring. While your team is still in all-hands-on-deck mode, March is the ideal time to start preparing for the post-busy season transition. Laying the groundwork now ensures you’re ready to bring in the right talent when the time comes.
Assess Your Team’s Workload
As March progresses, it’s important to step back and evaluate your team’s workload, even during the busiest time of the year. Are certain employees constantly feeling overwhelmed? Are deadlines being missed or pushed back? Identifying these workload gaps now gives you the insight needed to pinpoint areas where additional support is necessary, putting you in a better position for next busy season. The earlier you recognize these signs, the better prepared you’ll be for tax team hiring to fill those gaps and keep your team running smoothly.
Key Steps:
- Evaluate current project deadlines and task distribution.
- Identify overburdened employees or teams.
- Look for signs of burnout and recurring delays.
- Determine where additional support is needed to meet firm goals.
Engage with Your Current Staff
Once you’ve assessed the workload, it’s time to check in with your team. Engaging with your staff helps you understand their challenges, aspirations, and concerns. Having these conversations ensures you’re aware of potential retention risks and gives you the chance to address any issues before they lead to turnover. Plus, understanding their long-term goals can help you better align future tax team hiring efforts with your firm’s vision.
Key Steps:
- Schedule one-on-one conversations with key team members.
- Discuss their workload and any signs of burnout.
- Ask about their future career plans and job satisfaction.
- Address any concerns early to improve retention.
Define Your Hiring Goals
With your team’s workload and morale in mind, now is the time to define your tax team hiring goals. What roles do you need to fill, and what type of candidate are you looking for? Do you need full-time staff to handle an increased workload, or would part-time employees or remote contractors be a better fit? Setting clear, defined goals now will streamline your recruitment process and ensure that when you begin looking for candidates, you know exactly what you need.
Key Steps:
- Decide whether you need full-time, part-time, or contract staff.
- Clarify the scope of responsibilities for each role.
- Determine if flexible work arrangements (remote or hybrid) are needed.
- Build diversity into your hiring strategy to attract top-tier talent.
Get Ready for a Smooth Hiring Process
Now is the time to lay the groundwork for a successful post-busy season hiring strategy. By taking the steps to assess your team’s workload, engage with your staff, and define your hiring needs, you’ll set your firm up for long-term success. When the time comes to start tax team hiring, you’ll be prepared to bring in the right talent to help your firm grow and thrive.
If you’re ready to take the next step in your tax team hiring process, Accountingfly can help. Whether you’re looking for full-time employees, part-time support, or even remote contractors, our team is here to connect you with top talent. Let’s work together to ensure your firm’s continued success—reach out to us today and let’s get started!
