SHARED SERVICES

The concept of shared services has been on the radar screen of CFOs for decades. Those companies that have yet to execute this strategy are aggressively beginning their journey—those that have are focused on optimizing their platform and re-setting their cost curve and assessing new service delivery models such as outsourcing and offshore solutions. With the external demands for timely and accurate financial data, the benefits of shared services are extending beyond cost control—and in an era of continual consolidation in many industries, acquisition strategies are creating the demand for a low cost back office with a “plug and play” infrastructure. While the Finance function has been the leader in terms of shared services, CFOs are aggressively challenging all of the back office functions including IT, HR and Procurement and developing a holistic back office strategy.

Archstone Consulting’s CFO Advisory Services practice focuses on developing and executing the right Finance strategy for our clients—for many of our clients, shared services is a critical component.  Every client situation is different and there is no “silver bullet” answer as it relates to the optimization of the core transaction processing activities. Some of the key questions that need to be addressed before a company attempts this strategy include:

• What are the overall objectives for shared services?
• What role will shared services play within the entire enterprise?
• What are the economics of moving to shared services?
• How will shared services be organized?
• How does outsourcing impact shared services?
• What is the time horizon for shared services?

The shared services decision is both strategic and tactical. Our team first supports the client with the right strategic Finance point of view—Does this fit in with the overall Finance strategy? Next, a significant part of our value proposition is our pragmatic implementation approach for shared services—a “get it done” attitude.  Our experience working with hundreds of CFOs brings unique perspectives and leading practices in the Finance function. Our Finance shared services offering incorporates a broad range of services:

• Shared services assessment
• Shared services blueprint
• Business case development
• Shared services process design
• Migration implementation and project management
• Shared services optimization
• Outsourcing and offshore analysis