In today's ever-evolving financial landscape, not-for-profit organizations face numerous challenges in managing their fiscal departments, from scarce resources to complicated regulatory requirements. These pain points can hinder an organization’s ability to effectively fulfill their mission. Outsourcing has emerged as a viable solution for not-for-profits, offering a range of benefits that can alleviate these burdens and drive efficiency.

Some common issues faced by not-for-profits that may be mitigated by outsourcing business operations to a professional services firm include:

• Limited resources: Not-for-profit organizations often operate on tight budgets and allocate as much funding and resources as possible to their programs, which makes it challenging to hire and retain skilled professionals in their fiscal department and can lead to overburdened staff, increased risk of errors, and delayed financial reporting.
• Complex regulatory environment: Compliance with constantly changing regulations, such as Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) guidelines and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) reporting requirements poses a significant challenge for not-for-profit fiscal departments as staying up to date with these mandates requires continuous training and expertise, which may not be readily available in-house.
• Time-consuming processes: Manual data entry, reconciliation, and financial statement preparation can be repetitive, time-consuming tasks for not-for-profit fiscal departments that divert valuable time and resources away from strategic financial planning and analysis.
• Lack of technological infrastructure: Many not-for-profit organizations struggle with outdated accounting systems and limited access to advanced financial and operating software, which restricts their ability to streamline processes, generate accurate reports, and provide real-time financial insights.

Outsourcing not-for-profit organizations’ fiscal department functions can prove to be a valuable business decision that successfully addresses areas of concern and adds value, such as:

• Access to expertise: By partnering with a reputable professional services firm, organizations gain access to a team of experienced professionals that are well-versed in the intricacies of not-for-profit accounting and who stay up to date with the latest regulations, ensuring compliance and accurate financial reporting.
• Cost savings: Outsourcing eliminates the need for hiring and training in-house accounting staff, which reduces overhead costs associated with salaries, benefits, and office space. Additionally, professional services firms that offer outsourced solutions often leverage economies of scale to provide cost-effective solutions that are tailored to the specific needs of not-for-profit organizations.
• Enhanced efficiency: Not-for-profit organizations can reduce manual errors, accelerate reporting timelines, and free up internal resources for more strategic financial planning and analysis through outsourcing by streamlining their financial processes with automation and advanced accounting software.
• Scalability and flexibility: Organizations have the flexibility to scale the outsourced services that are provided based on the not-for-profit's evolving needs. Whether it's handling peak periods, expanding operations, or adapting to regulatory changes, professional services firms providing outsourced services can quickly adjust their level of support.

Embracing outsourcing can be a strategic move towards financial stability and long-term success. Citrin Cooperman’s Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) Practice is prepared to help not-for-profit organizations thrive with the most effective strategies customized to their unique needs. For more information, please reach out to Steven Glickman at sglickman@citrincooperman.com or your Citrin Cooperman advisor.