Accace, one of the leading outsourcing and consultancy services providers in Central and Eastern Europe, recorded a 30% increase in turnover on the Romanian market in 2016. IT services and retail sectors had the biggest increase last year and the trend towards outsourcing accounting and payroll services, from existing multinationals on the local market, will continue in the next period.
“Both BPO and advisory segments have increased in 2016. The largest contribution to the increase in turnover of about 70% came from outsourcing, while tax and legal advisory accounted for about 30% of 2016 revenues”, said Laura Stefan, Managing Director Accace Romania.
In 2016, in addition to existing clients, 50 new clients joined the Accace Romania portfolio; they represent multinational companies that are present on the local market as well. Last year, an increasing number of companies have opened branches in the local area and existing customers have consolidated their businesses, registering increases in revenues. IT services and retail sectors recorded the biggest increase.
Trends in outsourcing financial accounting activities in 2017
This year, in Romania, the main trend consists of digitization and automation of the data collection process and the accountant’s focus on value added activities for the accounting information user. The role of the tax consultant within companies will contribute increasingly more to the efficient delivery of their activities.
“In the next period, considering that clients need access to financial information in real time, we intend to invest further in the digitization strategy of BPO activities that we started several years ago. Outsourcing is moving in the direction of automation and the major differentiator will be given by the ability to understand and analyze data, as well as a proactive communication and a consultative approach in dealing with customers”, as Laura Stefan predicts.
Regarding the consultancy area, the company’s major differentiator lies in understanding clients’ business needs and translating them into tax and legal advisory projects. In 2017, Accace will continue to attract the development and diversification of consulting projects.
Plans for supporting students interested in tax and accounting
Throughout 2017, Accace aims to be actively involved in projects supporting students that want to develop a career in accounting or tax advisory by facilitating understanding of the practical aspects of the profession by hosting free workshops. This decision comes after feedbacks received at job interviews and the actual gap that exists between knowledge acquired during university courses and practical reality. These workshops are also an important part of our CSR program, which we will develop this year.
Growing and strengthening the team in 2017
“Accace Romania currently has nearly 40 employees, and by the end of 2017, we want to grow our current team of specialists in accounting, payroll, tax and legal advisory. We are continuously looking for new colleagues eager for accounting and tax challenges, juniors and seniors, who will manage complex situations and work with a wide range of national and international clients”, added Laura Stefan.