In recent years, the landscape of work has undergone a significant transformation, which has challenged the notion of an in-person work environment being the source of productivity. Hybrid work is here to stay, and building a high-performing hybrid, dispersed team has become essential for organizations looking to maximize their talent pool and stay competitive. The ability to operate remotely has emerged as a strategic advantage for many teams.  

Public accounting is a profession that has always relied on collaborative work to train junior staff, foster a strong firm culture and deliver high-quality service to clients. These tenets have been especially important in the midst of the accounting talent shortage. There are practical steps organizations can take to develop a successful hybrid, dispersed team and key strategies for creating a collaborative environment that supports learning, trust and operational efficiency, even when team members are spread across different locations. This also means reinventing the apprenticeship model and creating an environment where people can learn and feel comfortable asking questions without being able to ask the person sitting next to them. 

GHJ embraced the hybrid way of working before it became mainstream. When I joined GHJ in 2022 to launch its Client Accounting and Advisory Services Practice (CAAS), I was based in Tulsa, Oklahoma — a far cry from GHJ’s Los Angeles headquarters. Our practice launched with team members as far west as Hawaii and as far east as New York, which allowed us to access top talent, regardless of location.  

Through careful planning and the right operational infrastructure, we were able to ensure that our hybrid team functions with the same or even greater efficiency as a traditional in-person team. Taking a hybrid-first approach allowed GHJ to build a team with a broad range of expertise. But I also believe people are the core of the accounting industry, and setting up the appropriate fundamentals is necessary to build up a team for success. 

ESTABLISHING A TEAM FRAMEWORK 

Building a hybrid, dispersed team that is effective and scalable goes beyond video calls and cloud-based systems. To ensure that the team operates with the same, if not higher, efficiency as a traditional in-person team, it is crucial to establish a solid operational infrastructure from the outset.  

• Articulate Distinct Roles and Responsibilities: GHJ’s organizational chart highlights core competencies for each position so that every team member understands their role. This transparency fosters trust within the team and reassures clients that every project is handled by the right people with the right expertise. 
• Set Clear Working Expectations: With a coast-to-coast team, GHJ establishes core business hours that accommodate different time zones while ensuring there is dedicated time for collaboration. This structure not only respects the work-life balance of team members but also guarantees that everyone feels valued and included, regardless of their location. 
• Empower Effective Communication: Identifying each team member’s preferred mode of communication — whether through Microsoft Teams, email or phone calls — can mitigate any miscommunications that can arise in a dispersed environment. This was already tracked for clients, but extending this strategy to team members ensures that team members are kept in the loop, no matter where they are located. 

TRACKING TEAM WORKFLOWS 

A comprehensive workflow management tool is the backbone of GHJ’s CAAS team’s operations. All work is listed in one system which gives everyone an idea of the work that must be done and estimated time to complete each task. It allows team members to project out their week or month and automate certain workflows to ensure that work is passed on to the next person on the team as soon as a task is completed.  

Additionally, it offers visibility into team operations so that managers can better evaluate their team’s capacity. Throughout this process, team members can make comments that are visible to anyone collaborating on a project, which ensures all work is properly documented and eliminates any redundancies that may arise as work is passed between team members. 

DOCUMENTING SUCCESS FOR CONSISTENCY AND TRUST 

To ensure consistency and maintain the high standards that clients expect, GHJ’s CAAS team documented best practices, technologies, processes and team structures in one shared document. This living document is essential for the team because it provides a reference point for completing assignments and navigating the complexities of hybrid work. For clients, it serves as a testament to GHJ’s commitment to transparency, quality and continuous improvement. 

THE FUTURE OF HYBRID TEAMS 

Designing a high-performing hybrid team requires a different approach than an in-person team, but the results speak for themselves. A hybrid model allows my team to better serve clients and leverage the best talent, tools and practices, no matter where they are based.  

Setting up strong fundamentals is imperative for designing a team that is resilient and scalable. 

To learn more about how teams can set themselves up for operational success, please reach out to GHJ’s Client Accounting and Advisory Services Practice.