A high-performing accounting team is essential for any organization looking to maintain financial accuracy, meet compliance standards, and support strategic decision-making. But as your business grows and evolves, the talent that once served your needs may no longer be the right fit. Whether you’re experiencing missed deadlines, outdated processes, or a lack of strategic insight, these issues can signal that it’s time to reassess and upgrade your team.

In this blog, we’ll walk through six common indicators that your accounting department may need an infusion of new talent—and how the right hires can improve performance and support your long-term business goals.

1. Persistent Errors or Missed Deadlines

One of the most obvious red flags is a recurring pattern of mistakes, missed closing deadlines, or compliance issues. Whether it’s late month-end reporting or frequent reconciliation errors, these issues can erode leadership’s confidence in financial reporting and raise red flags during audits.

While occasional errors happen, consistent problems typically signal a lack of attention to detail, insufficient training, or an overloaded team. These issues may point to the need for more experienced staff, better processes, or additional headcount to distribute the workload.

2. Outdated Skills and Tools

The accounting landscape has evolved significantly with the rise of automation, data analytics, and cloud-based software. If your accounting staff is still heavily reliant on manual spreadsheets or lacks proficiency in modern systems, your team’s accounting skills may be falling behind competitors.

Upgrading talent often means bringing in individuals who are not only tech-savvy but who understand how to use financial systems for strategic insight. These professionals can help your department transition from a transactional function to a more forward-looking, analytical partner.

3. Limited Strategic Contribution

Accounting isn’t just about keeping score—it should also help guide business decisions. If your current team is focused solely on data entry and compliance, with little input into forecasting, budgeting, or strategic planning, you may be missing out on valuable insights.

Hiring professionals with broader skill sets and business acumen—such as those with FP&A experience or CPA/MBA credentials—can bring a new level of strategic thinking to your finance function.

4. Increased Business Complexity

As your business grows, so do your accounting needs. Whether you’re expanding into new markets, launching new products, or planning an acquisition, your accounting team must be able to scale with you.

If your current staff is struggling to keep pace with growth or lacks the experience to handle more complex reporting requirements, it’s a clear sign that you need to upgrade your talent. Bringing in professionals with a track record of handling growth-stage or enterprise-level operations can ease this transition.

5. Low Morale or High Turnover

Employee morale is a leading indicator of organizational health. If your accounting team is constantly stressed, burned out, or experiencing high turnover, it could be a sign of poor team dynamics, leadership challenges, or skill mismatches.

Upgrading your team doesn’t always mean replacing people—it can also mean hiring new leaders, offering better training, or improving team structure. Sometimes a single strategic hire, like an experienced Controller or Accounting Manager, can stabilize the team and improve overall performance.

6. Difficulty Meeting Regulatory or Audit Requirements

The consequences of failing to meet regulatory standards or audit expectations can be severe—from fines to reputational damage. If your team consistently struggles with compliance tasks or you’ve had poor audit outcomes, it may be time to reassess your internal capabilities.

A skilled accounting professional with experience in audit readiness, internal controls, and GAAP compliance can help restore confidence and prevent costly oversights.

Final Thoughts

Your accounting team plays a critical role in your company’s financial health and future. Persistent errors, outdated tools, lack of strategic impact, and difficulty handling growth are all signs it may be time to bring in new talent. Acting early can help prevent larger problems down the road—and position your organization for smarter financial decision-making.

Ready to upgrade your accounting team?

Burchard & Associates specializes in placing top-tier accounting and finance professionals. Let us help you build a team that supports your business goals today and into the future. Contact us to start the conversation.