5 ways to prep your team for summer vacation

With the Memorial Day weekend just around the corner, it’s time to start planning your (and your team’s!) summer vacation time. It’s no small feat to coordinate schedules, assign backfills, and avoid conflicting requests… all while closing the books.

To make sure it’s all smooth sailing for the next few months, check out our 5 tips below for prepping your team for summer vacations:

Take a look at last year: What were the minimum staffing requirements for last summer? Were you able to meet your deadlines while missing key team leaders? If there were a few hiccups, analyze what you could have done differently and adjust your time-off schedules accordingly.
Set a deadline for submitting time-off requests: Discuss vacation schedules early on in the summer so that you can coordinate as far in advance as possible. Be sure to communicate any conflicts with major deadlines or any blackout days where time-off may not be permitted.
Start cross-training ASAP: This includes everything from updating your account policies and procedures to reassigning back-up preparers for your reconciliations. Set aside time each day to train or be trained on new processes. Cramming it in on the last day is a recipe for disaster.
Get organized: As with cross-training, it’s important to be prepared by noting all relevant details including, major responsibilities, key contact info, instructions for accessing files, and any pertinent deadlines.
Show appreciation: Thanking your team, your back-up person, and your manager is the best way to improve morale and show support. It’s not easy to go above and beyond on a task that isn’t yours; so showing your appreciation for the work that gets done while the team may be short-staffed is a critical part to surviving the summer.

One of the best ways to ensure that your month-end close is completed with ease is by utilizing automation technologies. SkyStem’s ART allows users to add back-up preparers to each reconciliation, and reviewers can electronically sign-off from anywhere – even the beach! Click here to schedule a demo today!