SHARED SERVICES ACCOUNTING EXCELLENCE TRAINING COURSE

Course Introduction

Shared Services Accounting Excellence Training Course is a comprehensive and practical professional programme designed to equip finance professionals, accountants, financial controllers, shared services managers, accounting operations specialists, finance transformation leaders, and process improvement professionals with advanced knowledge and practical skills in shared services accounting, finance shared services, accounting process optimization, finance transformation, operational excellence, and digital finance. The programme focuses on designing, implementing, managing, and optimizing high-performing accounting shared services operations that deliver standardized, efficient, controlled, scalable, and customer-focused finance services. Participants will learn how to establish effective shared services operating models, standardize accounting processes, improve service delivery, reduce finance operating costs, strengthen controls, and achieve sustainable accounting excellence.
The programme provides extensive coverage of finance shared services models, centralization, process standardization, operating model design, service catalogues, service-level agreements, accounting governance, transaction processing, Record-to-Report, Procure-to-Pay, Order-to-Cash, accounts payable, accounts receivable, general ledger, reconciliations, financial close, intercompany accounting, and financial reporting. Particular emphasis is placed on shared services process mapping, Lean finance, automation, ERP optimization, cloud accounting, robotic process automation, artificial intelligence, workflow management, data analytics, Power BI, and performance management. Participants will examine how leading finance organizations use shared services to consolidate accounting activities, eliminate duplication, improve consistency, strengthen controls, and create scalable finance operations.
Participants will develop practical capabilities in assessing shared services maturity, designing target operating models, defining process ownership, developing service catalogues, establishing KPIs, managing SLAs, optimizing workflows, implementing automation, and improving customer satisfaction. The training addresses governance structures, finance service delivery, escalation management, quality assurance, risk management, internal controls, segregation of duties, knowledge management, workforce planning, change management, and continuous improvement. Relevant general case studies will demonstrate how organizations can consolidate fragmented accounting functions, reduce processing costs, improve transaction turnaround time, strengthen financial controls, and enhance service quality across multiple business units and geographical locations.
By the end of the training, participants will be able to design, implement, manage, and continuously improve a world-class accounting shared services environment. The programme is suitable for organizations seeking to centralize accounting operations, improve finance efficiency, reduce operating costs, standardize processes, enhance financial reporting, and accelerate digital finance transformation. The course can be customized for banks, government institutions, NGOs, corporations, insurance companies, manufacturing companies, development organizations, universities, telecommunications companies, and other organizations operating centralized, regional, or global finance functions.

Course Objectives

1. Understand the principles, structures, operating models, and best practices of accounting shared services.
2. Assess finance processes and determine suitable opportunities for centralization, standardization, and shared services transformation.
3. Design effective shared services operating models, governance structures, service catalogues, and process ownership frameworks.
4. Optimize Record-to-Report, Procure-to-Pay, Order-to-Cash, and other core accounting processes within shared services environments.
5. Establish effective Service Level Agreements (SLAs), Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), service standards, and performance management frameworks.
6. Apply Lean finance, automation, ERP, cloud accounting, RPA, artificial intelligence, and analytics to shared services operations.
7. Strengthen accounting controls, segregation of duties, risk management, audit trails, compliance, and financial governance.
8. Improve customer experience, service quality, turnaround times, transaction accuracy, and issue resolution.
9. Develop workforce, knowledge management, change management, and continuous improvement strategies for shared services.
10. Develop a sustainable accounting shared services transformation roadmap that improves efficiency, scalability, control, and finance performance.

Organization Benefits

1. Reduces accounting operating costs through centralization, standardization, and process optimization.
2. Improves consistency and quality of accounting processes across business units and locations.
3. Reduces duplicated finance activities and improves resource utilization.
4. Accelerates transaction processing and improves service delivery turnaround times.
5. Strengthens financial controls, governance, compliance, and audit readiness.
6. Improves visibility of finance performance through shared services KPIs and dashboards.
7. Supports automation and digital transformation of accounting operations.
8. Improves employee productivity, workforce utilization, knowledge sharing, and process expertise.
9. Enhances internal customer satisfaction through defined service standards and SLAs.
10. Creates a scalable finance operating model capable of supporting organizational growth and expansion.

Target Participants

The course is designed for Chief Financial Officers (CFOs), Finance Directors, Finance Managers, Financial Controllers, Chief Accountants, Shared Services Directors, Shared Services Managers, Accounting Operations Managers, Accountants, Management Accountants, Financial Reporting Managers, Accounts Payable Managers, Accounts Receivable Managers, Finance Transformation Managers, Process Improvement Specialists, ERP Specialists, Business Analysts, Internal Auditors, External Auditors, Risk Managers, Compliance Officers, Service Delivery Managers, and professionals responsible for finance operations, accounting shared services, digital transformation, and process excellence.

Course Outline

Module 1: Shared Services Accounting Foundations and Operating Models

1. Introduction to finance shared services, accounting shared services, centralization, decentralization, outsourcing, and hybrid operating models.
2. Business case for shared services, cost optimization, standardization, scalability, control, and finance transformation.
3. Shared services organizational structures, governance models, process ownership, roles, responsibilities, and accountability.
4. Developing finance service catalogues, customer segmentation, service definitions, process scope, and delivery standards.
5. Assessing shared services maturity, readiness, risks, benefits, implementation requirements, and transformation priorities.
6. General Case Study: Assessing fragmented accounting functions across several business units and developing a business case for establishing a centralized finance shared services centre.

Module 2: Accounting Process Standardization and Service Excellence

1. Standardizing Record-to-Report, Procure-to-Pay, Order-to-Cash, general ledger, accounts payable, and accounts receivable processes.
2. Process mapping, workflow analysis, standard operating procedures, process documentation, and transaction controls.
3. Developing service catalogues, service-level agreements, turnaround times, quality standards, and customer service requirements.
4. Transaction processing, exception management, issue resolution, escalation procedures, and service delivery governance.
5. Quality assurance, transaction accuracy, root-cause analysis, process compliance, and continuous service improvement.
6. General Case Study: Standardizing accounting processes across multiple subsidiaries to establish consistent transaction processing, reporting, controls, and service delivery standards.

Module 3: Finance Automation, Technology and Digital Shared Services

1. ERP optimization, cloud accounting, workflow automation, robotic process automation, artificial intelligence, and digital finance.
2. Automating journals, reconciliations, invoice processing, cash application, reporting, and financial close activities.
3. Integrating shared services systems with ERP, procurement, banking, payroll, CRM, and business intelligence platforms.
4. Using Excel, Power Query, Power BI, data analytics, and financial dashboards for shared services performance management.
5. Automation opportunity assessment, technology selection, implementation, testing, change management, and user adoption.
6. General Case Study: Developing a finance automation roadmap for a shared services centre covering transaction processing, reconciliation, reporting, customer service, and performance monitoring.

Module 4: Governance, Controls, Risk and Compliance

1. Shared services governance frameworks, internal controls, accountability, oversight, and finance risk management.
2. Segregation of duties, user access controls, authorization workflows, transaction approvals, and audit trails.
3. Accounting reconciliations, account certification, financial close controls, exception management, and quality assurance.
4. Fraud risks, unauthorized transactions, data manipulation, duplicate payments, access violations, and financial control weaknesses.
5. Compliance management, audit readiness, control testing, documentation, evidence management, and regulatory requirements.
6. General Case Study: Conducting a shared services control assessment and developing a governance framework covering access management, segregation of duties, reconciliations, approvals, audit trails, and compliance.

Module 5: Shared Services Performance Management and Customer Experience

1. Developing shared services KPIs covering cost, quality, productivity, turnaround time, accuracy, automation, and customer satisfaction.
2. Service Level Agreements, service metrics, performance scorecards, escalation mechanisms, and service improvement plans.
3. Power BI and Excel dashboards for monitoring transaction volumes, backlogs, exceptions, SLA compliance, and operational performance.
4. Workforce productivity, capacity planning, workload management, skills development, knowledge management, and resource optimization.
5. Customer experience management, stakeholder engagement, feedback systems, issue resolution, and service quality improvement.
6. General Case Study: Developing a shared services performance dashboard to monitor SLA compliance, transaction volumes, processing costs, backlog, quality, productivity, and customer satisfaction.

Module 6: Shared Services Transformation, Continuous Improvement and Excellence

1. Developing a comprehensive accounting shared services transformation roadmap, milestones, governance, and resource requirements.
2. Lean finance, process simplification, waste elimination, Six Sigma concepts, benchmarking, and operational excellence.
3. Change management, communication, stakeholder engagement, workforce transition, training, and organizational adoption.
4. Measuring transformation benefits through cost savings, productivity, quality, automation, turnaround time, control effectiveness, and customer satisfaction.
5. Continuous improvement, process maturity, innovation, automation expansion, knowledge sharing, and service excellence.
6. General Case Study: Developing an end-to-end shared services accounting transformation programme covering operating model design, process standardization, automation, governance, workforce, SLAs, KPIs, customer experience, and continuous improvement.

General Information

1. Customized Training: All our courses can be tailored to meet the specific needs of participants.
2. Language Proficiency: Participants should have a good command of the English language.
3. Comprehensive Learning: Our training includes well-structured presentations, practical exercises, web-based tutorials, and collaborative group work. Our facilitators are seasoned experts with over a decade of experience.
4. Certification: Upon successful completion of training, participants will receive a certificate from Foscore Development Center (FDC-K).
5. Training Locations: Training sessions are conducted at Foscore Development Center (FDC-K) centers. We also offer options for in-house and online training, customized to the client's schedule.
6. Flexible Duration: Course durations are adaptable, and content can be adjusted to fit the required number of days.
7. Onsite Training Inclusions: The course fee for onsite training covers facilitation, training materials, two coffee breaks, a buffet lunch, and a Certificate of Successful Completion. Participants are responsible for their travel expenses, airport transfers, visa applications, dinners, health/accident insurance, and personal expenses.
8. Additional Services: Accommodation, pickup services, flight booking, and visa processing arrangements are available upon request at discounted rates.
9. Equipment: Tablets and laptops can be provided to participants at an additional cost.
10. Post-Training Support: We offer one year of free consultation and coaching after the course.
11. Group Discounts: Register as a group of more than two and enjoy a discount ranging from 10% to 50%.
12. Payment Terms: Payment should be made before the commencement of the training or as mutually agreed upon, to the Foscore Development Center account. This ensures better preparation for your training.
13. Contact Us: For any inquiries, please reach out to training@fdc-k.org or call us at +254712260031.
14. Website: Visit our website at www.fdc-k.org for more information.