Less Admin, More Advising: Maximize Your Time to Create Impactful Client Experiences with Progress ShareFile Software

Accounting firms are under pressure from every angle. Talent shortages, rising client expectations, regulatory scrutiny and increasing cybersecurity threats are forcing firms to rethink how they operate. At the same time, clients are asking for more—more insight, more advice and more proactive engagement.

The challenge isn’t providing these benefits. The challenge is finding the time to do so. Too much time is still being lost to admin.

To stay competitive, firms need to shift time away from low‑value, manual work and refocus it on high‑impact advisory services.

The accounting industry is facing a structural shift. Staffing shortages and a declining talent pool are pushing firms to do more with fewer people, while demand for advisory services continues to grow.

Recent industry trends highlight the scale of the challenge:

• Accounting remains one of the fastest‑declining professions, increasing the need for automation to offset lost headcount
• Around 60% of firms expect to increase IT spending to address industry challenges, with technology already accounting for roughly a fifth of firm budgets—and rising
• Nearly half of accounting firms planned to expand advisory services in 2025, yet many admit they spent less time on advisory work in 2024 than they intended

The result? Firms are investing more in technology but not always seeing the productivity gains they need, especially when it comes to client engagement.

Client Interactions Are Slowing Firms Down

Despite best intentions, many client touchpoints remain tedious and time‑consuming.

• Nearly half of accounting professionals spend one to two days per engagement simply collecting information from clients
• Over one third spend as long as three to seven days chasing documents and responses
• 61% of accounting professionals describe their client interactions as mostly reactive rather than proactive
• 60% of accounting leaders say clients are occasionally disappointed by the lack of time spent with them

When teams are bogged down by document requests, email follow‑ups and manual processes, advisory services inevitably take a back seat.

Security Pressures Add Even More Complexity

At the same time, regulatory requirements and cyber threats are escalating. Accounting firms handle vast amounts of sensitive financial and personal data, making them prime targets, especially during tax season.

On average, firms face hundreds of cyberattack attempts during peak periods, making secure document handling and access control non‑negotiable. Protecting client data isn’t just about compliance. It’s fundamental to maintaining trust and long‑term relationships.

The Solution: Transform How Your Firm Works with Progress ShareFile Software

Progress ShareFile software helps accounting firms reclaim time, reduce friction and deliver better client experience without increasing headcount.

Powered by AI, the ShareFile document collaboration platform brings together workflow automation, secure document sharing, e‑signatures and intuitive client portals in one seamless experience, creating faster engagements, smoother client interactions and more time for meaningful advisory work.

With ShareFile capabilities, firms can simplify admin, automate repetitive tasks and proactively strengthen security so teams can focus on what truly adds value.

Real‑World Use Cases for Accounting Firms

ShareFile software supports the full client lifecycle, from onboarding to ongoing engagement, firms can:

• Streamline client interactions by centralizing PBC requests, approvals and communications in one secure place
• Simplify client experiences with branded portals and mobile access that make it easy for clients to respond quickly
• Accelerate engagements by automating workflows that eliminate delays and reduce back‑and‑forth

Instead of chasing files and signatures, teams can spend more time advising clients and strengthening relationships.

Key Features Built for Modern Accounting Firms

The ShareFile platform is designed to support the realities of today’s accounting workflows, including:

• Streamlined tax solutions for document collection and engagement processes
• Integrated client billing solutions
• Secure client portals and mobile apps for easy access anytime, anywhere
• Centralized client management
• AI‑powered workflows for document requests, AI assistance and automated threat remediation

These capabilities work together to reduce friction across every engagement and provide measurable benefits that help drive real impact.

Firms using ShareFile software see tangible productivity gains that directly support growth:

• Extract key insights from financial documents up to 96% faster
• Improve client response times by up to 32%
• Cut up to 4.25 hours from each client engagement—without adding headcount
• Collect client documents up to 3.5x faster, accelerating turnaround times

These improvements free teams to focus on higher‑value advisory services that drive client satisfaction and loyalty.

By streamlining client interactions and automating admin, the ShareFile platform helps firms deliver proactive, impactful client experiences that truly differentiate them from the competition. Shift from admin to advisory, without compromise.

See ShareFile software in action at AccountEx:

Want to learn how ShareFile benefits can help your firm spend less time on admin and more time advising?

Find out more at AccountEx, 13–14 May, booth 1765.