Today, creating a Shared Services Centre (SSC) means more than simply centralising transactional tasks. It means transforming support processes into a genuine centre of value for the entire organisation.
As part of our services, we take responsibility for designing and implementing SSC structures, with a strong focus on maximising process efficiency. Standardising procedures and eliminating unnecessary steps can significantly reduce operating costs while improving data quality.
Two tailored SSC implementation models from PKF BPO
- Standard model (finance and accounting)
This model focuses on the functions that underpin organisational security: accounting, HR and payroll, and advanced management accounting and control. - Extended model (multidisciplinary)
This model also covers IT, HR, marketing, compliance and other processes supporting day-to-day operations.
By working with us, you can ensure that your back-office processes become transparent and measurable, operating as an internal service provider under service level agreements (SLAs).
Why can the absence of a centralised SSC pose a risk to your organisation?
- Duplication of roles and tasks across different branches, resulting in higher payroll costs.
- Inconsistent data due to differing local accounting practices.
- Limited operational flexibility, making it difficult to scale the business quickly when opening new locations.
- Risk of losing specialist knowledge as employees leave decentralised teams.
- Limited management control over expenditure and cash flow across the group.
- A high risk of errors and difficulty maintaining regulatory compliance under a decentralised model, where it is challenging to ensure consistent interpretation and rapid adaptation to frequently changing tax and legal regulations.
Who do we support in establishing and developing Shared Services Centres?
Our services are designed for organisations seeking to optimise their support structures without investing in costly new IT systems:
- Corporate groups planning to centralise back-office services across the group to ensure consistent operating standards and complete cost transparency across all subsidiaries.
- Multi-site businesses in sectors such as manufacturing, logistics and services that want to eliminate duplicated work and standardise processes.
- Fast-growing organisations that need an operating model capable of supporting rapid expansion and scalable service delivery.
- Companies undergoing mergers and acquisitions (M&A) that require the rapid integration and standardisation of support processes within a new organisational structure.
- Companies seeking to free up local talent, allowing employees to focus on strategic support rather than repetitive transactional tasks.
What does PKF BPO’s support in establishing an SSC include?
Our approach focuses on optimising processes and organisational structures.
We help streamline document and information flows by bringing them together within a single, efficient centre.
- Finance, accounting and management control:
Accounts payable (P2P), accounts receivable (O2C), general ledger accounting (R2R) and advanced operational management control, including Resource and Process Consumption Accounting (RPCA) and Activity-Based Costing (ABC) to analyse process profitability. - HR and payroll:
Payroll processing, HR administration and standardised time-recording procedures. - IT and marketing:
Standardisation of technical support through a Service Desk, IT licence management and centralisation of recurring marketing processes. - Compliance:
Ensuring regulatory compliance and consistent control mechanisms across the organisation. - Corporate governance:
Defining roles and responsibilities within the new structure, developing a RACI matrix for key processes and establishing mechanisms for reporting the centre’s performance.
How do we organise the process of establishing your SSC?
Our cooperation is based on a proven four-phase methodology designed to minimise disruption to your company’s ongoing operations, with an emphasis on process efficiency from the initial design stage.
Phase 1: Feasibility assessment and business case
We review current costs and workflows to identify the processes with the greatest potential for centralisation. The result is a detailed assessment of expected benefits and return on investment (ROI).
Phase 2: Target operating model design
We develop standard procedures and simplify document workflows to create paper-free processes. We also establish measurable key performance indicators (KPIs) and define the rules governing cooperation between the SSC and individual branches through service level agreements (SLAs).
Phase 3: Implementation and knowledge transfer
We build teams, provide training and migrate processes in stages through a phased rollout. We place a strong emphasis on change management to secure employee engagement.
Phase 4: Stabilisation and optimisation
Once the centre is operational, we monitor performance indicators and resolve issues arising during the transition period. We introduce a culture of continuous improvement and identify further cost-saving opportunities.
Why choose PKF BPO’s advisory services when establishing an SSC?
Establishing an SSC is a complex transformation requiring experience in managing people, processes and risk. Our structured approach helps prevent operational disruption and resistance from internal teams.
What sets us apart?
- A process-led, rather than systems-led, approach. We do not require costly IT implementations. We optimise operations using your existing resources.
- Transformation experience. We combine a business perspective with specialist financial expertise.
- A focus on value. An SSC should do more than reduce costs: it should support growth and strengthen business resilience.
- Secure migration. We ensure business continuity throughout the process transition.
What can you gain?
- A reduction in operating costs of up to 30–50% through economies of scale and role optimisation.
- Greater process efficiency. We design straightforward, fast, paper-free standards that eliminate bottlenecks.
- Accurate cost allocation using RPCA. Implementing management control based on Resource and Process Consumption Accounting allows business units to be charged for the actual cost of the services they use through a chargeback model, improving budgetary discipline.
- Complete transparency and measurable performance across support functions.
- More management capacity by transferring repetitive transactional tasks to an efficient shared services centre.
Would you like to find out how process centralisation could improve your business?
Contact us to learn how to prepare your organisation for the transition to a Shared Services Centre.
