It is nowadays a common market practice to collaborate with external advisory firms. As the enterprise grows, so does the complexity of processes related to operating, investing and financing activities, and the need for the related expert knowledge. Finance, law and IT are specific areas in which the enterprise is willing to incur staff hiring costs only when the company's demand for the related services is substantial. Most frequently, as a result of economic calculations, enterprises opt for external professional support.

The growing complexity of the business environment and the general digitalisation tighten the links between different areas of advisory services and trigger the need for collaboration among professionals. Accountants use electronic document flows and cloud solutions developed by IT. The IT infrastructure and the tools used in an enterprise must keep up with legal requirements concerning data security etc. A holistic approach to services gets a new meaning taking into account their complex and cross-border nature.To make a full use of the potential carried by external advisory services one should consider their complementary nature and understand the need for interdisciplinary collaboration of professionals. Accountants record economic transactions. Their work consist of correct and accurate posting and clearing of transactions in a period generally up to one year. As part of management accounting, accountants provide valuable information to managers which the latter need to take day-to-day and future-related decisions.

Legislative changes and changes in the case law need constant monitoring. Management board need to look at all the accounting from a different – advisory – perspective. And this is ensured by tax advisers, who identify possible threats to the enterprise and indicate necessary adjustments. They are also responsible, for example, for planning transactions taking into consideration the related tax burdens, in particular if transactions are made abroad.

Accounting and tax advisory services are examples of how complementary services translate into measurable performance of an enterprise and how the collaboration of professionals gives an enterprise a competitive edge and produces a synergy effect.

ADVISORY SERVICES SECTION PARTNER

LILIANE PREUSSER
PARTNER AT RÖDL & PARTNER,
LICENSED LEAN PRACTITIONER
OF THE LEAN ENTERPRISE
INSTITUTE.

MARCIN JAMROŻY
PARTNER AT RÖDL & PARTNER,
PHD IN LAW, ADVANCED PHD
IN ECONOMICS, ASSOCIATE
PROFESSOR (WARSAW SCHOOL
OF ECONOMICS), TAX ADVISER,
ATTORNEY AT LAW.