In December 1944, Japanese soldier Hiroo Onoda retreated into a jungle on a small island in the Philippine archipelago, to hold off the American and Philippine troops.
When the war ended, he noticed a lull in the fighting but didn’t realise the implications. And although he saw several American leaflets announcing the end of the war, he dismissed them as a hoax.
Onoda continued to carry out raids on local farmers and even conduct shoot-outs with police until 1974, when he told a Japanese tourist that he would only give up his fight when he was relieved by a superior officer.
The Japanese army flew his former commander to the island, and Onoda emerged from the jungle with his gun and sword.
He was 52 when he finally learned that the Second World War was over.
The way Onoda was trapped in yesterday’s world reminds me of the way some business owners run the financial side of their company…
For example, just recently I spoke to a business owner who relied on a single bookkeeper, using accounting software that went out-of-date several years ago and issuing all invoices just once a month.
The business owner knew this was all antiquated. But when I asked why he didn’t upgrade to a more modern way of doing things, he told me: “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
I profoundly disagree.
Yes, he technically may get his accounts done. In that sense it “ain’t broke.”
But the accounting world has moved on in the last decade. And there’s a price to pay if you continue to operate as if it’s 2012 or even 2016, just like Hiroo Onada living in the jungle years after the war ended.
This business owner is missing out on far more efficient and convenient ways of working, hitting his bottom line.
With a modern accounting platform, for example, he could get a daily analysis of his company’s financial situation, enabling him to make better and more confident financial decisions. And the company’s invoices could be processed much faster, helping the company’s cashflow enormously.
It’s a bit like continuing to use VHS when Netflix is available…
Yes, it might seem convenient to stick with what you have. And maybe you’re worried about the expense of upgrading.
But it doesn’t really make any sense, does it, when something so much better has become standard?
So if your accounting department is still working the same way it was several years ago it’s time to bring it into the modern day. And now, right at the beginning of a new year, is the perfect opportunity.
That’s where we can help.
Our Outsourced Finance Department can immediately embed the most up-to-date ways of working in your accounting function.
We’ll bring into your business tried-and-tested financial systems and processes, managing your numbers smoothly, accurately and safely – the way a corporate would expect.
We’ll put our top-of-the-range, cloud-based accounting software, iplicit, to work for your business, giving you real-time financial reporting (and helping you understand those reports, too).
Finally, you’ll get access to an experienced financial team with a broad range of skills, who we continually train to the highest of standards. Our people are at the cutting-edge of best practice, and they’ll be working hard for you, becoming an integral part of your team.
To find out more about the Outsourced Finance Department and how it can help your company, get in touch with me today. Simply email garry@insightassociates.co.uk or call us on 01279 647447 and we’ll get right back to you.
Warmly,
Garry
