Most companies rely on their back office teams to keep things running. These teams manage payroll, close books, support audits, and more. Yet, their work often gets ignored. People don’t always see the effort behind the scenes.
As a result, many assume back office work is simple or low value. This belief creates a big gap between what these teams do and how others see them. It also keeps them stuck in routine tasks, with little time to improve or grow.
Daniel Paik understands this problem well. He is the founder of CuroWork, a B2B software company that helps back office teams work smarter. Before this, he spent over 20 years in finance and served as a CFO. He saw firsthand how hard these teams work and how little credit they get.
His platform helps teams track their work, manage time, and focus on projects that add real value. One team using his method completed 900 percent more projects in ten months without adding new staff. Their revenue and margins also improved.
In this article, we’ll explore how teams can shift from busy work to meaningful work. You’ll learn how tracking time, fixing small issues, and showing results can increase back office team value. We’ll also share real examples and simple steps you can apply.
Why Back Office Team Value Is Often Overlooked?
Many back-office teams work long hours, yet others often don’t see the value they add. This leads to the wrong idea that these teams are just costs to the company. The real issue is a lack of structure and clear ways to show their work.
How Structure and Metrics Increase Back Office Team Value
Teams in finance, HR, and accounting handle key tasks like payroll, taxes, and monthly close. But they rarely get credit for the work they do. Their efforts stay behind the scenes, so others don’t notice them. This causes people to think the work is simple or less important.
One leader once heard, “Your job is easy. Just get it done.” That mindset comes from not seeing the full picture.
The Need for Structure and Measurement
Unlike other teams, back-office teams often don’t track what they do each month. This makes it hard to show results or spot areas to improve.
Here’s what’s often missing:
- Clear reporting: No set way to share what’s been done or what results came from it.
- Standardized workflows: Each person works differently, which slows things down.
- Onboarding systems: New hires don’t get proper training or support.
- Defined success metrics: Most teams don’t know what “good” looks like.
Leadership and Culture Matter
If teams don’t know the company’s goals, that’s often a sign of poor leadership. Leaders set the tone. If goals matter to them, they’ll make sure the team knows them too.
Track Recurring Work
Start by listing regular tasks. Track how often they happen and how long they take. This helps show how much time and effort goes into keeping things running. When teams measure their work, they can show their value.
Why Are Projects Essential to Back Office Team Value?
Back-office teams handle the core tasks that keep a company running. These include payroll, tax filing, audits, and more. Without these, the business simply can’t operate. But while these are essential, they don’t help the business grow. That’s where the shift in thinking begins.
What Really Drives Business Growth?
Most business leaders focus on growth. Growth often comes from projects. Projects may include launching a new tool, improving a process, or entering a new market. These tasks take time, planning, and teamwork.
And in many cases, back office teams are the ones expected to deliver them. The problem is, these teams are already busy. Their first focus is recurring work. Then come daily issues and last-minute requests.
These are often treated like emergencies, even when they’re not. Projects come last, if they come at all. This creates a big gap.
The business wants growth, but back office teams don’t have the time to support it. It’s not a question of talent. It’s about time. And without time, they stay stuck in routine work.
How Time Management Improves Back Office Team Value
The real problem isn’t too many tasks. It’s that teams don’t control how they spend time. Many know what needs fixing. They just never get the chance to do it. Tracking time helps teams see where it goes and make space for better work.
Real Results When the Shift Happens
One team did this and saw big changes:
- 900% more projects completed in 10 months
- Revenue grew by 156%
- EBITDA margins rose by 29%
They didn’t hire more people. They just used time better. That made all the difference.
How to Free Time and Strengthen Back Office Team Value?
Many teams work hard every day but still feel stuck. The problem often isn’t effort. It’s that no one tracks where time goes. Without that, it’s hard to know what work truly helps the business grow.
Small Shifts Lead to Big Wins
One team kept missing client contract renewals. That caused big losses. The fix wasn’t complex. Two team members, with 30 free hours each, took ownership.
In six weeks, they solved it. They built a shared file, added contract dates, and set alerts before contracts expired. That’s all it took. They never missed a contract again.
Even simple changes can bring big results when the time is there. But someone has to own the problem. And there has to be space to fix it.
Here’s what made the difference:
- Clear ownership of a problem no one tracked before
- A shared, simple system that worked for the whole team
- Extra hours freed up to focus on solving it
- Visible proof that the fix worked
Data Turns Effort into Results
Doing good work is one thing. Showing its value is another. In this case, data told the story. Over 10 months, the team did 900% more projects than before. Revenue grew 156%. Margins rose 29%. These were real numbers tied to real work.
Measure First, Then Improve
Data helps teams:
- See where time is going
- Cut what adds no value
- Focus on useful work
- Build trust with clear results
Leaders can’t just give pep talks. They need to show facts. When people know how they spend time, they can choose better. That’s where real progress begins.
How Finance Can Show Back Office Team Value Beyond Budgeting?
Today, finance teams need to think beyond cost control. Real value comes from work that helps the business grow. That means showing results through business outcomes, not just saved money or headcount.
Focus on Projects That Drive Business Outcomes
As AI and automation take over repeat tasks, finance teams get more time. The question is, how should they use it? The answer is simple—use that time to fix problems that slow the business down or hurt revenue.
Start by listing the projects that could bring value. Look at the impact they could have if fixed. You don’t need exact numbers. Just estimate what time or money could be saved or gained. Once done, track the results. If the change worked, make it part of your process. If not, learn and try again.
One team fixed a broken scheduling system. It caused missed appointments, unhappy customers, and lost income. After they fixed it, things improved quickly. That small change made a big difference and saved time across teams.
Build a Culture That Supports Growth
- Shift the mindset
Stop saying “that’s not my job.” Ask how you can help the business grow. - Make time visible
Track where the team spends time. It shows what to change or improve. - Focus on business goals
Line up your daily work with what matters most to the company. - Work as one team
Break down silos. When people work together, projects move faster and get better results.
When finance takes this approach, it becomes more than a support team. It becomes a real part of the company’s growth. That’s how the work starts to matter more and stress starts to feel like progress.
Conclusion
Many back office teams work hard but still feel overlooked. The problem often isn’t effort. It’s time and visibility. When teams don’t track their work, others can’t see their value.
That leads to wrong assumptions. People think back office tasks are simple or low impact. In reality, these teams carry out work that keeps the business going.
However, daily issues, repeated tasks, and last-minute requests take most of their time. That leaves little room for real change. To fix this, teams must track how they spend time.
This shows what matters and what doesn’t. It also helps make space for work that drives growth. One team proved this works. By managing time better, they completed 900 percent more projects in ten months.
They didn’t hire more staff. They just used time wisely. As a result, their revenue and margins went up. That’s how you show real back office team value. You measure time, fix what slows things down, and focus on results.
You build trust by showing facts, not just effort. When teams shift from busy work to smart work, they create impact. And when leaders support this shift, the whole company moves forward.
FAQs
How can leadership directly improve back office team value?
Leaders can set clear goals, assign ownership, and make time tracking a team habit. They must lead by example and remove roadblocks.
Can tools like Excel still help show back office team value?
Yes, if used consistently. Even a simple spreadsheet can track tasks, time, and outcomes if everyone follows the same format.
How often should teams review their tracked data?
Ideally, every week. A short check-in helps spot what’s working, what’s not, and where to adjust quickly.
What role does feedback play in improving back office team value?
It’s key. Feedback from peers and leaders helps people learn, improve faster, and stay aligned with company goals.
Does team size affect back office team value?
Not always. Small teams can show strong value if they manage time well and focus on high-impact tasks.
