The peak season is the most critical time of year for accounting firms. With client demands rising and deadlines piling up, your team’s ability to deliver accurate, timely results is everything. But even the most experienced firms can stumble if they don’t have the right team structure in place.

Hiring more people isn’t always the answer. It’s about hiring the right people, planning ahead, and making sure your staff is supported throughout the season. Small mistakes in staffing can snowball into costly errors, employee burnout, and missed deadlines.

In today’s competitive accounting landscape, avoiding these staffing pitfalls can make the difference between a smooth season and a stressful one.

Here are 7 staffing mistakes accounting firms must avoid during the busy season, and how to fix them.

1. Waiting Too Long to Hire

Many firms make the mistake of delaying hiring decisions. By the time they begin looking for help, qualified candidates are already gone.

Why it matters:
The talent pool dries up quickly during peak seasons. Waiting too long means you’re left with limited options, often compromising on quality or paying more than budgeted.

What to do instead:
Start recruiting early—at least 3 to 4 months before tax season. Use platforms like LinkedIn, accounting job boards, and staffing partners to build a talent pipeline. If your firm has predictable busy periods, set recurring reminders to start the hiring process proactively.

2. Overloading Your Best Employees

Your top performers are reliable, efficient, and can handle pressure. But relying on them too much can backfire.

Why it matters:
Overworking a few employees while others are underutilized leads to fatigue, reduced focus, and costly errors—especially during high-pressure periods. It can also eventually lead to low morale and even resignations.

What to do instead:
Distribute workloads fairly. Use time-tracking tools and dashboards to monitor team capacity. Rotate responsibilities and set boundaries on overtime. Protect your top talent by supporting them, not overworking them.

3. Skipping Proper Onboarding for Temporary Staff

Bringing in seasonal staff without a structured onboarding plan is a mistake many firms make.

Why it matters:
Poor onboarding leads to confusion, delays, and costly errors. Even experienced accountants need context and firm-specific training.

What to do instead:
You can create a simple onboarding checklist. Introduce new hires to your software stack, workflows, and client expectations. Use 1-on-1 calls, training videos, or a buddy system to get them up to speed quickly.

4. Ignoring Offshore or Remote Talent

Relying only on local hiring limits your scalability. It also increases costs and adds pressure on your in-house team, especially if you are a small firm.

Why it matters:
Firms that leverage offshore or remote professionals save up to 40% in staffing costs and scale operations without needing bigger offices.

What to do instead:
Consider working with offshore staffing partners to handle repetitive tasks like bookkeeping, data entry, or tax prep. These professionals are highly skilled and often work during different time zones, helping you run a 24-hour operation during crunch time.

5. Not Cross-Training Staff

Too many firms operate with a “key-person” model—where only one employee knows how to perform specific tasks.

Why it matters:
If that person takes sick leave or quits mid-season, your workflow is disrupted. Cross-training builds redundancy and flexibility.

What to do instead:
Before the busy season, train staff on multiple functions like reconciliations, payroll, or client communication. Use SOPs, internal wikis, or short video tutorials. This approach also helps team members understand the bigger picture.

6. Ignoring Employee Well-being

The busy season is intense, but it shouldn’t come at the cost of mental health.

Why it matters:
Extended periods of stress can lead to burnout, disengagement, and errors—especially when staff feel unsupported or overworked.

What to do instead:
Promote a healthy work-life balance, even during the crunch. Offer mental health resources, encourage breaks, and reward milestones. A supportive environment boosts performance and retention.

7. Not Using Automation and Workflow Tools

Relying solely on manual processes during the busy season is a mistake.

Why it matters:
Manual work slows down your team and increases the risk of errors. Firms that adopt automation tools often find they can handle more client work, sometimes even without needing to increase their team size.

What to do instead:
Automate recurring tasks like bank reconciliations, invoicing, and reporting. Tools like Jetpack Workflow, Xero, and Practice Ignition help streamline operations and reduce your team’s workload.

How These Mistakes Cost Accounting Firms

Making these staffing mistakes during the busy season doesn’t just affect internal operations—it impacts your bottom line.

• Lost productivity from burnout or poor onboarding leads to missed deadlines.
• High turnover means more time spent on hiring and training.
• Lower client satisfaction risks long-term revenue.
• Increased overtime and rework inflate costs and affect profit margins.

Firms that avoid these mistakes perform better, retain talent, and build stronger client relationships.

Staffing is one of the most critical parts of a successful busy season. Yet, many firms repeat the same mistakes year after year—hiring too late, relying on the same people, skipping onboarding, or ignoring outsourced support.

But the firms that prepare in advance, support their people, and invest in flexible, tech-enabled solutions? They stand out. They grow. And they retain both clients and staff for the long haul.

If your firm is gearing up for the next tax season, now is the time to reflect and recalibrate. Avoid these seven staffing pitfalls, and you’ll turn your busy season into your best season.