What concrete weekly measurables should we track for our accounting and IT seats to keep them accountable without resorting to subjective check the box metrics?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

Back-office roles such as accounting and IT are often mistakenly excluded from scorecard accountability because their work appears transactional or project-based. This oversight can lead to significant operational drag. Every seat on your [Accountability Chart](/qa/how-to-fill-unwanted-seats-accountability-chart) should have objective, weekly measurables.

Accounting Seat Measurables

For your accounting seat, focus on the key drivers of cash flow and accuracy. Useful weekly measurables include:

• Days Sales Outstanding (DSO): Tracks how quickly cash is collected from sales.
• Accounts Receivable over 60 Days: Helps identify overdue collections early for proactive follow-up.
• Weekly Cash Balance vs. Operating Cash Requirement: Compares your current cash position against the baseline needed for operations, providing insight into [cash flow](/qa/asset-heavy-cash-flow-valuation-strategy).
• Percentage of Vendor Invoices Paid On Time: Ensures you avoid late fees and maintain good vendor relationships.

IT/Systems Seat Measurables

For your IT or systems seat, prioritize system reliability, security, and user support. Effective weekly measurables include:

• Critical System Uptime Percentage: Guarantees that essential operations are not interrupted.
• Number of Open Support Tickets Older Than 48 Hours: Monitors the backlog and responsiveness of your support team.
• Number of Weekly Data Backup Successes: Ensures data integrity and [security](/qa/ai-driven-due-diligence-preparation-for-eos-companies-pre-exit).
• Average Resolution Time for High-Priority Support Tickets: Measures efficiency in addressing critical technical issues.

These metrics are objective, measurable, and free from subjectivity. They provide your back-office leaders with clear targets and offer the leadership team confidence that the "engine room" of your business is functioning smoothly. For broader guidance on selecting metrics, consider [how to choose 5-15 scorecard metrics](/qa/how-to-choose-five-fifteen-scorecard-metrics) that are most impactful. When metrics are consistently missed, it's important to understand [how to handle defensiveness around red scorecard metrics](/qa/handling-defensiveness-around-red-scorecard-metrics) during your Level 10 Meeting.