All you need to know about back office work

What is back office work?

Back office work covers the behind-the-scenes tasks that keep a company running, such as admin, payroll, data management, and IT support. In short, back office staff make sure every in-and-out process runs the right way. So each department gets the support it needs to thrive.

• It handles bookkeeping, accounting, records, IT, and compliance.
• It rarely deals with clients, unlike front office roles.
• It supports the front office, so the whole business runs smoothly.

This guide gives you an overview of back office work. So you will learn how it works and which roles you can outsource.

What back office work involves

The back office is the main source of clerical and admin tasks each day. So its roles include bookkeeping, accounting, record keeping, IT services, and compliance.

These roles are not front-facing. As a result, back office staff do not deal with clients and customers. That sets them apart from their front office peers.

Still, back office roles matter as much as customer-facing jobs. They handle the admin tasks that keep the workflow smooth. In short, back office work keeps the front office and its staff running well. To see the split clearly, compare front office and back office roles.

Back office roles mostly cover books, data, information, and the company’s IT setup. It helps to remember one thing. Not every back office has the same roles and duties.

There are many types of back office support roles. In fact, each one is unique.

How it works: back office to front office

People often say the back office earns less revenue than the front office. To an extent, this is true. So let’s look at why.

Front office roles include customer service reps, marketing staff, and sales officers. They often chase monthly revenue goals. Meanwhile, back office roles run mostly behind the curtains. In other words, they cover clerical duties, paperwork, document processing, and data entry.

Yet the two sides work hand in hand. Back office tasks usually support the front office. In fact, front office staff could not function without help from the back office.

Back office roles you can outsource

Most roles in a company can be outsourced. This is true for the front, middle, or back office. For now, let’s focus on back office roles you might outsource.

First, a quick note. Outsourcing means you partner with a third-party firm to offload work to outside staff. In short, it is a proven way to save company resources over time. Many firms start with back office outsourcing for these tasks.

Most companies outsource the following back office work.

Data entry clerks

Data entry clerks handle admin and clerical tasks. So they check, enter, and update new data in a company’s system. If you want to hand off this work, look at data entry outsourcing.

As a result, they keep the company database accurate, organized, and up to date.

Administrative clerks

Admin clerks, such as bookkeepers, support daily operations. So they answer business calls and emails.

They also keep an organized filing system. In short, they track all incoming and outgoing documents.

Payroll, finance, and accounting

Payroll makes sure all staff get paid the right way. So it keeps salaries on time. In addition, it settles any pay disputes fast.

Payroll usually sits with the accounting or human resources team. Some firms also use payroll outsourcing to ease the load.

Data management

Data management keeps all your data unified across channels. So it cuts errors through clear security standards. Larger teams often turn to data management outsourcing for this.

With reliable, accurate data, companies decide faster. As a result, they respond well to market changes.

IT support

IT support staff keep your computer systems and software running. In addition, they fix any technical problems tied to a company’s products and services.

All these back office roles support the wider team. So they exist to give each department extra help. As a result, everyday operations run more smoothly.

About SixEleven BPO

SixEleven is a Davao-based Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) company in the Philippines. One of its main goals is to boost your revenue in a cost-effective way. So it helps you save resources, time, and effort.

SixEleven provides back office services along with lead generation and telemarketing sales. In addition, it offers customer support services, both outbound and inbound, plus many other services.

Do you want a partner for your back office or front office needs? Then SixEleven BPO can be the right fit for you.

Frequently asked questions about back office work

What is the difference between front office and back office work?

Front office roles face customers and chase revenue. Back office roles work behind the scenes. So they handle admin, data, and support tasks that keep the firm running.

Which back office roles can you outsource?

You can outsource data entry, admin, payroll, accounting, data management, and IT support. As a result, you free up your in-house team for core work.

Why is back office work important?

It keeps the whole business steady. In short, the front office cannot function without back office support. So both sides depend on each other.

Does back office work generate revenue?

Not directly, in most cases. However, it supports the teams that do. As a result, strong back office work drives long-term growth.

Key takeaways

• Back office work covers admin, payroll, data, and IT support.
• It rarely faces customers, but it keeps the front office running.
• Common outsourced roles include data entry, payroll, and IT support.
• Outsourcing back office tasks saves time and resources.
• SixEleven BPO offers back office and front office support from the Philippines.