Operations 7/18/2023 Outcome: New software saves time and reduces errors Understanding the situation A major food manufacturer was down an accounting employee and its complex rebate and billback process was a challenge for the under-staffed department to decipher. The small task had snowballed into a full-time data entry job as the manufacturer had grown significantly but the accounting department retained old processes. The accounting manager was left with a mass of spreadsheets and disorganized Excel files. The error-prone situation was an inefficient burden and the company had trouble finding an employee to do the work. Exploring the challenge The accounting manager reached out to CLA for assistance. While the open position was a headache, it was also an opportunity to rethink how work gets done. The accounting manager was open to starting from scratch to build an efficient process. CLA’s digital team took a curious and collaborative approach, finding out not only how work was done but why. Instead of backfilling the open position with the same type of labor, CLA helped the manufacturer automate manual processes so the manufacturer could reframe the job to a position offering ongoing value to the company. CLA’s tailored software provided better sustainability to address market and workforce changes. It also made training and maintenance easier. Achieving results CLA made sense of the mess — and helped the company turn a complicated, paper-based process into a seamless automated update. The new system is expected to save upwards of 60 hours each month of manual data input and reconciliation. It allows for a more automated process while also reducing errors. Management can now make more timely decisions about its customer rebate and billback programs, while also tracking and allocating costs to periods more efficiently and accurately. Looking to modernize manual accounting processes? © 2026 CliftonLarsonAllen. All rights reserved. "CliftonLarsonAllen" and "CLA" refer to CliftonLarsonAllen LLP. Securities and investment advisory services are offered through CliftonLarsonAllen Wealth Advisors, LLC, an SEC-registered investment advisor, member FINRA/SIPC. CliftonLarsonAllen is a Minnesota LLP, with more than 120 locations across the United States. The Minnesota certificate number is 00963. The California license number is 7083. The Maryland permit number is 39235. The New York permit number is 64508. The North Carolina certificate number is 26858. If you have questions regarding individual license information, please contact Elizabeth Spencer . CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen LLP), an independent legal entity, is a network member of CLA Global , an international organization of independent accounting and advisory firms. Each CLA Global network firm is a member of CLA Global Limited, a UK private company limited by guarantee. CLA Global Limited does not practice accountancy or provide any services to clients. CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen LLP) is not an agent of any other member of CLA Global Limited, cannot obligate any other member firm, and is liable only for its own acts or omissions and not those of any other member firm. Similarly, CLA Global Limited cannot act as an agent of any member firm and cannot obligate any member firm. The names “CLA Global” and/or “CliftonLarsonAllen,” and the associated logo, are used under license.