How IOFM’s AR Certification Can Help Retain Your Staff

By the end of 2025, expect more than one in four of your AR practitioners to be working elsewhere. Moreover, nearly half plan to defect within 36 months. And once they put a clock on their tenure, it means they already have a foot out the door ­— quiet quitting has already begun.

That’s the headline of IOFM’s latest Best Teams to Work For survey of more than 400 financial operations professionals.

Figure 1. How Long Do AR Staff Expect to Remain with Their Current Team?

Source: IOFM’s Best Teams to Work for Survey

Overworking your staff could cost you your top AR talent. During a normal week, an average AR practitioner reports working over 43 hours. When additional duties get piled on at month’s end or due to audits, the workload only gets more strenuous to balance.

According to the survey, 21% say they often feel burned out in a typical week. But during month end, that share jumps to 32%. With numbers that high, it’s not surprising that a significant share of your AR teams are looking for alternative employment options.

Action Item: Offer Staff Training

Because AR staff are looking for ways to work more efficiently, one of the best ways to work smarter is through professional development. It follows that more than two-thirds of AR staff say they could be lured away by an organization that invests in professional development, such as IOFM’s certifications.

IOFM has certified more than 25,000 AR and AP professionals, helping them learn best practices from our member organizations. These lessons boost efficiency and effectiveness. 

Moreover, showing that you are investing in their career and work/life balance encourages your staff to invest more of their time in your organization.