Module 26 · Specialist · 8 min read
RACI, and working with the client's accountant and IT
You will be able to: Build a RACI for project deliverables; Work effectively with the client's accountant; Work effectively with the client's IT contact.
- Read not done yet
- Self-check: not taken not done yet
- Lesson complete not done yet
RACI assigns who is Responsible (does the work), Accountable (owns the result and signs), Consulted (gives input) and Informed (told afterwards). The rule: exactly one Accountable per task.
| Deliverable | Consultant | Client lead | Accountant | IT | Sponsor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business Blueprint | R | C | C | C | A |
| Chart of accounts and tax setup | R | I | A | I | I |
| Customer and item data cleansing | C | A | C | I | I |
| Opening balances loaded | R | I | A | I | I |
| Server, network and printers ready | C | I | I | R/A | I |
| Test scripts executed | C | A | R | I | I |
| Go/no-go decision | C | R | C | C | A |
Working with the client's accountant
The accountant is your most important client contact because they own the financial truth. Involve them early and give them work they can check.
- Agree the fiscal years, chart structure and VAT code treatment with them before configuring.
- Give them the opening trial balance, bill-by-bill ageing and stock valuation to approve before they are loaded.
- Ask for the filed VAT periods, so that periods can be locked after migration.
- Ask them to confirm the use of the Opening Balance ledger, 3900, for any difference.
- Show them the Posting Trail and reports early, so they trust the posting.
- Never give tax or legal advice. Their decisions, or their adviser's, are theirs.
Working with the client's IT contact
- Hardware: a Zeyto computer for each site with the specification agreed and enough disk space for backups.
- Network: fixed address or reserved IP for the Zeyto computer, LAN reach from every PC and till, firewall rules.
- Backups: a destination off the computer, an off-site copy, and who restores.
- Printers and scanners: models, drivers and test time.
- Security: antivirus exclusions, user accounts, and who may reach the server physically.
- Remote access: whether the client wants browser, phone or Client PC access outside the shop.
The late ageing fileThe accountant sends the customer ageing on day 18 instead of day 15, and it contains 41 invoices without due dates. The consultant raises it in the weekly status as Amber, proposes using invoice date plus credit days for the missing ones, and gets the accountant's written approval. Zeyto's bill entry does the same when Due date is empty: it uses the invoice date plus the party's credit days.
TipPut a named backup of the accountant and of the IT contact on the project. Projects often stall because the only person with an answer is on leave.
Practise in the demo
- Build a RACI for six deliverables of a small project, with exactly one A per row.
- Prepare a list of ten questions for the client's IT contact before installing the server.
- Open https://demo.zeyto.app/demo-app/ and sign in with the demo login. This is a public demo with sample data, so nothing you do there affects a real business.
Public demo company, sign in as admin / demoAdmin123. Data refreshes nightly.
Key takeaways
- RACI has exactly one Accountable per deliverable.
- Involve the accountant early with checkable work; never replace their judgement.
- Agree hardware, network, backups and printers with IT in writing.
Check yourself
2 questions on this lesson. Not timed, not the exam, and you can try again. Score 60% or more, and read the lesson, to complete it.
1. In a RACI chart each task should have exactly one Accountable person.
2. Which TWO should you ask the client's IT contact for?
Select all that apply.