Enhancing operations through centralized services in university system

Client background

The organization is a public university system overseeing more than ten institutions across the state system. The system serves a large student body with a variety of academic programs.  

The business challenge

The university system sought to improve operational efficiencies by consolidating finance and human resources services into a centralized model. They needed clarity on which services could be centralized versus those that must remain at the institution level. Additionally, they lacked insight into the amount of time staff spent on various services. This challenge was compounded by national trends urging higher education systems to centralize services to reduce costs and improve operational effectiveness. 

Strategy and solution

Baker Tilly conducted comprehensive surveys and interviews with key stakeholders across the university system. These efforts helped understand the roles, responsibilities and current operations related to back-office functions. Through a deep analysis, Baker Tilly identified which services were feasible for centralization and which would need to remain decentralized. 

Baker Tilly provided the organization with clear recommendations, outlining which back-office functions could be consolidated into a shared services model. A key aspect of this process included a detailed business case and a return on investment (ROI) analysis, demonstrating the potential benefits of centralizing shared services. These insights enabled the system to make informed decisions regarding their next steps toward a more efficient structure.