The shared services center (SSC) is now a strategic tool for many companies seeking to optimize costs, centralize key functions, and harmonize their working methods. Initially reserved for large international corporations, this model has become increasingly popular and now attracts SMEs and startups looking to boost operational efficiency.
But in practical terms, which jobs and functions are handled by a shared services center? From accounting and payroll management to human resources, IT support, and customer service, several areas are particularly well-suited to this organizational model.
This practical guide presents the main functions typically managed within an SSC and explains why they naturally fit into such a structure. It will help you assess which processes can be centralized so you can focus your internal resources on higher-value tasks.
Accounting: The historical core of shared services centers
Accounting is arguably the most common function handled within a shared services center. Indeed, accounting operations rely on recurring, standardized processes governed by precise legal requirements.
In an SSC, accounting teams centralize several essential tasks: processing supplier invoices, issuing customer billing, tracking payments, managing cash flow, and preparing tax filings.
This centralization helps unify practices across different entities or subsidiaries, reduces the risk of errors, enhances financial data reliability, and improves processing timelines. Additionally, automation through advanced accounting software helps reduce the administrative burden.
For many companies, delegating these tasks to a shared services center whether internal or outsourced to a partner like Talenteum frees up local teams to focus on financial control and performance management.
Payroll management: A key area to centralize
Another core SSC function is payroll management. Ensuring compliant payroll processing is complex and sensitive, subject to changing regulations depending on countries and collective labor agreements.
A payroll-dedicated shared services center handles tasks like issuing pay slips, managing social and tax contributions, tracking paid leave and absences, and producing mandatory declarations.
Centralizing these tasks ensures better process control, increased compliance, and fewer errors, while offering a global view of payroll costs. It also allows for rationalization of payroll tools and systems.
Outsourcing this service to a specialized partner like Talenteum allows companies even SMEs or multi-site businesses to delegate this complex function while maintaining high levels of quality and reliability.
Human Resources: A strategic back-office function
HR services are also frequently centralized in a shared services center. Certain administrative tasks can be standardized and grouped together, saving time and harmonizing HR management across different entities.
HR tasks handled by an SSC typically include drafting and tracking employment contracts, managing employee files, tracking absences, leave and employee benefits, organizing medical check-ups, and processing expense claims.
Centralizing these activities ensures consistent service quality for all employees and allows local HR managers to focus on more strategic responsibilities such as talent development, recruitment, training, and employee retention.
Thanks to Talenteum, many companies benefit from a flexible, remote HR back-office tailored to their needs, without having to build a full in-house team.
IT and tech support: A productivity booster
With increasing digitization and remote work, the IT function has become central in shared services centers.
Centralized IT teams handle multiple tasks: user support (helpdesk), technical incident resolution, systems maintenance, access and permissions management, network infrastructure monitoring, and sometimes first-level cybersecurity.
Centralizing IT support within an SSC ensures better service availability, faster response times, and standardized procedures. This directly contributes to maintaining employee productivity regardless of their location.
Outsourcing IT support to a remote team such as those provided by Talenteum enables access to skilled technicians while keeping operational costs under control.
Customer support and after-sales service: Centralizing customer experience
Customer relations is another area ideally suited to a shared services center. Centralizing customer support improves the handling of incoming calls, emails, and chats, while ensuring consistent response quality.
An SSC’s responsibilities in this domain include receiving and processing customer requests, tracking complaints, managing returns, and collecting feedback to improve products or services.
Outsourcing this function to a multilingual shared services center offers broader coverage and greater availability, especially for extended hours or international markets.
Talenteum supports companies seeking to enhance their customer support while optimizing their budget through qualified teams based in Africa and high-quality service delivery.
A driver of performance and flexibility
A shared services center therefore covers a wide range of functions essential to a company’s operations: accounting, payroll, human resources, IT support, and customer service.
These activities share common traits: they are repetitive, standardized, and highly automatable making them ideal candidates for centralization. When well-designed, an SSC helps optimize costs, harmonize processes, improve internal and external service quality, and free up local resources for higher-value tasks.
Whether you choose to internalize or outsource your shared services center with a partner like Talenteum, this model allows you to remain agile, focus on your core business, and contribute to the development of skilled jobs in strategic regions like Africa.
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