3 Myths That Make Accounting Tools Feel Collaborative (But Aren’t)

In accounting, there’s a term that gets tossed around with a knowing smirk: SALY.

Short for “Same As Last Year,” it’s a common approach to recurring work. Same checklist. Same spreadsheet. Same process. Because hey, it worked last year, right?

SALY shows up in more than just engagements. It also sneaks into how firms choose and use technology. Especially tools labeled “collaborative.”

We’ve seen it play out like this:

A team sticks with their usual tools because, on the surface, nothing seems broken. No one’s complaining. No urgent fire to put out. But behind the scenes? Deadlines slip. Review loops drag. Frustration quietly builds.

The process is “working.” But only because no one’s talking about how inefficient it feels.

Most accounting tools feel collaborative, but only because we’ve stopped questioning what collaboration really means.

In a world where client expectations are rising, margins are tightening, and teams are more distributed than ever, “same as last year” is no longer good enough.

Let’s debunk a few myths that are holding teams back.

Myth #1: Shared access = collaboration

A shared drive. A live spreadsheet. A workflow tool with team logins.

Sounds pretty collaborative on the surface. Everyone can log in. Files are available. Changes are trackable.

But here’s the reality: Access without alignment creates confusion.

If your team spends time wondering:

• Who’s doing what?
• Has this been reviewed yet?
• Did someone already request this from the client?

Then you’re not collaborating, you’re coexisting.

Collaboration isn’t just where the work lives. It’s how work flows. Clearly, consistently, and without having to message someone five times for updates. Real collaboration reduces noise, not adds to it.

Myth #2: If it worked last year, it still works now (The SALY Trap)

SALY feels safe. And in a profession built on accuracy and process, it’s no surprise that many teams default to what’s familiar.

But the assumption that last year’s tools are still the best choice today is risky.

Because what’s changed since last year?

• Your team might be remote.
• Your client expectations have likely grown.
• Your volume of work has almost certainly increased.
• Your client’s business strategy changed, and their activities throughout the year shifted to reflect that new direction.

And that spreadsheet that worked fine last year, didn’t scale. It just survived. SALY is easy until it starts costing you time, clarity, or client trust.

Collaboration should improve year-over-year. If your tools haven’t evolved, the friction between you and your clients probably hasn’t improved either.

Myth #3: Clients don’t care how we work internally

This one sounds true on paper. But every disjointed request, every vague follow-up, every “Can you resend that?” gets felt by the client.

If your team is switching between five tools to manage a single engagement, that mess will show up in how your firm communicates.

• Delays get longer.
• Status updates get murky.
• Expectations get misaligned.

And suddenly, it’s not just an internal process problem, it’s a client experience problem.

Collaboration isn’t just an internal benefit. It’s a strategic differentiator.

Why collaboration breaks down, even in good firms

It’s easy to blame tools. But most collaboration breakdowns don’t start with software.

They start with assumptions:

• That someone else is tracking progress.
• That last year’s template is still valid.
• That clients understand what we’re asking for.

They build from complexity:

• Juggling 3–5 systems that don’t talk to each other.
• Chasing down scattered requests across different email threads.
• Wasting time reviewing the wrong version of the right document.

And they persist because of silence. No one wants to re-evaluate processes that aren’t technically broken.

But this is exactly where hidden costs live. In the quiet inefficiencies that no one has time to diagnose.

So, what does real collaboration actually look like?

It’s not about more tools. It’s about fewer assumptions.

The best collaborative tools don’t just provide your team and clients access, they should also help progress your engagements with less friction.

Here’s what that looks like in practice:

• Visibility: Everyone can see what’s been done, what’s still pending, and where things are blocked.
• Accountability: Ownership is clear — no more “who’s handling this?”
• Streamlined: Fewer clicks, fewer apps, less switching, and no need to chase updates across email, and spreadsheets.
• Client clarity: Requests are specific, trackable, and easy for clients to fulfill without extra handholding.
• Efficiency: Work moves forward faster because everyone knows what’s next.

You don’t need more meetings. You need tools and processes that let the work speak for itself.

When that happens, you’re not just collaborating. You’re operating at a level that scales.

Challenge SALY and Rethink collaboration

This isn’t about buying something new. It’s about being honest about what’s actually working and what’s just familiar.

Collaboration isn’t a checkbox. It’s a choice. And the best firms aren’t waiting for their tools to break before they evolve.

They’re doing it now. Quietly building a better way to work, together.