Accounting and IT: one cannot exist without the other

At first glance, accounting services may seem simple – numbers, invoices, documents. But the daily reality at buhalteres.lt is quite different: 70 accountants, thousands of documents processed every day, and 1,400 clients who need not only accuracy but also data security. Here, IT is no longer just a supporting tool – it has become a vital part of the business. 

Is handling IT in-house a practical choice for accounting firms? What level of resources would it take? How to protect thousands of clients’ data from cyberattacks? Is accounting still about numbers, or has it already become a technology-driven business? 

Tried to manage IT in-house – realized it wasn’t feasible 

buhalteres.lt is an accounting services company distinguished by a modern approach to client service. The company offers a mobile app enabling clients to quickly submit documents, contact accountants, access necessary information, and see outstanding payments. It makes significant investments in data security and is certified under the ISO 27001 standard, ensuring continuous data protection through both technological and organizational measures. 

Over 15 years of operation, buhalteres.lt has grown to 70 accountants and more than 1,400 clients. That means thousands of documents must be processed quickly and accurately every day. Initially, the company tried to manage IT in-house by coordinating several different providers. But as the scale grew, it became clear this approach was not sustainable – broader expertise and someone overseeing the entire IT infrastructure from above was needed. 

“As an accounting services company, smoothly functioning IT is an absolute necessity – it’s the only way we can deliver quality work. It’s also critical for our clients, because only then can they keep their businesses running – operate cash registers, process payments, manage HR documentation. After trying to handle IT ourselves, we quickly realized we couldn’t keep up, because IT is a critically important part of our work,” explains Ieva Kaukėnė, Managing Director at buhalteres.lt. 

In-house or outsourced? The answer was obvious 

When deciding whether to build an in-house IT team or outsource IT management, the company took a pragmatic approach. They calculated that employing their own specialists would cost two to three times more just in salaries and training. On top of that, one person alone cannot cover the entire scope of IT – different specialists are needed for networks, servers, cybersecurity, cloud, and more. Outsourcing also guarantees continuity, with service available even during sick leave or vacations – and support running 24/7. 

“With an external IT partner, we get the full team’s expertise – from networks and servers to cybersecurity and cloud solutions. And not just IT support, but also IT development. Plus, an external provider doesn’t get sick, doesn’t take vacations, and doesn’t scroll TikTok. That’s why we decided to outsource IT,” shares Ieva Kaukėnė. 

Among the other advantages she highlights is the possibility to pay only for needed services, and assured service continuity even when one specialist is out due to illness or other reasons. According to Kaukėnė, an external partner follows market trends, implements innovations, can provide 24/7 support, offer simultaneous assistance from several specialists, or even help select and coordinate other vendors – ensuring continuous improvements and automation. 

An IT manager who sees the bigger picture 

When choosing an IT partner five years ago, the most important thing for buhalteres.lt was how the partner would view their IT ecosystem as a whole and what solutions they would suggest. 

“I remember bringing a huge sheet of paper to a meeting with Altic IT, where we had drawn out all our IT elements – the website, admin and partner computers, client access, servers, software, accounting programs, external vendors. We wanted to see how the partner would react to this and what insights they would propose,” recalls Ieva Kaukėnė. 

That expectation was fully met. The external IT manager from Altic IT became the link between business and technology. 

“We have a routine – every Friday we meet to discuss IT issues. Two heads are better than one. We constantly monitor IT risks and proactively prevent potential threats. What we value most is collaboration and mutual trust. Often our external IT manager, as an expert, makes decisions himself and simply informs us afterward,” says Kaukėnė. 

The benefits of this partnership become especially clear in crisis situations. One example was in 2021, when thousands of fraudulent emails were sent to Lithuanian companies in the name of buhalteres.lt, claiming they owed debts. Altic IT immediately investigated the case and implemented all possible measures to ensure such incidents would not happen again. 

buhalteres.lt is also implementing robotics and artificial intelligence solutions to automate routine processes and speed up the handling of large data volumes. Altic IT supports these efforts by documenting AI-related tasks and helping select the best project implementation partners. 

Challenging each other to grow 

At first glance, accounting services may seem straightforward. But as Marijus Strončikas, CEO of Altic IT, explains, the reality is far more complex. 

“buhalteres.lt has about 70 accountants, more than 1,400 clients, and each client submits dozens or even hundreds of documents every month: invoices, bank statements, HR documents, and more. That means countless opportunities for automation, reducing manual work, and applying the latest AI and other technologies. What was automated a few years ago can now be streamlined again – faster, simpler, shorter. This is a continuous process,” says Strončikas. 

For this client, Altic IT provides not only full IT support but also an advanced external IT manager service. Several experienced IT managers work together, combining their expertise. 

“We’ve once again been reminded how important it is to speak in the client’s language – not IT jargon or acronyms, but the language of business operations, priorities, benefits, numbers, and, of course, euros. Every IT manager needs to learn this,” notes Strončikas. 

What Altic IT values most about this client is their drive for innovation. “Buhalteres.lt never stops at ‘good enough.’ Managers actively encourage innovation, seek improvement opportunities, invest in experimentation, pilot projects, and are not afraid to make mistakes – they are considered a natural part of progress. Decisions are made in days or weeks, not months or quarters. That pace keeps us sharp as well – always looking for new tools, implementing technology in practice, and delivering real value,” he adds. 

Mutual partnership that drives growth 

The partnership between buhalteres.lt and Altic IT is unique – each company is also the other’s client. This creates added value and enriches the collaboration. 

“When your IT partner is also your client, you get feedback faster – valuable insights, ideas, constructive criticism. Mutual partnership strengthens trust and loyalty. After five years of working together, we’ve built another kind of synergy as well – for example, joint summer events with the Altic IT team,” shares Ieva Kaukėnė. 

According to Strončikas, a two-way partnership not only helps to better understand the client’s needs but also allows them to test solutions in practice. 

“Being their client ourselves allows us to better understand what service improvements are needed and to help set the right priorities. We don’t just initiate changes – sometimes we test solutions on ourselves before offering them to other clients. This kind of synergy is truly beneficial for both sides. This story shows that today accounting is no longer just about numbers – it’s a technology business, where success lies in partnerships that drive both sides to grow,” he concludes.