Accenture Supports Shared Services Implementation at University of Michigan, Targeting $17 Million in Annual Cost Savings

The University of Michigan has selected Accenture (NYSE: ACN) under a management consulting agreement to support implementation of a new Shared Services Center designed to improve operational efficiency by providing more cost-effective, flexible administrative services. Approximately $17 million in annual operational cost savings are projected by the university through improved process, organization and technology-enabled efficiencies that lead to greater productivity.

The Shared Services Center will provide finance and human resource services and is targeted to launch operations in 2014. The move to shared services is a major component of the University’s Administrative Services Transformation (AST) strategy, and follows detailed benchmarking, planning and design efforts that began more than three years ago.

University faculty and staff have provided input for the initiative, and the new structure will feature strong governance and service management systems to ensure accountability to the colleges, schools and administrative units being served. Accenture’s role includes change management, business process redesign for finance and HR processes, organizational design and implementation, enabling technology design, and overall project management to establish the Shared Services Center.

“The University of Michigan continues to be a leader in higher education,” said Ryan Oakes, who leads Accenture’s work on the project. “This program is driving operational improvements to administrative functions while addressing the need for top tier service levels delivered in a cost effective manner. Shared services is rapidly emerging as a key tool for universities to transform their administrative operations to generate sustainable reductions in the cost of providing back-office services while at the same time enhancing service quality.”

Learn more about Accenture’s Human Service practice, Empowering Services, Improving Lives, Accenture Government Productivity Services and Delivering Public Service for the Future.

About Accenture

Accenture is a global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company with over 266,000 people serving clients in more than 120 countries. Combining unparalleled experience, comprehensive capabilities across all industries and business functions, and extensive research on the world’s most successful companies, Accenture collaborates with clients to help them become high-performance businesses and governments. The company generated net revenues of US$27.9 billion for the fiscal year ended Aug. 31, 2012. Its home page is www.accenture.com.