Insights

How top 500 firms engineer revenue

Written by Aiwyn Team | Wed, Apr 16, '25

Tax season is over, and for a lot of firms, the next question is: What needs to change before the next one?

 

One of the most common answers is revenue delays.

 

The issue is not just about getting paid faster. It is about knowing when revenue is earned, how it is being tracked, and where it is getting stuck. That is what makes revenue recognition such a powerful signal. It shows a firm is ready to take a closer look at the systems behind billing, collections, and forecasting and start improving them.

 

Why revenue recognition matters more than ever

 

Revenue recognition touches everything from cash flow to forecasting accuracy. But most firms do not have a clear way to see where revenue stands across partners, offices, and service lines. Instead, it is buried in disconnected systems, spreadsheets, or email threads.

 

This becomes even more important as firms grow. More partners, service lines, and offices mean more complexity in how and when revenue is billed and recognized. Without the right systems in place, even small gaps in visibility or timing can lead to larger issues with forecasting, collections, or client satisfaction.

 

Without a better view, it is easy to miss delays, miscommunications, or lost opportunities.

That is why firms are starting to rethink how revenue is engineered, not just tracked.

 

What top firms are doing differently

 

Top 500 firms are moving past manual tracking and looking for systems that bring everything into one place. They are asking better questions:

 

  • What are we not seeing in our billing or collections data

  • How much time is spent chasing clarity

  • Where do we need more control and consistency

Firms leading the way are focusing on three things

 

  • Visibility into what is happening across billing, WIP, and payments

  • Control over workflows, approvals, and ownership

  • Action to shorten delays and create smoother experiences for teams and clients

This approach does more than speed up revenue. It builds a better foundation for decision making, planning, and growth.

 

Revenue recognition is just the beginning

 

Looking into revenue recognition is often the first step. But what it usually reveals is a bigger need: better systems, tighter workflows, and tools that reduce manual work and surface what matters.

That is the kind of transformation firms are looking for after tax season. And the ones that start now are the ones that will be ready for whatever comes next.

 

Want to see how firms are turning revenue recognition into real results? Book a strategy session to explore what is working.