Hiring a virtual assistant (VA) can transform your workflow, freeing you from administrative chores and specialized tasks so you can focus on strategic growth. Yet, the secret to maximizing their impact lies in the types of tasks you delegate—and the training they receive. According to a 2023 Remote Workforce Survey, 64% of small business owners reported saving at least 10 working hours per week after effectively onboarding a virtual assistant. Below are some high-value roles a VA can fill, provided they have the right guidance and expertise.

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Mastering ASC 842 Lease Accounting (For Skilled VAs)

If your virtual assistant has a background in finance or accounting, enlisting them for ASC 842 lease accounting tasks can be a game-changer. The standard requires organizations to recognize virtually all leases on the balance sheet—an update that has caused headaches for many business owners. Handling the data entry, reconciling invoices, and ensuring compliance are processes often riddled with errors if done haphazardly. A VA proficient in lease-related rules can monitor renewal dates, identify variable rent clauses, and maintain accurate right-of-use asset values. However, it’s vital that the assistant has professional training or credentials; a misstep in reporting lease obligations can skew your financials and attract scrutiny during audits. For many owners, the payoff of delegating this intricate accounting component more than justifies the effort to find or train a VA with advanced skills.

Tackling Administrative Tasks

Administrative duties might appear mundane, but they soak up hours that could be spent on leadership, strategy, or product development. Delegating daily tasks—like email triage, calendar management, or data entry—can help you recover lost productivity. Your VA can also organize digital files, track expense receipts, and create standard operating procedures (SOPs) for repeated processes. A 2022 Virtual Productivity Report revealed that virtual assistants saved business owners an average of six hours per week simply by shouldering routine admin chores. By centralizing these tasks, you not only streamline your operations but also cultivate a more orderly digital workspace where crucial documents or meeting notes never go missing.

Streamlining Technical Sales

VAs with a knack for communication and light technical expertise can be trained to support or even drive initial sales conversations. Imagine them handling lead qualification, inbound queries, or demos for simpler software solutions—freeing up your core sales reps to tackle higher-level negotiations. The key is structured onboarding: equip them with product cheat sheets, sample scripts, and Q&A logs for common objections. Maintaining oversight ensures complex deals escalate to a senior salesperson before finalizing. A 2023 SMB Sales Trends study reported that companies embracing VA-led sales tasks saw a 15% improvement in lead follow-ups, showing how quickly responding to queries can enhance both conversion rates and brand reputation.

Examples of Helpful Sales-Related Tasks

If you’re still unsure how a VA might fit into your technical sales pipeline, here are a few concrete applications:

1. CRM Data Entry: Keeping client details updated, logging calls, and tracking ongoing communications.
2. Scheduling Demos: Syncing calendars between product experts and potential clients, ensuring minimal back-and-forth.
3. Resource Delivery: Sending follow-up materials—like brochures or comparison charts—after initial calls.
4. Lead Qualification: Asking standard questions to see if a lead matches your ideal customer profile.
5. Basic Tech Troubleshooting: Handling front-line inquiries about login issues or minor software glitches.

By tuning these tasks to match your sales funnel, you elevate both customer satisfaction and internal efficiency.

Submitting Refund Requests for Ad Fraud

Digital marketing often hinges on pay-per-click (PPC) campaigns, yet many businesses underestimate the impact of ad fraud—where bots or malicious users inflate clicks that don’t result in genuine leads. A 2022 Global Ad Fraud Study uncovered that companies lost over $80 billion to fraudulent clicks, draining budgets and distorting performance analytics. Assigning a VA to regularly audit your ad spend, isolate suspicious traffic, and file refund requests with Google or other platforms can safeguard your marketing ROI. They can watch for anomalies like sudden spikes in low-engagement clicks, then compile logs and screenshots as evidence. While it’s not a foolproof system, consistent monitoring and timely refunds can recover part of your budget otherwise flushed away by invalid traffic. They can also help manage any ad fraud prevention software that you have in place. There are a few different ones available now, just find one that suits you and the VA. 

Cultivating a Clear Onboarding and Training Process

Regardless of the specific duties, a well-documented onboarding process is critical for successful VA integration. Clear SOPs, detailed checklists, and short training videos help novices ramp up quickly. If your business involves specialized areas—like advanced accounting standards or particular software—allocate a segment of their first few weeks solely to skill-building. You could also set up weekly or biweekly check-ins to address questions and provide feedback. By treating your VA’s education as an ongoing investment, you ensure they remain adept at tasks over the long haul, whether it’s reconciling lease obligations under ASC 842 or perfecting cold emails to potential leads. The 2023 VA Efficiency Insights report found that 90% of owners who spent at least 10 hours on initial VA training reaped significantly higher performance satisfaction within the first three months.

Conclusion

From intricate ASC 842 lease accounting and everyday administrative chores to advanced technical sales outreach and click-fraud refund requests, a well-trained virtual assistant can be the linchpin that elevates your business. While finding a VA with specialized expertise—especially in accounting—might demand extra effort, the potential payoff in reclaimed time and operational efficiency justifies the diligence. By establishing clear processes, setting milestones for skill development, and consistently reviewing outcomes, you transform a distant support role into a mission-critical partnership. The real victory lies not in delegation alone, but in the synergy between well-defined tasks and the uniquely human adaptability your VA brings to the table.