Everything You Need to Know About Offshore Staffing for Accounting Firms

Maybe you’re spending months trying to fill senior accountant positions. Maybe tax season is becoming unsustainable for your existing team. Or maybe you’ve watched competitors expand their service offerings while you’re stuck saying no to new clients because you don’t have the capacity.

Whatever brought you here, you’re likely past the “Should we consider offshore staffing?” phase. You’re in the “How does this actually work, and who are the providers worth talking to?” phase.

This guide covers the essentials you need to understand about offshore accounting staffing—what it is, why accounting firms use it, what to look for in a provider. We also list ten companies that specialize in connecting accounting firms with offshore talent.

Think of it as your shortlist-building resource so you can hop on calls with a few providers and figure out which approach fits your firm’s specific needs.

We’ll be upfront: we run one of these companies (Near), so we’re not pretending to be neutral observers. But we’ve also worked with enough accounting firms to know that no single provider is right for everyone.

The goal here is to give you enough context to ask smart questions and make an informed decision about whether offshore staffing makes sense for your practice—and if so, which provider to partner with.

Why US Accounting Firms Are Turning to Offshore Staffing

Accounting firms face two critical pressures: a deepening US talent shortage and seasonal workload spikes during tax season and year-end close that require flexible capacity without long hiring cycles. Offshore staffing solves both—accessing experienced professionals with US GAAP training while scaling capacity quickly for Q4 and tax season.

US accounting talent shortage

The accounting talent crisis isn’t getting better. It’s accelerating. According to recent industry analysis by Accounting Today, there was a 17% decline in accounting graduates from 2016 to 2021, while 75% of certified public accountants are approaching retirement age.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects more than 124,000 new accounting and auditing openings each year through 2032, with many replacing professionals exiting the field entirely. 

This shortage is so severe that Ernst & Young recently announced plans to invest $1 billion over three years to improve the attractiveness of the CPA profession.

For mid-market accounting firms that can’t match Big Four salary packages, offshore staffing has become not just cost-effective, but operationally necessary. 

It’s how firms maintain service quality during tax season and access senior-level expertise they can’t find or afford locally.

Further reading: What Smart Companies in America Are Doing to Overcome the Accounting Talent Shortage

Business cycles and fluctuating demands

Accounting firms often experience fluctuations in their workload based on the business cycle. During peak seasons, you may need extra help to handle the increased demand, especially with burnout prevalent in the industry.

Offshore staffing allows you to scale up and down quickly without the hassle of hiring and training new employees.

What Is Offshore Staffing for Accounting Firms?

Offshore staffing means hiring accounting professionals from another country (e.g., Argentina, the Philippines, or India) to work remotely for your firm. A specialized staffing agency manages the entire process—sourcing candidates with US GAAP knowledge, conducting technical assessments, handling payroll and compliance, and providing ongoing support through tax season.

In the case of accounting firms, this could mean hiring accounting and finance professionals from another country to handle tasks such as bookkeeping, tax preparation, and financial analysis.

A staffing agency that specializes in placing offshore accounting and finance talent facilitates the hiring process and makes it as easy as hiring talent in the US.

Here are the staffing services they typically offer:

• Talent sourcing: The agency identifies and recruits skilled accounting professionals from the regions or countries they work with. They often have extensive networks and databases of candidates who are qualified and experienced in accounting department roles, such as: 

• Bookkeepers
• Staff accountants
• Accounts payable specialists
• Tax accountants
• Chief financial officers (CFOs)

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• Screening and selection: The agency conducts thorough vetting processes, including technical assessments of US accounting standards, software proficiency tests (QuickBooks, Xero, NetSuite), international background checks, and interviews to ensure candidates meet your firm’s standards.

• Onboarding and training: Once candidates are selected, the agency assists with the onboarding process, ensuring that new hires are integrated smoothly into your operations. They may also provide training to align the offshore staff with your procedures and tools.

• HR management: The agency handles all HR-related tasks, including payroll, benefits administration, and compliance with local labor laws. This allows you to focus on core business activities without worrying about the complexities of hiring foreign employees or contractors.

• Support and troubleshooting: The agency offers ongoing support to both offshore employees and your firm, addressing performance issues and ensuring the offshore arrangement runs smoothly through tax season and beyond.

 7 Benefits of Offshore Staffing for Accounting Firms

Some of the key benefits of offshore accounting you can expect by working with a staffing company include:

1. Access to high-quality, experienced accountants

By hiring offshore accounting staff, you tap into global talent pools and access highly qualified professionals, bypassing local talent shortages. 

Top offshore staffing companies for accounting firms specialize in finding candidates with US GAAP training, Big Four experience, and specific expertise in areas like tax preparation, audit support, and financial reporting.

Offshore staffing agencies can find candidates with specialized skills or niche experience that may be scarce in your local market, ensuring you can meet your clients’ needs effectively without compromise.

For example, FinanceWithin partnered with Near and filled multiple specialized finance and accounting roles in weeks, not months, giving them the capacity they needed to scale without slowing down their operations. They went from 7-day hiring timelines to having senior bookkeepers, accounting managers, and financial analysts in place and productive.

According to Near’s State of LatAm Hiring Report, which analyzed over 1,000 placements, accounting roles are the second most commonly filled role for the second year running, right behind BDR/SDR.

This demonstrates the sustained demand from US firms looking to build reliable accounting capacity through offshore and nearshore hiring. 

The data shows that 84% of LatAm placements in 2025 were mid-level or senior positions, meaning firms aren’t just filling entry-level gaps—they’re accessing experienced professionals they couldn’t afford or find domestically.

2. Extra value and capacity for clients

Offshore accounting staffing can also provide added value to your clients by allowing you the bandwidth to offer a wider range of services at a lower cost. This can help you attract and retain clients, ultimately increasing your revenue.

And with a team of offshore accountants, you can handle more tasks and take on more clients without overloading your in-house staff.

3. Significant cost savings (30-70% lower than US salaries)

Hiring accountants from locations with lower living costs can significantly reduce your salary expenses.

Offshore staffing agencies often have access to candidates in regions where the cost of living is lower than in the US. This allows you to hire skilled professionals at 30%–70% of the cost to hire in the US—while still paying a fair wage in relation to the workers’ living costs. It’s generally a win-win situation.

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Source: Near's US vs. LatAm Salary Guide. Use Near's LatAm hiring savings calculator to estimate your specific savings.

4. Time zone alignment for seamless collaboration with US-based teams

If you hire accounting staff in Latin America, this allows you to take advantage of nearly perfect time zone overlap with the US. São Paulo, Bogotá, Buenos Aires, and Mexico City share most or all of the US workday.

This allows for real-time operations where reconciliations can be reviewed live, questions answered during business hours, and sign-offs completed the same day—not overnight. During tax season, this advantage becomes critical for meeting filing deadlines without requiring your team to work night shifts.

As one finance leader told us after a year of managing a team in Mumbai: “The talent is solid…but trying to manage someone in such a different time zone has been hard. Hiring in LatAm and staying within the same reasonable time zone just makes so much more sense for us.”

Another example: Stull CPA, a Texas-based accounting firm, struggled with time zone misalignment and quality issues from previous offshore hires in Asia. During their critical tax season, they needed skilled accountants who could work US hours without the errors that had plagued their previous attempts.

By partnering with Near to access Latin American talent, they hired three senior accountants and an operations manager in under two months, saving $308,000 annually while maintaining service standards during peak periods.

5. Easy scalability for tax season and year-end close

Offshore staffing offers scalability and flexibility for accounting firms facing predictable seasonal demand. 

As you experience business growth or approach peak periods, you can easily scale your offshore team to match demand without worrying about lengthy hiring processes, training investment, or paying for additional office space.

The financial impact can be transformative. CyberFortress, a global cybersecurity company, faced a shortage of qualified finance and accounting talent in the US after acquiring several business units. They built an entire accounting team of 20 professionals from Latin America through Near, including three managerial-level positions.

The result: $1.2 million in annual salary savings and a 33% faster month-end close. Most importantly, these weren’t temporary contractors—most hires have stayed with the company for over two years.

6. Better handling of work during peak season without burnout

Tax season can be overwhelming, with high volumes of returns, tight deadlines, and exhausted staff. Offshore staffing provides the additional support you need during busy periods, ensuring all work is completed efficiently and on time without burning out your existing team.

The right offshore staffing company can have you up and running with additional capacity in 2-3 weeks instead of the 2-3 months typical for domestic hiring.

7. Simplified HR and compliance management

Working with an offshore staffing agency means you don’t have to worry about handling HR-related tasks, including payroll, benefits administration, and compliance with local labor laws and taxes in the candidate’s country.

This simplifies the management process for your firm and ensures that all legal and compliance issues related to international hires are properly managed by specialists who understand the regulatory landscape.

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Top 10 Offshore Staffing Companies for Accounting Firms

Here are ten offshore accounting staffing companies with a strong track record of connecting accounting firms with top talent. The list includes both accounting outsourcing specialists and staffing and recruiting firms with experience in sourcing offshore accountants.

These ten providers were selected based on verified third-party reviews (G2 and Clutch ratings with substantial review counts), proven track record placing accounting professionals rather than generic offshore talent, pricing structures, and demonstrated expertise screening for US GAAP knowledge and local compliance management.

The list spans both accounting outsourcing specialists and full-service staffing firms, with geographic focus ranging from Latin America (time zone alignment) to Asia (maximum cost savings).

1. Near

Near (Hire With Near) is a full-service staffing and recruiting agency that helps US companies of all sizes hire top-performing remote talent in Latin America across finance, accounting, sales, software engineering, AI, data, design, marketing, operations, and virtual assistance.

We help accounting firms quickly fill critical accounting and finance roles—controllers, accountants, accounts receivable specialists, and more—with professionals who perform at the level of your best US hires.

Our done-for-you hiring process means you’ll receive a shortlist of vetted accounting candidates within 3 days and typically make a hire in under 3 weeks.

Why Near stands out:

• No upfront costs: Interview candidates for free, and only pay once you hire. 
• Flexible pricing models: Choose between a one-time recruitment fee or a monthly staffing model where we handle payroll, compliance, and benefits administration.
• Deep accounting talent reach: Access 45,000+ pre-vetted professionals, plus targeted sourcing beyond our database to match your exact requirements for US GAAP knowledge, software proficiency, and experience level.
• Proven placement success: 97% placement success rate (97% of roles get filled) and 4.9 rating on G2 based on 100+ verified client reviews.
• Transparent salary visibility: You always know exactly what your hires are earning. We provide salary benchmarking data, but you decide on the offer.
• 180-day replacement guarantee: If a placement doesn’t work out within 180 days, we find you a replacement at no additional cost.

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2. Adecco

Adecco provides a wide range of staffing services across various industries, including accounting and finance. With its extensive international network, it offers both temporary and full-time placement services.

Adecco’s financial division places highly qualified individuals into positions ranging from entry-level accountants to seasoned finance managers. Its scale and diversified services make it a reliable choice for businesses with various staffing needs.

3. Cloud Accountant Staffing (CAS)

Cloud Accountant Staffing was chosed for this list as they specialize specifically in outsourced accounting services for accounting firms. They are rated 4.9 on Clutch. 

Their offshore talent comes from the Philippines and is ready to fill most accounting firm positions at a fraction of the cost of US hires.

4. Credfino

Credfino is an accounting staffing firm that helps accounting and tax businesses find the staff they need. They offer cross-functional domain expertise, end-to-end task management, practice management tools, and more.

5. MYCPE ONE

MYCPE ONE provides offshore staffing solutions tailored to accounting firms. They have extensive experience helping firms hire skilled offshore professionals from India and the Philippines.

6. KMK

KMK Ventures Private Limited offers offshore staffing for CPA firms, including offshore tax preparation services and offshore accounting services. They promise maximum returns with minimal stress and “efficient, reliable, offshore accounting solutions.”

7. CapActix

CapActix Business Solutions offers versatile recruiting for both accounting and non-accounting positions. They help you to grow your business while lowering personnel and overhead expenses.

8. TOA Global

TOA Global provides access to a pool of outsourced accountants in the Philippines who are well-versed in the standards of the US accounting industry. Their candidates are highly skilled and well-trained.

9. Velan Bookkeeping

Velan provides outsourced bookkeeping services for CPA firms among its broader financial services.

Its financial experts are ready to help with accounting software like Sage, Intuit, Peachtree, QuickBooks, Quicken, NetSuite, Intuit, and Microsoft Dynamics GP. The company’s bookkeeping services are available throughout the US.

10.  Accounting Principals (LHH)

Accounting Principals finds and places top accounting and finance professionals.

Now part of LHH (Lee Hecht Harrison), a global career transition and talent development firm, Accounting Principals benefits from vast resources and international reach. This allows it to extend comprehensive career development services to accounting staffing candidates.

Factors to Consider When Choosing an Offshore Staffing Provider

Seven factors separate providers who deliver from those who create headaches: pricing transparency, proven track record, geographic specialization, rigorous screening processes, demonstrated expertise navigating local employment laws and compliance, flexible scaling for tax season and year-end close, and the ability to deliver candidate shortlists in days.

Here are the factors to consider when choosing which accounting staffing firm is right for you:

Cost structure and pricing transparency

One of the main reasons firms turn to offshore staffing is cost efficiency, but pricing structures vary dramatically between providers. Some charge one-time placement fees (typically 15–35% of annual salary), while others charge monthly staffing fees that include payroll and compliance management.

The best offshore staffing companies for accounting firms show you exactly what your hire earns versus what you pay. Avoid providers who can’t explain their fee structure clearly or who hide costs in “administrative fees” and “compliance charges.”

Quality of service and proven track record

While cost matters, it should never be the only factor. Ensure the provider has a proven track record specifically with accounting firms, demonstrated through third-party reviews on G2 or Clutch (look for 4.5+ ratings with 50+ reviews).

Ask for case studies showing successful placements of accountants, bookkeepers, or controllers. Request references from accounting firms similar to yours in size and specialization.

Flexibility and scalability

Accounting firms have fluctuating workloads driven by tax season, audit schedules, and client growth. Choose a provider that can scale services according to your needs—adding capacity quickly in Q1 and Q4, then adjusting afterward.

The best providers maintain pre-vetted talent pools so they can deliver candidate shortlists within days, not weeks.

Time zone considerations

Consider whether you want your remote hires to be in time zones that overlap with US time zones (like in Latin America) or you are okay with (or even prefer) a large time zone difference (like India). There are benefits either way, but it’s important to know your preference so you can find an agency that specializes in finding candidates from the relevant regions.

Also keep in mind that closer time zone alignment often means fewer cultural differences, which can lead to smoother communication and seamless integration with your existing team.

Language capabilities and communication skills

Ensure your chosen provider tests language proficiency rigorously to avoid communication issues. In accounting, clarity matters—misunderstandings about journal entries, reconciliations, or client requests can create serious problems.

Ask the provider to explain their English proficiency screening process. The best companies use structured language assessments and conduct interviews in English to verify communication skills before presenting candidates.

Competence in navigating local employment laws

It’s crucial to choose a provider that is competent and experienced in navigating local employment laws in the countries they hire from. This ensures compliance with local regulations, avoids legal issues, and provides peace of mind that your remote staff is being managed properly and fairly.

US GAAP knowledge and technical screening

This is non-negotiable for many accounting placements. Your offshore staffing provider must screen candidates for US GAAP or IRFS understanding, experience with US accounting software (QuickBooks, Xero, NetSuite, Sage), and knowledge of US tax regulations where relevant.

Many Latin American accountants have formal training in US GAAP and experience working with US-based companies through multinational corporations or Big Four offices in the region. However, not all staffing providers screen for this expertise. Ask specifically about their vetting process for US accounting standards.

What Offshore Accounting Staffing Services Should I Consider?

Offshore accountants can handle the full range of accounting firm services: tax preparation and return processing, daily bookkeeping and transaction recording, accounts receivable and payable management, payroll processing and administration, financial statement preparation per US GAAP standards, and in-depth financial analysis and planning.

Essentially, any accounting work that doesn’t require physical presence can be done offshore.

Offshore accounting services typically include the following:

Tax preparation

Offshore tax accounting experts are adept at navigating complex tax laws and regulations, making them invaluable allies for your firm’s tax-related tasks. They can manage return preparation and filing, ensure compliance with local and federal tax requirements, and identify potential deductions and credits to optimize your clients’ tax liabilities.

Further reading: How Offshore Accounting and Taxation Services Can Transform Your Firm

Bookkeeping

Offshore bookkeepers can handle day-to-day financial transactions, maintain ledgers, reconcile bank statements, and ensure that all financial records are current and precise.

By outsourcing bookkeeping, your firm can focus on higher-value tasks while maintaining impeccable financial records for your clients.

Further reading: Best Staffing and Recruitment Firms for Hiring Bookkeepers in Latin America

Accounts receivable and payable

Offshore accounting teams can oversee invoicing, track outstanding payments, manage vendor bills, and process disbursements. This ensures that your client’s businesses maintain positive relationships with both customers and suppliers by managing timely collections and payments.

Further reading: How to Hire the Best Offshore Accounts Receivable Specialists: A Step-by-Step Guide

Payroll processing

Effective, timely payroll processing is vital for employee satisfaction and regulatory compliance. Offshore payroll managers and specialists can manage the intricacies of payroll administration, including salary calculations, tax withholdings, benefits administration, and adherence to relevant regulations.

Financial statements preparation

The preparation of financial statements—balance sheets, income statements, and cash flow statements—is critical for decision-makers and for assessing a business’s financial health.

Offshore qualified accountants can compile these financial reporting statements per applicable accounting standards and principles (including US GAAP), ensuring that your firm delivers high-quality, accurate, and timely financial information to your clients.

Financial analysis and planning

Beyond routine accounting tasks, offshore staff can deliver in-depth financial planning and analysis services. They can scrutinize financial data to detect trends, forecast future financial performance, and assist in developing strategic plans aimed at reaching financial objectives.

This service empowers your firm to offer your clients insightful, data-driven decision recommendations and strategies.

Further reading: Time to Hire a Financial Analyst? Here’s What You Need to Know

Final Thoughts

Offshore staffing for accounting firms isn’t about cutting corners. It’s about accessing the accounting talent you need at a cost structure that makes growth possible.

The firms that do this well aren’t just saving money. They’re hiring experienced accountants, bookkeepers, and controllers who perform at the level of their best US hires, often with better retention rates.

They’re filling critical roles in weeks instead of months. And they’re finally able to scale their teams during peak seasons without compromising service quality or burning out their existing staff.

If you’re considering this approach, start with one placement to test the model. Choose a provider that has a track record of sourcing accounting talent for US accounting firms, demonstrates transparent pricing, and can show you proof of successful placements through third-party reviews or case studies. 

At Near, we’ve helped accounting firms like Stull CPA, Cyberfortress, and dozens of others build reliable offshore teams in Latin America. Our process is built on a few non-negotiables: you interview for free, you set exactly what your hires earn, and if a placement doesn’t work out within 180 days, we find you a replacement at no additional cost.

Most of our accounting firm clients start with one or two hires, experience the quality firsthand, and then expand from there. We’re not pushing you to offshore your entire department—we’re offering you a way to fill the roles that are keeping you stuck.

If you want to explore what this could look like for your firm, book a free consultation. We’ll walk you through the process, show you relevant candidate profiles, and give you a realistic assessment of whether hiring in Latin America makes sense for your specific situation.