Simply put, Tax Accounting is a method used to prepare tax returns for individuals, corporations, and other entities. Governed by the Internal Revenue Code, Tax Accountants are responsible for tracking incoming and outgoing funds. They are responsible for being mindful of all the aspects that ensure a seamless tax season.

Why Do Individuals and Corporations Need Tax Accountants?

Tax Accountants in the United States help individuals and organizations prepare their taxes and then submit them to the Internal Revenue Service. And this is a year-on-year requirement. People look for Tax Accountants who can help clients save as much money as possible. They also act as Financial Advisors, especially when dealing with a large sum of money. The US Federal tax system is comprehensive, and hence, Tax Accountants also need to be aware of the application of the basic principles to tax returns and should be able to craft helpful strategies. 

Different Types of Tax Accountants

Tax Accounting is a niche field. And that is why, when looking to hire professionals, you need to know what exactly you are looking for. The main difference between Tax Accountants and the other accountants is set by the industry they work in or the clients they serve. Some common areas of their work include: 

• CPA Tax Accountants – They are the CPAs who also offer tax accounting services
• Management Tax Accountants – They are responsible for taking care of the financial and tax matters for large businesses. 
• Personal Tax Accountants – As the name suggests, they are responsible for managing individual taxes.
• Government Tax Accountants – They work with federal, state, and local government agencies.
• Small Business Tax Accountants – They usually focus on businesses of smaller and privately owned businesses. 

Hiring the right tax accountant goes beyond the credentials. It begins with a clear, well-crafted job description. This document not only outlines expectations but also attracts the right kind of expertise. Let us delve deep into what a Tax Accounting job description looks like: 

• Job Title

Be clear and direct. The candidates looking at the job description should be aware of what kind of Tax Accountant they are becoming and what the role entails. 

• Role Summary

The role summary is the job in a nutshell. This is important because this gives candidates an overview of what their role will help the organization achieve. It gives them a sense of purpose. 

• Key Responsibilities

List the core duties that the Tax Accountant will be responsible for. Instead of giving a generalized list of responsibilities, make sure to customize it based on the actual role, designation, and seniority level. 

• Required Skills & Qualifications

The role you are hiring for is not just about the basic qualifications. It goes beyond that. So, besides including the experience, technical skills, and qualifications, don’t forget to add the soft skills, strategic experience, or know-how that you might need for the role.

• KPIs or Success Metrics

Tax Accounting is a critical field, and hence, candidates need to be measured accurately for their performance. Set out clear, measurable expectations so that they have a result-driven approach. KPIs are not just about understanding performance, it is about managing the expectations of both parties more effectively. 

• Company Overview: 

Attract talent who are aligned with your mission. It is easy to teach skills, but what is more important is that you hire people who are culturally fit for the organization. 

• Compensation & Benefits: 

Transparency matters, especially when you are hiring for niche roles. Be it the salary range, the work options available, leave policy, or any other specific perks, they can help attract better candidates. 

Tips to Hire the Right Tax Accountants for Hiring Managers & Business Owners

A strong job description is a good place to start when looking for the right candidates. But successful hiring involves people who understand the role in depth and are willing to walk the extra mile.

• Define whether you need strategic or execution support: 

If you need tax strategy and planning, hire someone with advisory experience or a CPA license. If you need help with advisory experience, compliance, and filings, look for someone who understand it all and you do not end up all your time on training. 

• Make your choice based on in-house or offshore talent: 

Tax seasons can be overwhelming and sometimes you need the additional support. Make sure to combine your in-house teams and offshore ones based on what your requirement is. Pre-planning it all helps manage seasonal workloads, data entry and prep work. 

• Assess their tech readiness: 

Make tax season or accounting easy, needs your teams to be fluent in digital tools. When hiring a candidate, make sure you are on the same page in terms of the tools and platforms you are using. 

• Hire candidates who have an urge for learning: 

Tax codes are constantly changing and the modern accountant needs to keep up. When hiring for a role like this, it is important to seek candidates who do not just hide behind a pile of everyday tasks. They are learning, growing, and evolving. 

Need help getting started with hiring? Download our Tax Accountant Job Description template here. 

What Happens After You Find the Right Job Description?

Finding the right talent even with the right job description can sometimes be gruesome. Our remote, pre-vetted talent from India who are trained, English-speaking, and aligned with international standards are here to help.

Partnering with Finsmart makes sure that your accounting processes are seamless from Day 1. To get started, we follow the following onboarding steps:

• Gather all details of the accounting firm – client name, address, partners, employees, point of contact, scope of work and other basic details. 
• Together we set up the tech – Accounting Software, Internal Communications platform, time tracking, Document Management, task Management, Invoice Processing, Month Closing, Password Protection, and data security
• Deep dive into the accounting processes to understand what both parties expect
• Set the accounting offshoring workflow with our 14-step guide

Ready to get started? Book a discovery call: 

Book a free discovery call to explore your options.

The post Tax Accountant Job Description & Duties: What Businesses Should Know [+ Free Template] appeared first on Finsmart Accounting - USA.

At the end of this article, you will understand what a good outsourcing firm looks like. This knowledge will help you differentiate the great from the good (not to mention the bad) outsourcing firms.

What Is Finance and Accounting Outsourcing?

Finance and accounting outsourcing is the delegation of some of your firm’s finance and accounting services to a third-party service provider.

Companies do this to buy back time to channel their resources where they prefer, instead of trying to do everything internally.

Differences between outsourcing, offshoring, and shared services

Outsourcing: Outsourcing allows you to contract a third-party team of accounting professionals to handle some of your processes or tasks.

To ensure value for your money, you’ll have to define expectations for the outsourcing partner, which may be located abroad or in the same country.

Offshoring: With offshoring, you also delegate your services to another firm, but this firm is located in another country.

This is usually done to take advantage of lower labor costs abroad (think India). You can either offshore to an existing firm in another country or build a subsidiary in another country.

Shared Services: In a shared services model, an organization’s finance and accounting department serves multiple units or departments in the organization.

The service provider in shared services is not a third-party firm like in an outsourcing relationship. It is fully owned and controlled by the organization.

Top Benefits of Finance and Accounting Outsourcing for Modern Firms

• Cost Savings: Cost is the primary motivation for 59% of outsourced finance and accounting services because it reduces salary budgets.
• Efficiency: About 24% of accounting business owners admit to outsourcing their services to improve efficiency by using external expertise.
• Scale: Outsourcing allows firm owners to find more talent to take on more clients and grow their firms.

Top Countries for Finance and Accounting Outsourcing: India vs. Philippines

• Cost

India: Thanks to lower cost of living and differences in currencies, labor costs in India are as low as $5-$15 per hour for outsourced finance and accounting services, depending on the complexity of the task and expertise required.

Philippines: In the Philippines, labor costs are slightly higher. Outsourced finance and accounting services are accessible at $7-$20 per hour, depending on the complexity of the task and the expertise required.

• Talent Pool

India: With 400,000 CAs, which are equivalent to CPAs, India is full of BPO professionals trained in global accounting standards (GAAP, IFRS, IRS), advanced accounting technology (QuickBooks, NetSuite, SAP, etc..), and complex accounting tasks.

The Indian outsourcing workforce is more skilled in technical and analytical processes, making them highly suited to financial reporting, tax preparation, and other finance and accounting tasks.

Philippines: The finance and outsourcing talent pool in the Philippines is smaller in volume and less advanced in technical expertise and technological capabilities than that of India. Still, the 200,000 finance and accounting professionals make the Philippines a great place to outsource your accounting services.

However, the Philippines’ BPO professionals are more specialized in communication and client-facing roles (customer support, call center, etc.).

Time Zone Benefits

India: The Indian time zone (UTC+5:30) is about 4.5 hours ahead of the European time zone and about 9-10 hours ahead of the US.

This gives firms in Western markets the advantage of overnight service. Tasks assigned in their business day get completed by the next morning.

Philippines: The Philippines’ time zone (UTC+8) aligns with businesses in Australia, but is less aligned with European businesses. It is (12-13 hours ahead of the US, which enables US firms to provide 24/7 client service.

Security

India: Reputable outsourcing firms in India invest in specialized offshoring centers that comply with India data regulation frameworks like the DPDP Act 2023, IT Act, and SPDI Rules. These regulations comply with data privacy and security standards and certifications like GDPR, ISO 2700, and SOC II.

That is why global finance and accounting firms like Deloitte are rushing to India for their outsourcing solutions.

Philippines: The Philippines also has a BPO industry that ensures data security with regulations like the Data Privacy Act of 2012, which aligns with global standards like GDPR and ISO.

Government interventions through the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) have also made it a secure environment for global brands like Amazon.

Language Fluency

India: As the second-largest English-speaking country in the world, business and education are conducted in English, enabling Indian finance and accounting professionals to communicate numbers and technical concepts fluently.

Philippines: The Philippines is culturally linked with the United States, and it shows in the fluency of their English language communication. Their 92.5% proficiency rate and neutral accent make them ideal for client-facing roles, such as communication and client support.

What Services Do Outsourced Finance and Accounting Companies Offer?

Bookkeeping

Outsourced finance and accounting companies understand what it takes to ensure accurate financial reporting and compliance by recording and organizing sales, purchases, receipts, and payments information.

Accounts Payable/Accounts Receivable(AP/AR)

Finance and Accounting outsourcing firms are also skilled in ensuring the timely payment of the money your client owes (Accounts Payable). They also understand the techniques to help clients collect what they are owed to maximize vendor relationships and facilitate positive cash flow.

CFO Services

Apart from lower-level accounting and bookkeeping tasks, outsourced accounting professionals have the expertise to provide strategic financial leadership through financial planning, analysis, and decision-making.

Payroll

With knowledge of global payroll regulations, your outsourcing partner can help your clients calculate wages, taxes, and manage employee compensation in compliance with relevant labor and tax laws.

Tax Preparation

Reputable outsourcing companies (especially those in India) use CPAs, who are knowledgeable and up-to-date with global tax laws (like IRS regulations). 

This enables them to prepare and file tax returns for individuals, businesses, or organizations, ensuring compliance with tax laws and maximizing deductions.

Financial Reporting

You can also outsource the preparation of detailed financial statements and reports to provide your clients with the insights they need to meet regulatory or stakeholder requirements.

How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Finance and Accounting Outsourcing Company?

Average rates (India vs. US vs. Philippines)

India: Finsmart Accounting’s rates are $2600/month for a dedicated professional with 160 hours of work per month. Its hourly rate is $20 per hour. Check its pricing page for more information.

Philippines: In the Philippines, monthly rates are accessible at $3,500. Hourly rates are $25/hour.

United States: You need around $5,000 to get accounting professionals, and hourly rates are available at $36/hour.

Factors affecting pricing

• Service Type

Since the complexity of a service determines the level of training and expertise required to complete it, it is only natural that the depth of work your service requires determines the amount you pay for it.

• Service Level Agreements (SLAs)

Similarly, the scope and conditions of your service will determine the time and other resources required to complete it.

The longer a project takes and the expertise required, the higher the cost of outsourcing it.

• Compliance

Your client’s compliance needs are another factor. Industries like software-as-a-service (SaaS) require mastery of revenue recognition and deferred payment, which can make financial reporting more difficult (and prices higher) than other industries.

Top 10 Finance and Accounting Outsourcing Companies in 2025

• Finsmart Accounting

Finsmart Accounting provides outsourced finance and accounting services to accounting firms, CPAs, CFOs, and multinational corporations (MNCs) in the US, UK, Australia, Etc.

Its accounting experts combine AI technology with human judgment to ensure client satisfaction through timely (and accurate) service delivery and attention to detail.

Its services include bookkeeping, AR/AP, payroll, tax planning and preparation, audit support, virtual CFO, NetSuite-driven automation, and financial reporting.

“The Sales Tax report is done quarterly, requiring a complex pivot table and great attention to detail. Your team executed this with excellence, saving me significant time. I was very impressed with the work and the overall results.”

Nikki, Thrive Business Services

• InDinero

InDinero provides Bookkeeping, AR/AP, payroll, CFO advisory, business tax, technology implementation, and business intelligence services to clients in Tech, professional services, nonprofits, e-commerce, and healthcare businesses.

“The team is incredibly knowledgeable & responsive. They have streamlined our complete accounting, booking, and tax-filing process, allowing us to have a lean finance team and focus on the core part of our business. Furthermore, the team understands the cross-country accounting rules that only a handful of firms do. They help us sleep well at night, knowing that the accounting part of the organization is under control.”

Kishan Gupta, CEO of UXCam

• QX Global Group

QX Global Group is a finance, recruitment, and accounting outsourcing company that seeks to

transform business operations to enable firm owners in the UK, US, Canada & Australia to become more profitable, efficient, and competitive.

Its clients include businesses in manufacturing, restaurants, CPG, retail, etc.

• Connext Global Solutions

Connext helps firms find accounting talent to grow their custom offshore support teams, improve productivity, and streamline costs.

Beyond accounting firms, Connext Global also serves customer services, marketing, and healthcare.

“I’ve worked with several accounting support teams in the Philippines at my previous workplace, and I can wholeheartedly say that you folks are the best I’ve ever worked with.”

Alison Inafuku, Accounting Manager, Tony Hawaii Automotive Group

• CapActix

CapActix helps firms reduce staff & overhead costs with our offshore staffing solutions. It’s flexible Hiring Models for Accounting to elevate their competence, relieve stress, and improve their revenues.

Its finance and accounting talents provide accounting, bookkeeping, AP/AR, QuickBooks, and tax preparation services to businesses in agriculture, hotels and restaurants, retail, and E-Commerce etc.

• Outsourced Bookkeeping

Outsourced Bookkeeping saves business owners the stress of monotonous accounting services, allowing them to deploy their resources where they’ll make the most profits.

They serve both accountants and non-accountants, including legal, marketing,  and restaurant businesses.

“Sunil is a strong accountant with high integrity. I have worked with Sunil for seven years, and during this time, he has provided high-quality work ranging from bookkeeping to tax returns and financial spreadsheets. Sunil is a pleasure to work with and always delivers a good product on time. Highly recommended.”

Simon Frost, CEO & Co-Founder of Tiber Capital Group

• RSM Global

RSM Global is a network of assurance, tax, and consulting experts that tailor their skills, insights, and resources, as well as a client-centric approach based on a deep understanding of your business needs.

Beyond finance and accounting services, RSM’s professionals also provide digital, legal, and environmental sustainability services.

• Unison Globus

Unison Globus seeks to help accounting firms, CPAs, and EAs focus on client relationships and firm growth while we manage your accounting and tax back office.

Its virtual accounting workforce seeks to be an extension of accounting firms by building trust, empathy, and connections through professionalism.

“Working with Unison Globus has been the most rewarding experience I’ve encountered with an international team. The remote accountant I collaborated with blends effortlessly into our firm, truly becoming part of the team.”

Snehal Patel, Accountant –Tax & Business Solutions

• Ignite Spot

Ignite Spot provides expertise that elevates businesses and helps the owners reduce costs and cut risks.

Ignite Spot provides its services to accountants and non-accountants alike, including fashion. Healthcare and marketing.

“I love Ignite Spot. I’ve been with them for a while now, and they’re awesome. They organize my financial information, so I can make better decisions for my business. I work with Tom and Guy for bookkeeping and John for tax services. Holly also checks in with me on a quarterly basis to make sure I’m satisfied with their services. My experience so far has been 5-star quality.”

Sean Smith, CEO, Jungle Hustle

• Near

Near eases the process of finding and hiring outsourced finance and accounting professionals to help manage your workload and keep operational costs low.

Its target industry cuts across sales, customer support, and engineering.

“Near’s team gave us confidence that we’d hire great talent quickly. They did a deep dive into our requirements, asked the right questions, and communicated our needs and goals back to us. They advised us on compensation, different talent markets, and our hiring process.”

Anton Lipkanou, President, Delve

Key Questions to Ask When Hiring a Finance and Accounting Outsourcing Firm

• Due Diligence Checklist

A due diligence checklist gives you structured criteria to qualify potential outsourcing partners.

The checklist should include understanding the company’s:

Background and Reputation: The longer they’ve been in existence, the higher their chances of meeting your outsourcing needs (if they serve your client’s industry).

You should also ask for references from their past clients and check for independent reviews on sites like Clutch and Glassdoor.

Team Expertise and Capacity: This is where you find out how many finance and accounting employees they have and their qualifications. A reputable firm should include CPAs who are grounded in the financial reporting standards and tax regulations that matter to your clients.

Technology and Infrastructure: What tech tools do they use, and how proficient are they in those tools? You want to be sure they can work with the tools you already use.

Cost Transparency: Clear pricing information will protect you from hidden fees later on. With Finsmart Accounting, you’ll know (by looking at the pricing page what you need to pay per hour or month, depending on your chosen package.

• Security & Data Policies

Security and Compliance: Considering the sensitivity of accounting data, your outsourcing partner must have effective data protection policies and advanced security certifications that keep your client’s data safe in line with relevant regulatory frameworks.

Key certifications include ISO 27001, SOC 2, SOX, GDPR, etc.

“A reputable outsourcing firm should invest in a specialized offshoring Center with a lot of emphasis on data security. They should have protected servers, managed switches, and antivirus software.

They should also have certifications like ISO or SOC 2, etc. When you are evaluating a partner, ask for their security certifications to get a kind of assurance.”

Maanoj Shah, Offshore Accounting Expert and Co-founder of Finsmart Accounting

• Onboarding and Reporting Structure

Onboarding sets the tone for any business relationship, so it helps to understand how you’ll transition into a client.

When you have been successfully onboarded, ask about the reporting structure to understand the communication frequency you should expect.

Real-World Examples of Successful Finance Outsourcing

EXAMPLE 1: How Finsmart Enabled Account Ability Consulting to Tackle a Massive QuickBooks Cleanup

Susan Cook leads Account Ability Consulting, a firm that specializes in QuickBooks training, sales, and integrations.

When a client required a massive QuickBooks Online cleanup covering three years of financial data, Susan knew it was time to turn to Finsmart Accounting for this service.

Having received the data and other necessary information, the Finsmart Accounting team worked with Susan to figure out the most effective way to handle the project. This took roughly four stages:

• Dedicated Experts: Dedicated financial experts worked closely with Susan to ensure the cleanup followed her specific instructions.
• Detailed Tracking: Detailed spreadsheets and documentation ensured transparency in missing or corrected records.
• Regular Updates: Regular Zoom meetings and email updates provided clear visibility into progress and allowed for adjustments as needed.
• Efficient Execution: The project was completed efficiently, turning three years of financial disarray into a structured, reliable accounting.

At the end of the project, Susan’s client had accurate financial records to move the business forward confidently.

Here’s what Susan had to say:

“Finsmart was excellent at communicating and ensuring the work was done thoroughly. They provided spreadsheets, followed up diligently, and worked efficiently. If you have a financial project that needs attention, try it; you’ll find they are accommodating and reliable. You can feel confident that you’re in good hands.”

–Susan Cook, President, Account Ability Consulting

EXAMPLE 2: How Rapid Circle Streamlined Financials with Finsmart Accounting

Rapid Circle is a Global leader in Microsoft Cloud Solutions. When they faced the challenge of maintaining accurate financial records, which led to audit concerns and operational inefficiencies, Finsmart Accounting’s services came to the rescue.

Finsmart Accounting’s solution involved four phases:

• Discussion: We conducted stakeholder meetings to identify gaps and developed a customized plan for successful project execution.
• Process: We identified and corrected general ledger errors through reconciliation, processing adjustments to balance the books.
• Distribution: We developed a plan, assembled expert teams, and reconciled Rapid Circle’s balance sheet, verifying all assets and liabilities.
• In-Depth Cleanup: Following client consultation, we assessed PNL impact and cleaned up financial statements to ensure accuracy.
• Documentation: We provide ongoing financial maintenance, ensuring accurate and compliant records through regular documentation and reconciliation.

“We initially outsourced because we were small, but even as we grew, their (Finsmart Accounting) services were so reliable that we never felt the need to hire internally. Payroll on time, 100% accuracy, accounting with no faults, and never missed a date. From understanding international principles to handling complex structures,  it’s always a pleasure working with Finsmart.”

–Riya Chandan, Financial Analyst at Rapid Circle

Expert Tips to Maximize Your Outsourcing Relationship

Onboarding: Embed Your Outsourced Team Member to Increase Alignment

If you’re going to get the best out of your outsourcing partner, embed the outsourced professional, instead of treating them as a separate entity from your firm, recommends Maanoj Shah, F&A outsourcing expert and the co-founder of Finsmart Accounting.

“Offshoring is not about hiring external members. At Finsmart, it is about embedding the outsourcing company into your own. Since outsourcing gives you expert finance and accounting professionals, what you will need to focus on is seamlessly integrating them into your processes, tools, and software.

This will help them understand your best practices (your Dos and Don’ts), which will help to standardize your service delivery.”

Maanoj Shah, Offshore Accounting Expert and Co-founder of Finsmart Accounting

Tracking Metrics: Measure hours saved on routine tasks to focus on advisory and client acquisition

Getting these three metrics will help you understand how well your outsourcing relationship will support your growth.

Cost Savings: Operational cost is a primary reason for outsourcing your services. This will show you how much you have gained in labor costs, overhead expenses, etc.

Quality of Service: Outsourcing your services gives you access to qualified accountants. If your outsourcing partners are delivering quality service, you can confidently focus on strategic work.

Timeliness: The finance and accounting industry runs on deadlines. Quick turnaround time is crucial to keeping your clients compliant.

Using Finsmart Accounting has freed up my time to onboard new clients. I’ll keep assigning clients to them, so I can focus more on advisory and supervision, as opposed to the back-office operation of bookkeeping, which Finsmart does so well.

—Adrienne Dove, Founder, Corban Accounting Solutions

Communication Tools: Use secure, cloud-based tools for communication and reporting to ensure data protection

Collaborating by email is no longer sustainable as far as the security of client information is concerned. The risk of phishing and other forms of email fraud is more common today than before.

Fortunately, accounting client communication and collaboration tools are not in short supply. These tools are built with the security features finance and accounting professionals need to share files and information with their outsourcing partner.

For example, tools like Microsoft Exchange and Dropbox are built with encryption technology that renders information inaccessible to unauthorized persons.

Final Thoughts – Is Finance and Accounting Outsourcing Right for You?

Generally speaking, the finance and accounting outsourcing above are some of the best on the market, but they may not benefit your firm so much unless you understand why you need to outsource your services in the first place.

That is why we put this checklist together to help you get the most out of your outsourcing relationship.

Download it here to be clear when and how you can maximize third-party finance and accounting expertise for your firm.

Click Here to Book a Free Consultation with Our Outsourcing Expert Today.

The post Your Complete Guide to the Best Finance and Accounting Outsourcing Companies appeared first on Finsmart Accounting - USA.

So, how do we attract more accountants to join the profession? Betsy Krisher, CPA, says in an AICPA video while sharing her love for the profession, “The one ask that I would have of everyone in the profession to grow the pipeline is to tell their personal story about why the accounting profession is important to them, and how they want to attract more people into the profession, and why they think those people should be attracted, what’s in it for those people, and what you have got from being a CPA that you want others to have as well.”

A CPA is not just another title – they are your trusted advisor, a financial strategist, and a compliance expert. They are not your regular accountants whose job is to balance the books and keep the numbers right. A CPA is a key ingredient for the growth of your business. It is not only a preferred license in the US, but also in Canada, Australia, India, and Middle Eastern countries.

Given the criticality of the role, finding the right fit is not easy. It should begin with clarity. This means you need to craft a job description that doesn’t just put together a list of tasks, but also communicates expectations, goals, and business impact. 

So why are CPAs critical to your accounting business?

Accounting firms tend to trust an individual with a CPA license more because they have passed the CPA exams and have met the state’s education and experience requirements. They are qualified to: 

• Prepare and review financial statements
• Manage tax planning and filing
• Conduct audits
• Maintain regulatory compliance 
• Offer strategic financial advice

CPAs are often trusted with highly ethical and confidential tasks. They act as an important element in complex regulatory environments. 

1. Job Summary:
   
   Along with the title, adding a summary to the job description offers a compelling overview of the purpose of the role. This helps candidates understand where they fit and the impact they create.  

• Key Responsibilities:

Depending upon the size of the firm, business type, and client expectations, list down the core duties that are expected from the CPAs. This ensures that once they have joined the system, the candidates are clear from day one. 

• Required skills and qualifications: 

Include the experiences, technical skills, and certification-based must-haves like degrees, proficiency, and so on. 

• KPIs and performance metrics: 

Add measurable outcomes so that the expectations are well-aligned and drive accountability right from the beginning. 

• Compensation & benefits:
  
  This is one of the key things that should be included in a CPA job description. Talented candidates want to know what they would get in return for the services and contributions they are making towards the organization. If you are not able to put down the exact numbers, you might consider putting an overview of the compensation in terms of benefits and so on. 

What Makes a Good CPA? Traits You Should Look for When Hiring for the Role

Hiring the right CPA is no cakewalk. The skills and qualities needed seep beyond the technical checklist. The ideal candidate should possess these qualities: 

• Strategic Thinking: Whether you are glancing through the resume or interviewing them face-to-face, it is important to look at and analyze how they will help shape the financial direction of the business. It is also important to understand if they are well-aligned with the goals and values.  

• Analytical acumen: Are they just number crunchers, or do they have the ability to analyze those numbers and get a meaning from them? Can they interpret complex financial data to find trends, risks, or opportunities? If the answer is yes, you have probably found the right fit.  

• Clear communication: Can they break down financial jargon for non-financial stakeholders? Often, most stakeholders do not come from a business background, and hence, they need some clarity in understanding. If your CPA is not able to do that, it will be a challenge.  

• Ethics and integrity: One of the non-negotiable qualities that your CPA must possess is that they should be ethical and have integrity. They should be able to handle sensitive data and make unbiased decisions even under pressure.  

• Collaboration skills: A critical role like CPA should be able to work seamlessly with cross-functional teams like operations, legal, and even the stakeholders. 

In-House vs. Offshore CPA – What Should You Choose?

Want to hire the best CPAs?

Download the FREE JOB DESCRIPTION TEMPLATE today!

But if you are struggling to find the right CPA talent, it is time to explore offshoring as an option. With Finsmart Accounting, you can access pre-qualified, pre-vetted, skilled accounting professionals. We make getting started with offshore teams easier. How? 

1. We understand your requirements thoroughly. 
2. Besides the basic details, we lay out the scope of work so that both parties are on the same page. 
3. We assign a Team Leader and an Accounts Manager for all future communication. 
4. We support you through a 14-step onboarding process, tech setup, and data security protocols for you to get the right start. 

Whether you need a full-time CPA or a fractional team, we are here to support! 

Want to know more about offshoring? Get started today: https://finsmartaccounting.com/usa/free-consultation/ 

The post Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Job Description: Key Skills & Role Overview [+ Free CPA Template] appeared first on Finsmart Accounting - USA.

-says Rob Brown in the Accounting Influencers podcast episode of Why traditional CPA firms struggle to retain top talent.

The accounting industry is evolving rapidly, especially in the aftermath of the pandemic. Accountants are hired soon after they graduate from college, and then they work a few years with a firm to become a partner eventually. Previously, this is what the journey of an accountant looked like. But times have changed – the workforce has evolved, and they want more. This career trajectory doesn’t work for the accountants anymore. And the firms that have not evolved in terms of what they offer to the accountants are struggling to retain the top talent. 

In 2024, 83% of financial leaders reported a shortage of accounting talent as compared to 70% in 2022. Today, the US has about 3,40,000 fewer accountants than it did a few years ago. Some of the most common factors contributing to these declining numbers include retirement, the change in the workforce, accountants unwilling to work the long hours, a shift in mindset, and disruption because of tech, AI, and so much more. This compels the modern-day accounting firms to focus on adjusting their strategy to improve performance and retain the high-performing accounting teams. 

Why does a clear job description matter?

Building a high-performing accounting team isn’t easy. In an industry where precision, accuracy, compliance, and accountability are non-negotiable, the role of a job description that helps align the candidates with the organizational goals and vision from day 1 is more important than ever. It not only helps teams hire well-aligned individuals but also ensures retention. 

The Role of a Clear Job Description in Improving Performance & Retention

• Helps set expectations from day 1:
  
  The problem with unclear, confusing job roles is that they lead to underperformance and early attrition. When teams end up with overlapping job roles, it creates confusion and frustration. A well-written job description helps outline: 

• Key roles and responsibilities

• Key skills and qualifications, including any software and tools

• Reporting structure

• Expected outcomes and KPIs

Having clarity on the roles and responsibilities helps avoid multiple people working on the same job. With a clear job description, employees know what they are signing up for, how their work fits into the bigger picture, and what they are expected to achieve. When teams know what success looks like, they are more likely to remain on track. 

• Helps improve accountability and ownership:

The role of an accountant comes with high stakes. Even a single error can lead to penalties, compliance failures, or client dissatisfaction. Defining each role clearly can help teams operate with greater focus and independence. Employees can be held accountable for their outcomes only when expectations are set right from the beginning. This also creates a more collaborative work environment. When team members don’t waste time chasing, negotiating, or second-guessing responsibilities because the lines are already drawn, they are more productive and efficient. 

• Keep a track of performance with measurable KPIs:

When you include measurable KPIs in the job descriptions, it gives managers and leaders a shared understanding of what high performance looks like. Whether it is closing books on time, maintaining 100% payroll accuracy, or achieving zero tax filing errors, KPIs help keep track of performance reviews and cause corrections. 

When job descriptions are written with performance metrics in mind: 

• Employees are motivated to meet targets
• Managers can coach with clarity
• Conversations become outcome-driven, and not subjective

• Streamline hiring and onboarding: 

Constant turnovers are expensive. In a field like accounting, where training cycles are long and recurring, it can be extremely costly for businesses. Having a clear job description that is specific and role-aligned can help attract better-fit candidates, reduce hiring mismatches, and cut down onboarding time because new hires have complete clarity on what is expected of them. The internal documentation for your HR or staffing partner can help find steady and consistent hires.

•  Helps reduce burnout through defined roles and responsibilities: 

When accounting team members have overlapping duties or there is a disparity in the division of tasks, it can lead to burnout. In such cases, what usually happens is that some teams end up doing more jobs than they can, and they juggle to meet deadlines and maintain client satisfaction. One person ending up doing it all is most definitely not a sustainable model.

A clear job description balances out the workloads while preventing overextension. They help in distributing tasks fairly and highlight when a team is stretched beyond its limits. When you see that the tasks extend the team’s capabilities, it allows you the time to hire or offshore before burnout sets in. 

• Helps create a positive culture and transparency: 

Trust is based on transparency, and it has to be mutual. When employees know what is expected of them and what their responsibilities are, it leads to better communication, less conflict among team members, and a culture where everyone is aligned on the goals. 

Clear job roles are effective, and when it comes to performance conversations, they become less personal and more constructive. Employees feel more seen, valued, and empowered, which in turn boosts morale and retention. 

So, how do you use job descriptions to your advantage? 

In accounting, no two job descriptions are the same. One-size-fits-all often doesn’t work. The best practices include: 

• Customize descriptions as per your firm’s industry, position hiring for, workflow, etc.
• Include measurable KPIs tied to business results
• Maintain transparency about reporting lines, collaboration, and growth paths
• Update the JDs regularly to reflect changes in the process or scope of work

Not sure where to get started? Our customizable, ready-to-use job description templates are designed for accounting firms like yours. These templates will make it easier to hire, onboard, train, and retain talent and are applicable for building an in-house team and scaling with offshore support. 

Struggling to find talent that accelerates growth? With Finsmart’s Embedded offshoring model, we make it easier. You get access to pre-vetted, pre-qualified, English-speaking resources for different seniority levels. Whether you want junior bookkeepers or senior auditors, you’ve got it all covered. 

Have more questions about offshoring? Meet our team of offshoring experts to get started: https://finsmartaccounting.com/usa/free-consultation/ 

The post How Clear Job Descriptions Improve Performance and Retention in Accounting Teams appeared first on Finsmart Accounting - USA.

This article presents some of the most reputable finance and accounting outsourcing companies you can use to address your capacity needs today.

Why Businesses Are Prioritizing Finance & Accounting Outsourcing in 2025

• Post-Pandemic Digital Push

Only a few firms ever considered outsourcing before COVID-19. But with the lockdowns forcing every firm to work from home, firm owners had to find more reliable ways of getting work done without sacrificing quality.

This new system opened firms up to the reality of hiring not just within their countries but also abroad, allowing them to take advantage of knowledgeable and qualified accounting talent in foreign countries.

• Inflation and Cost Optimization

With inflation (always) on the rise, businesses are forced to find creative ways of doing more with less, and one major way is to outsource as many of their services as possible.

Outsourcing allows them to pay a fraction of a full-time employee’s salary to get qualified finance and accounting professionals. They don’t have to worry about an expensive hiring process, salary, and employee benefits.

• Rise of Remote Finance and AI-led Automation

Thanks to remote work tools like practice management software with AI features, team members can complete tasks faster and collaborate from opposite ends of the world with little to no misunderstanding and information gap.

This has enabled top finance and accounting outsourcing to ensure accurate and compliant financial reporting for their clients.

• Outsourcing as a Strategic Growth Enabler

Outsourcing allows you to manage increased client demands more confidently. It gives you the flexibility to add and reduce your workforce as your workload ebbs and flows.

This assurance of capacity sufficiency enables you to take on as many clients as you need to grow your firm. The top finance and accounting outsourcing companies do not require long-term commitment, so you won’t have to worry about severance packages when an outsourcing relationship ends.

What Makes a Top Finance and Accounting Outsourcing Company?

• Domain Expertise and Certifications

Reputable finance and accounting outsourcing firms have strict educational requirements, which play a crucial role in their hiring decisions.

Indian outsourcing companies, for example, use certified chartered accountants and CPAs who are well-versed in global financial reporting standards (GAAP, IFRS, etc.).

You wouldn’t need to train them on accounting procedures, as Rebecca Sanitago can confirm:

“Our outsourcing partner, The Finsmart Accounting team, already knows the accounting processes. That means I don’t have to train somebody, like I had done in the past.

All I do is provide the client context so that they can apply their accounting, QuickBooks, and reconciliation knowledge to the specific issues of that client. I don’t have to show them how to do accounting.”

—Rebecca Santiago, Owner, Advance Professional Accounting Service

• Technology Integration

Outsourced accounting teams can use the latest software programs to automate manual work and streamline accounting processes.

So, instead of worrying about training them on how to use the tools you currently use, they’re even more likely to teach you how to use software solutions like NetSuite, QBO, Xero, Karbon, Financial Cents, Liscio, etc.

“The Finsmart team can work with any software you have. QuickBooks Desktop, Xero, Bill.com, you name it!

They are experienced. There is no learning curve, so we don’t have to train anybody. They’re already trained.

—Mariko Hayashi-Hall, Founder and CEO of Chicago-based Brilliant Solutions Group

• Global Delivery and Time-zone Alignment

Having all your team members in one time zone helps with real-time collaboration, but that makes it difficult to always have someone attending to client work.

Many US firms outsourcing to India have appreciated the time zone alignment, even though both firms are 11 hours apart.

The time zone difference allows firms in the US to assign work to their teams in India, knowing they will wake up to completed tasks ready to move to the next stage.

• Client Support and Scalability

By nature, outsourcing firms allow you to expand on your terms with flexible staffing resources that allow you to quickly and easily increase your staff strength to meet increased client demands.

Without this flexibility, you either hire more staff ahead of client demand or do it after the fact. Either way, you’ll risk over- or underutilizing your team members, which could amount to a waste of precious resources.

Since working with Finsmart, we have had one main person who has been with us the whole time, and she has continued to learn and develop with us. When we had to bring on additional projects, Finsmart had additional staff to help us during that process.

—Elizabeth Bergen, owner of Foray Business Group

• Regulatory Compliance

Outsourced finance and accounting professionals are usually up-to-date with their clients’ changing financial reporting needs.

Their training in global financial reporting standards and tax regulations (GAAP, IFRS, SOX, IRS, etc.) enables them to guide your clients through difficult financial situations. That is why some of them can boast of an average client retention rate as high as nine (9) years.

Top 10 Finance and Accounting Outsourcing Companies in 2025

• Finsmart Accounting #1

At Number One is Finsmart Accounting, founded by a Chartered Accountant (equivalent of CPA). Its team of 100+ expert accountants and its comprehensive range of services position it as a one-stop solution for growing accounting, bookkeeping, CPA, and tax firms in the US, UK, Australia, and beyond.

Headquarters: Finsmart is headquartered in Pune, India, with offices in Mumbai and New York.

Key Services: Finsmart’s breadth of services includes bookkeeping, AR/AP, payroll, audit support, virtual CFO, and NetSuite-driven accounting automation and reporting.

Clients Served: over 300 accounting firms, CPA firms, global CFOs & Businesses (wanting to gain entry into India.

Key Strengths: Finsmart’s TAT framework (which encourages timely reporting) and expertise in finance and accounting software (like NetSuite) save its 150+ clients up to 50% on costs while ensuring accuracy and scalability. This has enabled the firm to retain clients for up to 9 years on average.

Certifications/Tech Stack: Finsmart emphasizes data security and compliance training for staff. Its security and technology certifications include SOC II, QuickBooks, and NetSuite certifications. Apart from NetSuite and QuickBooks, the team is proficient in Xero, Bill, Asana, Financial Cents, Microsoft Exchange, and Dropbox.

Why It’s in the Top 10: Finsmart was founded in the early stages of outsourced finance and accounting services. This early entry, NetSuite specialization, and domain expertise have ensured consistent quality client service, earning it this top spot.

Finsmart Pricing:

• Dedicated Seat at $2600/month for a dedicated bookkeeper (who will work 160 hours a month).
• Hourly Seat at $20 per hour.
• USA Tax Seat at $3000/month (for a dedicated tax accountant who will work 160 hours a month).

TEAM MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

Seemantini Karmarker is a chartered accountant and a US accountant and tax manager at Finsmart Accounting.

She joined Finsmart Accounting in May 2023, and since then, she has used her expertise to work on various US tax forms and accounting software.

For each client she’s assigned, she spends a fair bit of time trying to understand the client’s business processes to enhance their workflows.

Her accounting skills include:

• Bank Reconciliation
• Account Reconciliation
• Tax Planning and Preparation
• Auditing support
• Financial Reporting

“At around 15 clients, I completely ran out of capacity. I was working around the clock, seven days a week. I ran out of time, space, and the ability to take on more clients and grow. I did not want to be in a position where I was turning clients down.

Using Finsmart has freed up my time to onboard new clients. As I grow, I’ll be assigning more clients to them, so I can focus more on advisory and supervision as opposed to the back office operation of bookkeeping. Finsmart does the back office operation so well.  They have allowed me to add clients and grow with them.”

—Adrienne Dove, Founder, Corban Accounting Solutions

• InDinero #2

InDinero is a full-service finance and accounting outsourcing firm for small and enterprise-level businesses that need help focusing on their core business.

Headquarters: Covina, California. USA.

Key Services: bookkeeping, AR/AP, payroll, CFO advisory, business tax, technology implementation, and business intelligence.

Clients Served: all businesses in technology, professional services, nonprofits, e-commerce, and healthcare lacking full finance departments.

Key Strengths: Provides end-to-end finance and accounting services and technology, including monthly financial reviews, ensuring strategic alignment and profitability.

Certifications/Tech Stack: inDiero employs CPAs and financial advisors who are fluent in QuickBooks, Xero, and other cloud-based automation tools.

Why It’s in the Top 10: InDinero’s holistic approach to finance and accounting has helped business owners to keep more money in their business for over 13 years.

• QX Global Group #3

QX Global uses a 3-pronged approach that blends people, process & platform to provide outsourcing solutions that help enterprise businesses manage their capacity.

Headquarters: Skipton, North Yorkshire, UK, with offices in other countries.

Key Services: bookkeeping, financial reporting, accounts payable/receivable, payroll, tax, and audit support.

Clients Served: over 100 enterprise clients in 15 industries (accounting, manufacturing, and public sector).

Key Strengths: QX Global’s 24-hour service delivery and “3P” approach ensure access to niche expertise at a more cost-effective rate.

Certifications/Tech Stack: SOC 2, GDPR-compliant staff. Its tech stack includes QuickBooks, Xero, Microsoft Clarity, and Power BI.

Why It’s in the Top 10: Its 22 years of experience have enabled it to grow its client base through consistent client service.

• Connext Global #4

Connext Global Solutions provides accounting talent through global talent integration. Connext supports its finance and accounting talents with the personal and professional help they need to be productive and efficient in client service.

Headquarters: Honolulu, Hawaii, USA, with delivery centers in the Philippines, India, Mexico, and Colombia.

Key Services: bookkeeping, accounts payable/receivable, payroll processing, and IT support.

Clients Served: 50+ middle-market clients in construction, accounting, healthcare, real estate, insurance, and retail.

Key Strengths: High employee retention that saves hiring costs.

Certifications/Tech Stack: HIPAA-compliant for a healthcare accountant. Its tech stack includes QuickBooks, Xero, cloud-based automation, etc.

Why It’s in the Top 10: The diversity and agility of Connext’s outsourcing agile model have continued to drive growth for middle-market firms for over 10 years.

• CapActix #5

CapActix partners with accounting and non-accounting businesses to grow their businesses with flexible hiring models.

Headquarters: Ahmedabad, India.

Key Services: bookkeeping, tax preparation, virtual CFO, and digital transformation.

Clients Served: 100+ CPA firms and SMEs in real estate, e-commerce, manufacturing, hospitality, agriculture, etc.

Key Strengths: capable of catering to non-accounting businesses in real estate, health care, manufacturing, etc.

Certifications/Tech Stack: ISO 9001:2015, ISO 27001:2013, and GDPR certification. Tech stack includes QuickBooks ProAdvisor, Xero Advisor certified. Tech stack: QuickBooks, Xero, Sage, RPA, Zoom.

Why It’s in the Top 10: CapActix has advanced security protocols and QuickBooks/Xero certifications to protect sensitive client data.

• Outsourced Bookkeeping #6

Outsourced Bookkeeping’s specialized services help accountants in North America to grow their firm’s capacity through outsourcing.

Headquarters: Punjab, India.

Key Services: bookkeeping, tax, accounts payable, and QuickBooks.

Clients Served: Accountants, CPA firms, and SMBs in real estate, retail, and professional services.

Key Strengths: ‘overnight’ bookkeeping that ensures 24-hour client service and 20 years of outsourced experience.

Certifications/Tech Stack: Tech stacks include QuickBooks, Xero, Bill, Microsoft Dynamics, R365, Propertyware

Why It’s in the Top 10: Outsourced Bookkeeping has served 500+ accounting firms with a 90% Client retention rate.

• RSM Global #7

RSM International is an integrated network of accounting firms that provides accounting and tax expertise to firms at all levels.

Headquarters: London, UK, with offices in the US, India, and El Salvador.

Key Services: accounting, bookkeeping, AR/AP, payroll, tax outsourcing, audit support, risk advisory, and technology consulting.

Clients Served: middle-market businesses, conglomerates, and SMEs in manufacturing, real estate, nonprofits, etc.

Key Strengths: Global reach of up to 65,000 professionals in 900 offices.

Certifications/Tech Stack: RSM Global’s professionals are SOC and GDPR-compliant. Tech stacks include QuickBooks, NetSuite, SAP, RPA, and Power BI.

Why It’s in the Top 10: RSM has global appeal and has made significant progress in tech innovation (AI and RPA).

• Unison Globus #8

Unison Globus partners with CPAs, EAs, and accounting firms to focus on client relationship building and firm growth.

Headquarters: Ahmedabad, India.

Key Services: bookkeeping, tax, payroll, AP/AR, audit support, and management advisory.

Clients Served: CPA firms, EAs, and CMAs in real estate, retail, and professional services.

Key Strengths: tailored systems that match their clients’ operations. A close-knit team that works collectively to address client challenges.

Certifications/Tech Stack: experts with ISO certifications (27001). Tech stack includes QuickBooks, Xero, Drake, ADP, Etc.

Why It’s in the Top 10: Unison Globus’ ISO 27001 gives it an edge over many finance and accounting outsourcing firms.

• Ignite Spot

Ignite Spot’s services provide businesses with the insights they need to make better financial decisions through consistency, community, and contagious improvement.

Headquarters: Kaysville, Utah, USA.

Key Services: bookkeeping, payroll, financial reporting, tax preparation, fractional CFO, and controller.

Clients Served: small to mid-sized businesses in professional services, media, e-commerce, and healthcare.

Key Strengths: personalized, profit-driven methodology for small to mid-sized businesses making $500,000–$20 million in revenue.

Certifications/Tech Stack: QuickBooks ProAdvisor, HIPAA/GDPR-compliant. Tech stack includes QuickBooks, Xero, Bill.com, Fathom, Rewind, HubSpot, etc.

Why It’s in the Top 10: its ability to help small businesses grow, as shown by the revenue growth of Huddled Masses Media’s 25x revenue growth in one year.

• Near #10

Near’s recruitment process outsourcing gives accounting firms access to finance and accounting talent. They manage the entire process from hiring to onboarding, payment, and retention. Unlike Finsmart Accounting, Near’s talent pool is exclusively from Latin America.

Headquarters: Lewes, Delaware, USA, with offices in Mexico, Colombia, Brazil, and Argentina.

Key Services: accounting and bookkeeping (through recruitment process outsourcing, end-to-end staffing, and employee of record services).

Clients Served: midmarket enterprises and fast-growing startups in technology, healthcare, e-commerce, financial services, and retail.

Key Strengths: Near’s nearshore model ensures cultural, time-zone, and communication similarity between US firms and their outsourcing partners.

Certifications/Tech Stack: Near’s Latin American talents have a CPA-equivalent certification. They can use software programs like QuickBooks, Xero, NetSuite, Sage, Power BI, etc.

Why It’s in the Top 10: A 360 solution to find, hire, onboard, pay, and retain top Latin American talent in under 3 weeks.

Top 10 Ranking Companies Compared

Why India and the Philippines Dominate This List

• Cost-Effective Talent

The cost of outsourcing to India and the Philippines is far less than the rest of the world, especially the US, the UK, and Europe.

In these countries, the labor costs combine with favorable exchange rates to give firms in America and other Western markets access to cheap, but quality accounting services.

• High English Proficiency

Both countries have English as their official language, so communication and collaboration are not a problem for firms in other English-speaking countries.

They’re also culturally linked to these firms. This makes it easier for all parties to understand project requirements, establish context for work, and meet client deliverables consistently and satisfactorily.

• Strong Accounting Education Pipeline

Trained in global financial reporting standards, Indian accounting professionals can ensure financial reporting in line with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).

Plus, the Indian education system is known for its rigorous finance and accounting standards, which produce thousands of knowledgeable CPAs every year.

• 24/7 Service Delivery

India’s 9 AM is around 10 PM (CST), meaning when your US team is off work, your outsourced partners in India will be working.

This time difference ensures continuous service delivery for your clients, which gives a better chance of meeting tight deadlines.

• Tech-savvy Workforce

Business Process Outsourcing is a key part of both countries’ economies. That is why it has attracted huge investments from their governments through IT infrastructure and technology ecosystems.

This has exposed outsourced professionals in these countries to the most advanced programs for automating workflow, extracting data, and managing projects.

How to Choose the Right Partner in 2025

Here are a few things to note to make the most of outsourcing in 2025:

• Prioritize alignment with your business needs: The outsourcing provider’s expertise, certifications, and tech stack will amount to nothing if they don’t understand your business, industry, and needs.
• Focus on providers with a modern tech stack: Outsourcing thrives in a remote work environment when your team has the right tools to work with. A modern tech stack will free your outsourcing partner up to apply their expertise to your client’s financial situations. If they can’t deploy these tools, productivity will suffer.
• Request detailed proposals and SLAs: proposals and service level agreements clarify expectations and obligations, helping to prevent unmet needs that will negatively impact the outsourcing relationship.

Explore Finsmart’s cost-effective outsourcing solution today. Click here to book a session, so we can understand your needs, walk you through our tech stack, and discuss your engagement terms.

The post Top 10-Ranked Finance and Accounting Outsourcing Companies in 2025 appeared first on Finsmart Accounting - USA.

However, finance and outsourcing costs can be relative. Every firm should understand the dollar amount of outsourcing its specific services.

In this article, we attempt to narrow down the cost of outsourcing different finance and accounting services to help accounting firms (in the US, UK, EU, Australia, Singapore, etc.) negotiate better rates and plan their resources confidently.

Why Understanding Pricing Matters

• Rising Demand for Outsourced Finance

As more firms turn to outsourcing to reduce operational costs and manage workload, adequate knowledge of pricing structures and models will help them build more profitable outsourcing relationships.

• Cost is A Major Concern for Every Decision-maker

Accounting, bookkeeping, and CPA firms need the right pricing information to plan their budgets and allocate resources. This knowledge is key to realizing the value of outsourced finance and accounting services.

• Transparent Breakdown Helps to Avoid Hidden Surprises

When you and your potential outsourcing partner are on the same page concerning the price of their services, hidden and unpleasant cost surprises that disrupt budgets and stifle cash flow are prevented.

What Influences the Cost of Finance and Accounting Outsourcing?

• Scope of Services

All things being equal, outsourcing a function that can be completed in under an hour will cost much less than a task that requires four hours to complete.

That is why a basic bookkeeping service costs less than a financial audit. Similarly, running payroll for 20 employees will be less expensive than doing the same for 100 employees.

Many times, projects with larger scopes also require greater expertise to complete.

• Geography: Location of the Outsourcing Provider

Cost of living (and other economic factors) varies across geographical locations. This reflects on labor (and accounting) costs.

You can’t compare the cost of outsourcing a service to a company in India (where the minimum wage is $674) to a company in the US (where the minimum wage is $15,080), which is why PwC and other Big-4 firms outsource to India.

• Complexity of the Finance Function

If your clients have multiple products, intricate revenue systems, or international locations, more detailed and complex financial reporting is needed.

This requires more time and resources to complete, which will increase your finance and accounting outsourcing costs.

• Volume of Transactions

Transaction volume also drives up labor costs as your outsourcing partner may need to commit more accounting resources to get the job done.

Transactions in e-commerce and hospitality are usually more voluminous and involve multiple accounts. These transactions take a longer time to reconcile and are done more frequently.

Bookkeeping and financial reporting here will cost more.

Tools Used

The software your outsourced partners use for your clients’ work will either increase your operating costs (through subscription fees) or reduce costs indirectly (due to faster turnaround time).

• Experience Level of Staff

The more specialized (and certified) employees an outsourcing firm has on staff, the greater the outsourcing costs to deliver projects because paying CPA-level professionals will naturally be more expensive than entry-level bookkeepers.

That will also reflect in the quality of work you receive. This means quicker turnaround time, fewer revisions, and timely payments.

• Compliance and Reporting Requirements

When your clients operate in a heavily regulated industry like construction and non-profit, you will need more specialized knowledge and a strenuous financial reporting process to keep your clients compliant. You’ll pay more for the depth of work.

Common Pricing Models in Finance and Accounting Outsourcing

Sample Pricing by Service Type

Finsmart Accounting’s prices are structured as follows:

Pricing Comparison – India vs. Philippines vs. US

India-based outsourcing partners like Finsmart offer up to 60–70% cost savings compared to US providers.

Here’s a table showing the price difference between India, the Philippines, and the USA for the role of an accountant.

Why India Is the Preferred Destination for Finance and Accounting Outsourcing

India is one of the most affordable and advanced finance and accounting destinations due to:

• Availability of CPAs: The finance and accounting industry in India is highly competitive, thanks in part to government support and a rigorous education system.

Between 2020 and 2025, the country added over 9,000 new CPAs, who can walk into any firm, any business, and deliver excellent end-to-end accounting services.

• Domain Expertise: The Indian education system also emphasizes global financial reporting standards, like the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). This means your outsourced accountants do not need any training on accounting procedures.

Moreover, outsourcing companies in India prequalify their staff through a rigorous selection process, turning them into plug-and-play finance and accounting resources for US, UK, and Australian firms.

• Fintech Adoption: Investments from the Indian Government and the Big-4 accounting firms have helped to improve proficiency in financial technology, artificial intelligence, and analytics.

When you outsource to India, you wouldn’t need to train your partners on the tools you use for client work (QuickBooks, Xero, NetSuite, etc.).

“The Finsmart team can work with any software you have. QuickBooks Desktop, QuickBooks Online, Xero, Bill.com, you name it!

We don’t have to train anybody. They’re already trained.

—Mariko Hayashi-Hall, Founder and CEO of Chicago-based Brilliant Solutions Group

Cost vs. Value: What Are You Really Paying For?

• Expertise and Accuracy

The average finance and accounting outsourcing company has spent years helping accounting and CPA firms with diverse challenges in your industry.

This has given them the wealth of knowledge and experience to deliver the quality of service that your in-house team may not be capable of.

• Compliance and Reduced Risk

Reputable outsourcing companies not only understand your client’s unique compliance needs but are also equipped with the technology to keep your client’s data safe.

Your potential outsourcing partner should be GDPR and SOC II-certified. This will enable them to handle your client’s data in a way that complies with relevant privacy and data security laws.

• Scalability and Responsiveness

Growth can deplete your in-house resources and reduce your ability to meet client deliverables at scale, unless you hire more hands.

But hiring takes weeks, requires a huge financial commitment, and can end up a waste of resources if you hire the wrong person.

Outsourced companies are a steady source of qualified professionals available for monthly subscriptions.

This allows you to quickly add more staff (as you expand) to manage the increased workload and maintain the service quality.

• Access to Better Tools

Outsourced finance and accounting staff are trained with the latest accounting software solutions.

Using their resources allows you to tap into advanced technologies that can streamline and automate your repetitive work for maximum efficiency and profitability.

For example, the Finsmart accounting team is skilled in Financial Cents, Asana, Salesforce, NetSuite, Sage, Liscio, Dropbox, etc.

• Business Continuity

By outsourcing to countries like India, you can provide continuous client service in your firm. As a team in one location closes, the other resumes, ensuring round-the-clock operations.

How to Reduce Costs Without Compromising Quality

• Bundle Packages for Better Rates

Many outsourcing companies bundle their services into packages by combining related functions into a singular ball-park price. This makes it cheaper to get multiple accounting services than when you have to pay separately.

Using bundled services also reduces data transfer, which might lead to errors and costly corrections.

• Choose the Right Mix of Services

Choosing the right mix of services helps you receive the exact services you need and not more.

When choosing a bundled package, take your time to assess the importance of every service, so that you don’t pay for the components you don’t need.

• Offshore to Countries like India

Thanks to differences in labor costs, outsourcing to countries with lower labor costs (like India) reduces your outsourcing costs by as much as 60-70% (as you can see in the table above).

• Opt for Experienced Partners with Proven Processes

A reputable finance and accounting outsourcing company will bring years of proven accounting processes to the table.

Since you won’t have to micromanage them, you can focus on your strategic work, knowing they’ll turn in their assigned work on time.

• Automate Routine Tasks

Not only will automation reduce the time your outsourcing partner spends on projects, but it will also reduce human errors and costly corrections.

Artificial Intelligence, robotic process automation (RPA), and other innovations present an opportunity to save time and reduce operational costs for you and your outsourcing partner.

Final Thoughts: Get Custom Pricing for Your Business

Getting the best outsourcing price (and value for your money) requires a clear understanding of your workflow needs.

With this knowledge, you can confidently determine your budget for outsourcing a service, so you don’t pay a dime more than necessary.

If you need help understanding your outsourcing needs and finance and outsourcing costs, our support team will gladly assist you in figuring it out (and the best price based on market forces). You can book a free consultation today.

“Explore affordable, high-quality finance and accounting support with Finsmart Accounting.”

The post How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Finance and Accounting Outsourcing Company? appeared first on Finsmart Accounting - USA.

In an industry like accounting, where it is all about numbers, it is important to have KPIs. It keeps the firm owners and the teams on the right track. As Nicole mentioned in the podcast, it is quite easy to put a finger on what should be your KPI. Every KPI should constitute an actionable item; it should compel the teams to deep dive into what is going on, pivot if needed, and change the strategy to get the results that you are looking for.

No matter what the accounting role is, it is about outcomes, efficiency, compliance, and decision-making. Adding KPIs to the job descriptions when you are setting out to find the right members for your teams. Leaders can use these metrics to craft key financial strategies that can help them achieve organizational or departmental goals. Monitoring KPIs can help businesses assess what works and what still needs a lot of improvement. 

What Makes a Good Accounting KPI?

What many firm owners mistake KPI for is just adding random parameters to their team’s to-do’s. The problem with that is it shifts the team’s focus from what is really important. When you set multiple KPIs and they are a mix of not-so-important and key business-driving factors, it can distract them from the true focus area.

Before setting KPIs, focus on incorporating KPIs that go beyond what is generic: 

• Role-Specific

Not every accountant contributes to the business in the same way, so why measure them with the same yardstick? A Junior Accountant responsible for data entry and reconciliations shouldn’t be held to the same KPIs as a Tax Manager dealing with compliance or a Controller driving strategic financial decisions.

Tailoring KPIs uniquely to each role will help ensure relevance, fairness, and effectiveness when the time comes for performance evaluation.

• Measurable and Objective

In accounting roles, when you add vague metrics like “ensure accuracy”, it does not give the candidate a clear understanding of what they are expected to achieve. Instead, focus on defining what success looks like in a concrete team. You can try using: 

• “Maintain a 98% accuracy rate in monthly reconciliations.”

• “Complete all vendor payments within 3 business days of approval.”

• Aligned with Business Impact

The best KPIs connect daily accounting tasks with the larger business outcomes. Whether it’s cash flow management, compliance, profitability, or audit preparedness, every KPI should help move the business forward.
For example, tracking days to close books every month helps leaders get quick insights to make strategic decisions. After all, you do not want your accountants to just do their jobs. It is also about contributing to the organization’s growth and stability.

• Balanced: Quantitative + Qualitative

Although it is a number-driven industry, some roles in accounting require qualitative metrics too. For example, in a senior or strategic role, metrics could also include:

• Maintain team engagement score of 80 %+

• Implement two process improvement initiatives each quarter

Deciding upon the KPIs has a lot to do with the kind of role you are hiring for. In fact, at all levels, it is best to strike a balance between quantity and quality to ensure you help your teams grow in a well-rounded manner. 

Role-wise KPI that You Can Add in Your Job Descriptions

Like many others, are you struggling to determine which role, or at what seniority level, which KPI fits in just right? We are here to help. 

• Accounting Associate/Junior Accountant:
  
  This is a junior-level position, and it is important to treat it that way, especially when setting KPIs. Be careful not to make your associate work like a team leader. This will lead to frustration and eventual burnout. Understand what the role entails better. 

Common KPIs could include:

• Number of transactions processed per day/week

• Data entry error rate (in percentage)

• Time taken to reconcile accounts

• Timeliness of bank reconciliations

• SLA adherence for invoice processing

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• Senior Accountant:
  
  A Senior Accountant should be responsible for handling more complex tasks than their junior counterparts. Avoid hiring freshers or extreme junior candidates for the position. Understand what the role entails better. 

Common KPIs could include:

• Accuracy of month-end close (adjustments or corrections needed – in percentage)

• Days to close monthly financials

• On-time delivery of reports to leadership

• Audit readiness (number of audit queries raised)

• Compliance adherence score (based on internal audits)

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• Accounting Manager:
  
  An Accounting Manager is more of a client-driven role. They are the bridge between the accounting firm and the clients. The goal of meeting client satisfaction parameters lies with them. Understand what the role entails better. 

Common KPIs could include:

• Team task completion rates (in percentage)

• Reduction in reporting errors across the team

• Financial reporting delivery SLA

• Process improvement initiatives completed

• Cross-functional issue resolution turnaround (in days/hours)

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• Tax Accountant: 

Taxation is one of the key functions in accounting firms. Laying out what they are expected to do and how they are expected to do it can go a long way in preventing burnout, especially during the season. Understand what the role entails better. 

Common KPIs could include: 

• On-time filing of all tax returns

• Reduction in tax penalties and notices

• Number of audits without findings

• Tax planning recommendations implemented

• Time spent per client/account (if outsourced)

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• Payroll Accountant:

For most of your clients, their payroll is critical. It keeps the business going, ensuring that the teams, vendors, and other partners are paid on time. The KPIs of this role need to be defined, depending on the scope of work you have from the client. Understand what the role entails better. 

Common KPIs could include: 

• Payroll error rate (% of incorrect payslips)

• Time to resolve payroll discrepancies

• Timeliness of tax withholdings and filings

• Clients’ satisfaction rating for the payroll process

• Compliance audit results

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• Director of Accounting/Controller:
  
  This is one of the most important strategic roles in accounting functions. This is a leadership role, and the candidates should be expected to see the success of the entire accounting function. Understand what the role entails better. 

Common KPIs could include:

• Reduction in closed cycle duration
• Accuracy of financial forecasts vs. actuals
• Internal audit score improvement
• Team performance metrics and engagement
• Number of automation/process upgrades implemented

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To get a head start in finding the right resources for your accounting roles, download our complete JOB DESCRIPTION TEMPLATE PACKAGE.

But the job description is just one part of it. If, like many other accounting firms, you too are struggling to find skilled accounting resources who understand your business and can set you up for success, you might want to consider offshoring.

At Finsmart Accounting, our resources range from junior bookkeepers to reviewers, outsourced CFOs, tax consultants, and so much more. With our team of about 160+ accounting professionals, experienced in US Accounting, with a special focus on the compliance and regulatory requirements, we help make the processes seamless. When you partner with Finsmart, you get access to pre-qualified, pre-vetted accounting talent that helps you scale with ease.

Ready to grow with offshoring?

Book your free consultation call: https://finsmartaccounting.com/usa/free-consultation/ 

The post KPIs to Include in Accountant Job Descriptions [+ Free Templates] appeared first on Finsmart Accounting - USA.

“Over half of business leaders say that payroll services have been affected by the shortage of payroll skills. What does that mean? It means that there will be late payments, inaccuracies, noncompliance, and reputational damages as well,” says Ben Dale Gough, the Senior Service Director at ADP, in a webinar.

While Payroll might appear to be a back-office function, it is far from the truth. As Ben points out, a single mistake in payroll can impact the morale, trust, and compliance, and may lead to irreparable damage. That is why hiring the right Payroll Accountant isn’t just a nice-to-have—it is essential. 

When Do You Need a Dedicated Payroll Accountant?

A Payroll Accountant is responsible for maintaining, analyzing, and verifying the financial records of an organization. Some of the common payroll functions include calculating salaries, managing benefits and compensation, and withholding taxes and deductions. 

Small firms often tend to have a single resource who can handle the roles and responsibilities of multiple people. But there might be a situation when you need a dedicated Payroll Accountant. If your HR team is overwhelmed or your finance team is juggling to play too many roles, payroll errors are bound to happen. Your sign for hiring a dedicated payroll accountant can include: 

• You have more than 20–30 employees, and pay cycles are frequent

• Your business operates across different geographies

• You need audit-ready records for tax, compliance, or funding

• Your existing team spends too much time fixing payroll issues

• Employee satisfaction is dipping due to delayed or incorrect payments

If you do not have the capital, means, or resources for hiring a full-time Payroll accountant, you might consider outsourcing. It can protect you from legal issues, financial penaltie,s and high attrition. 

How to Hire the Right Payroll Accountant with an Attractive JD?

The Payroll and Bookkeeping industry in the US has grown at a significant rate of 2.8% between 2020 and 2025. Employment in this field is projected to grow 6% between 2023 and 2033. 

Finding the right fit for your organization begins with you being clear on what it is you are looking for. Do you want your Accountant to perform the basic salary calculations, or are there nuances that they need to get right? Is your employee hierarchy straightforward, or does the Accountant need to be aware of the several band grades?

No matter what you are looking for, finding the right team member begins with an impeccable JD. Here are the common factors that you should include: 

• Job Title: Whether you want an Associate, a Consultant, or a Payroll Manager, make sure to explicitly spell it out. There should be no room for confusion as to what you are offering and what the candidates should expect. 

• Role Summary: In about 2-3 lines, explain why this role exists. The candidates should be clear about what is expected of them and how they are contributing to the business goals. 

• Key Responsibilities: This is one of the most common areas where confusion between the organization and the candidates arises once they are part of the team. Adding key responsibilities helps both parties stay aligned and avoid confusion. This also helps ensure there is no overlap. 

• Required Skills & Tools: This segment in the JD is another vital part. This should be a combination of experience required, technical skills and software knowledge, as well as the soft skills that are important to be complied with in this role. 

• KPI and Success Metrics: In a role like a Payroll Accountant, it is important to lay out what success looks like and how it will be measured. It helps the candidates to work towards their goals from day 1.

• Compensation: No matter what anyone tells you, candidates want to know what they will be paid. At the end of the day, this stands out as a motivational factor. Include salaries and benefits to attract high-end candidates.

What Are the Common KPIs You Should Use to Attract and Assess High-Performing Candidates?

KPIs are not just numbers that you can set against a candidate. These are the factors that will drive your teams to work towards a common goal of growth and success. During performance evaluations, having KPIs also makes it easy to understand where the candidates stand and if they need support of any form.

Some of the common KPIs you can use to evaluate your team members include: 

• Payroll accuracy rate (% of payroll runs processed without errors)

• On-time payroll processing (consistency in meeting payroll deadlines)

• Compliance issue rate (frequency of legal or tax-related errors)

• Audit pass rate (success in internal/external payroll audits)

• Payroll cost per employee (efficiency metric)

When you include KPIs in your job descriptions, it makes it easier for the hiring team to know what the goals are that they want the candidates to achieve, and the candidates know if they are in sync with the organizational goals. It saves time, energy, and money. 

What Should You Choose – In-house or Outsourced Payroll Accountants? 

Different things work for different businesses. But over the last few decades, outsourced accounting has emerged as one of the top business strategies that has helped accounting firms reduce costs, focus more on CAS, provide better client service, and scale effectively.

Let us analyze the difference between availing in-house vs outsourced Payroll Accounting services. 

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A Payroll Accountant is a critical role that any accounting firm needs. Setting up job descriptions is only the first step. The struggle arises because of the shortage of skilled accountants in the market. 

This can be addressed with offshoring. Partnering with offshoring firms like Finsmart Accounting gives you the freedom of choosing the number of resources you need, their seniority levels, the kind of offshoring model you want to choose, and so on. In this partnership, you get access to pre-qualified, pre-vetted, English-speaking professionals, which relieves you of the time and effort needed in the hiring process. 

Get started with us: 

• Discovery – We capture all key firm details: client types, core services, internal structure, point of contact, and expected deliverables.

• Tech Setup – From accounting software to secure document management and communication tools, we align with your existing tech stack to avoid friction.

• Process Alignment – Our experts conduct a deep dive into your workflows to ensure everyone is aligned on expectations, tasks, and timelines.

• Workflow Launch – With our proven 14-step offshoring playbook, we set your team up for success with clarity, accountability, and minimal hand-holding.

Still have questions about offshoring? Book a free consultation with our offshoring expert today: https://finsmartaccounting.com/usa/free-consultation/ 

The post Payroll Accountant Job Description: What They Do & How to Hire [+ Free Template] appeared first on Finsmart Accounting - USA.

• 62% of the respondents believe that training programs alone will not be enough to run a successful practice by 2030.

• 57% of respondents said that technological literacy is now a leading additional skill accountants need.

• 40% of the new staff join a practice based on its market reputation

Why are accountants so important?

The talent shortage in the accounting industry is real. One of the key reasons is the lack of a new generation of accountants, unwilling to join the workforce. The long hours, the lack of work-life balance are cited as some of the factors resulting in this. The leaders and firm owners are taking a new approach – addressing the concerns – to make accounting a better, more diverse, and befitting profession.

Despite these challenges, accounting is one of the most sought-after professions. Every organization needs them, irrespective of size, type, or industry. After all, accountants are not mere number crunchers. They are at the heart of any business. From ensuring compliance with the constantly evolving laws to providing critical insights to the leaders and other stakeholders, their knowledge, expertise, and judgment guide a firm’s strategic decision-making. They help businesses track performance, manage risks, optimize cash flow, and plan for growth. When organizations lack skilled accountants, they struggle to maintain financial health, meet even the basic regulatory obligations, or make informed decisions.

As the industry continues to evolve, leaders need to change too. “If you can equip leaders to lead in a new way – they are creating an innovative culture, they are focusing on growth, they have a strategic approach to problem solving, they are not just reactive – if you can do that early on in someone’s career, you have a lot of people in the same direction in the profession as a whole,” says Angie Grissom, Owner of Rainmaker Companies in the Accounting Influencers podcast with Rob Brown.

So, how do you prepare the next generation of leaders? This is where a great job description comes into the picture. It is the first step towards hiring a great team member.

What should be included in any accounting job description?

A job description has to be well-structured. Period. Whether you are hiring for an entry-level accounting position or a Director position, the structure is important for highly skilled resources to align with the actual job.. This is how you can structure each of the sections.

• Job Title:  Use a clear, recognizable title that candidates will search for. This will improve your search and visibility. 

• Position Summary: This is where you pitch your role to the candidates. Keep it brief, but explain what the position does and how it contributes to the firm. This is a self-filler for the candidates.
  
  

• Key Responsibilities: Use bullet points for ease of visibility, mentioning core duties. Use action-oriented language like “update”, “assist”, and “prepare” so that the candidates are certain of what they are expected to do. 

• Required skills: Mention any tools and certifications you want the team members to have. Also, include the experience you are looking for to ensure only the right candidates apply. 

• Reporting line: Specify who the role reports to and if there are any direct reportees or collaborators. This helps the candidates assess if the position is a right fit for them, depending on who they want to work with. 

• Showcase Your Company Culture: Modern-day workforce wants to know what they are signing up for, which means understanding what the company culture looks like, what the goal and vision of the company are, to ensure alignment. 

• Compensation & benefits: Your candidates want to know what you will pay them. No matter what anyone says, this is one of the primary things prospective employees look for. Transparency in pay also attracts trust. It is even better if you can include other benefits, besides compensation.

• Application process: Candidates want to know what happens after they have applied for a position. Mention the next steps, set timelines, interview rounds, or who they will be hearing from. This gives them peace and strengthens trust through clear communication.

Tips to Write Accounting Job Descriptions that Attract Top Talent

Attracting top talent is no cakewalk. It requires understanding the mindset of the candidates that you are hiring. It is not just about mentioning the roles and responsibilities. It is about pitching your organization, showcasing what value you will add to the resume and career of the people who become a part of your team. Hence, curating a JD that attracts top talent should be taken extremely seriously. Here are a few tips that can help you get started. 

• Start with a clear, optimized title: 

Why is it important: Even before a candidate sees your JD, it is the title that they are looking for. This is what they use to search for where the vacancies are available.

What should you do?

• Use standard terms for roles like “Accounting Manager,” “Tax Accountant,” or “Accounts Payable Specialist.”
• Avoid using jargon or made-up terms like “Finance Rockstar” or “Number Ninja”. They may seem fun, but they will not be able to deliver results in terms of hiring candidates.
• Add any key qualifiers (like “Remote,” “Part-Time,” “CPA Preferred”) to improve search relevance.

• Treat your role summary like an elevator pitch: 

Why is it important: When actively looking, top candidates look through dozens of roles in several organizations in a day. A strong and attractive role summary helps stop the scroll.

What should you do?

• Briefly, but clearly explain what the role is about, why it exists, and how it will add value to the company.
  
  For example, you could add something like “We’re looking for a results-driven Tax Accountant to support our growing portfolio of SMB clients. You’ll be the go-to expert on federal and state filings and play a key role in streamlining our compliance processes.”

• Talk about the outcomes, not just about the tasks

Why is it important: Top talent wants to know that they will add value and make a difference. Especially when hiring for senior-level positions or niche roles, it is important to mention the impact their role will have. 

What should you do?

• Instead of mentioning vague statements like “prepare financial reports”, a better way could be “deliver monthly reports within 7 business days, with 100% accuracy”.
• Your JD should include accountability and help candidates understand how the role will bring success. 

• Let your JD stand out by defining your personality

Why is it important: Generic job descriptions will always have a hard time standing out. Adding a bit of personality helps your JD stand out, especially in a complex hiring landscape.

What should you do?

• Use a conversational and friendly tone. Try using “You will…” instead of “the candidate will”. 
• Incorporating what your culture is, and what it means for the people, can be a good way for candidates to build a sense of belonging even before they become a part of your company. 

• Showcase what’s in it for them:

Why is it important: It is not enough to just convey what you want from your employees. You also need to tell them what is in it for them.

What should you do?

• For example, if you have training programs or remote flexibility, don’t forget to mention that in your job descriptions. 
• Be as transparent about the compensation and benefits as possible. Ultimately, this is what they are looking at. 

Popular Accounting Roles and Responsibilities

Accounting is a diverse profession. As you learn more and grow in the profession, gather experience, you get to choose the niche you prefer. In accounting firms, the teams are a blend of foundational and specialized roles. No matter the size of your firm, having clarity on the purpose of each of the roles you are hiring for helps you and your team (if you have one). 

Here are some of the common accounting roles that you may need to hire for based on the requirements of your firm: 

Accounting Payable & Receivable Roles

A steady cash flow continues to be one of the pressing challenges for many firms. The reason is similar, almost always. Lack of account receivables and payables processes and specialists who understand how to tackle the unusual solutions or sudden changes in payment plans is among the top reasons.

Finding the right resource for such positions isn’t easy. You need to understand the challenges that your vendors face, be prepared for the unforeseen business challenges that might jeopardize the monthly payment cycles, and much more. 

Here are some roles that you can hire for in these positions. 

Specialized Accounting Roles with Important Hiring Tips

In accounting, several niche positions are in high demand. These roles are about knowing the industry in detail, ensuring compliance and accuracy, and having in-depth insights on specific areas like payroll, taxation, and much more. These roles demand experience and expertise that are directly proportional to the business performance. 

Some of the specialized roles that you may need to hire for include: 

• Payroll Accountant:

What Do They Do?

A Payroll Accountant is responsible for managing wage distribution, deductions, benefits, and tax withholdings, ensuring employees are paid accurately and on time, while complying with employment laws and reporting standards – both local and global, if needed. 

Why Is It Specialized?

Payroll involves ever-changing labor laws, tax codes, and benefit structures. Mistakes here can lead to financial penalties and employee dissatisfaction.

Hiring Tip:

Look for candidates with experience using platforms like Gusto, ADP, or Paychex, with an in-depth understanding of multi-state or geographical payroll laws if your team is distributed. Make sure to lay out clear expectations right from the start and spread awareness about compliance and confidentiality.

• Tax Accountant: 

What Do They Do?

Tax season is a very important time for accountants. That is why you need a Tax Accountant – someone who understands the to-dos, the regulations, and everything in between that goes into the process. Tax Accountants are your strategic advisors when preparing taxes.

Why Is It Specialized?

Local, federal, and international tax laws are complex, constantly changing, and high-stakes. The right Tax Accountant doesn’t just file returns—they protect the business from liability and find legitimate savings opportunities.

Hiring Tip:

Prioritize CPAs or EA-certified professionals with experience in your industry. Ask for examples of past tax-saving strategies or audit handling.

• Property Accountant: 

What Do They Do?

Property Accountants focus on real estate-related financials—handling rent rolls, lease agreements, asset depreciation, and reconciliation for real estate portfolios.

Why Is It Specialized?

This role requires an understanding of property management software, lease accounting standards, and recurring revenue models.

Hiring Tip:

Look for candidates with industry-specific experience—especially in platforms like Yardi, AppFolio, or MRI. Ask how they’ve handled CAM reconciliations or capital expenditure tracking.

Still confused about what to include for specialized job description templates? Use our ready-to-use templates to get the right candidates onboard. 

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How can Job Descriptions help improve accountability and team performance?

We keep talking about how JDs are important when you are hiring for a specific role. But it doesn’t just end there. It is also important when you hire them and bring them on board. They know what it is they are signing up for, you know what to expect from them, and how to set the success parameters. A clear JD goes a long way in building a team that enables growth. 

• It helps align everyone on the expectations: 

When roles are clearly defined, everyone knows what’s expected — from day one. This alignment helps avoid miscommunication. Communication gaps in accounting can lead to several missed deadlines, duplicated work, conflicting priorities, and errors that can severely jeopardize the business. 

How it helps performance: Employees can focus their energy on what truly matters. Instead of guessing what the scope of work is, whether they have to communicate something to the client or other stakeholders, they can focus only on delivering outcomes.

How it drives accountability: There’s no room for “I didn’t know that was my job.” Everyone understands their ownership areas, making it easier to track progress and flag underperformance. This also allows leaders to step away from their desks and focus on strategic functions, instead of micromanaging the teams. 

• They provide a measurable basis for evaluation: 

Without a clear job description, performance reviews become subjective. With one, managers can measure outcomes against the responsibilities, KPIs, and tools listed in the JD.

How it helps performance: Employees are more likely to hit goals when they are aware of the goals that they are chasing and the results they are expected to deliver. 

How it drives accountability: Reviews become structured and fair. Underperformance becomes easier to identify, document, and address constructively.

• It reduces internal conflict: 

When job descriptions clearly define who owns what, it prevents overlapping responsibilities that can lead to inefficiencies or conflict between team members.

How it helps performance: Teams can collaborate better when roles are complementary, not competitive.

How it drives accountability: Ownership is clear — if something isn’t done, it’s easy to trace the gap and resolve it quickly.

• It speeds up the process of onboarding and transitions: 

When someone just joins the team, their job descriptions can act as a guidebook on how to get started. It guides them on the skills that they might be missing and need to learn. They gain an understanding of what success looks like and how they can contribute right from the beginning.

How it helps performance: When new hires know exactly what they are expected to do, in some cases, it can also reduce the time spent on training them or performing knowledge transfer. It speeds up productivity and shortens the learning curve. 

How it drives accountability: New hires know what they’re being measured against, so they step up early with direction.

• It strengthens trust and transparency: 

When everyone has access to everyone else’s job description, it fosters a culture of clarity and shared understanding. It also gives team members the confidence that they are not being burdened with work alone. 

How it helps performance: When teams understand cross-functional responsibilities, they try to support each other better. This makes room for better collaboration and fewer delays or confusion. 

How it drives accountability: People know who’s responsible for what, and why. No more passing the buck.

In-House Hiring vs. Outsourced Hiring – What is Better for You?

Now that you know what it is that you are looking for, it is time to decide whether you want to expand the team on the necessary roles in-house or choose offshoring. This analysis will help make a decision. 

What are the performance metrics for accountants?

Job descriptions don’t just define roles—they should be able to set the tone for performance and growth. After all, growth happens when your team members understand what the JD stands for, what they are expected to do, and how they can contribute to growth. This is often symbolized by the key performance indicators. Incorporating KPIs in the JD can help align expectations from day one, track effectiveness and outcomes, facilitate more objectives for performance reviews, and motivate team members by defining what success looks like. 

Here are role-specific examples of KPIs that you can include to drive performance and accountability:

Accounting Associate

• Number of transactions recorded accurately per week
• Timeliness of month-end closing tasks
• Accuracy rate in data entry and reconciliations
• Number of errors flagged internally before an audit
• Response time to internal team queries

Accounts Payable Specialist

• Average invoice processing time
• Payment accuracy rate
• Early payment discount utilization rate
• Number of vendor issues resolved
• Timeliness of payment runs

Accounts Receivable Manager

• • Days Sales Outstanding (DSO)
  • Collection effectiveness index
  • The percentage of overdue accounts reduced
  • Accuracy of customer invoicing

• Time to resolve payment disputes

Tax Accountant

• On-time tax return submissions
• Number of audit flags/issues
• Accuracy in tax calculations and filings
• Time taken to implement new tax regulations
• Estimated tax savings identified for clients/company

Management Accountant

• Budget variance analysis accuracy
• Timeliness of management reports
• Forecast accuracy (%)
• Cost savings initiatives implemented
• Decision-making support is provided to departments

Accounting Manager

• • On-time monthly/quarterly close
  • Team productivity and error rates
  • Internal audit compliance rate
  • Team onboarding and training efficiency

• Accuracy of financial reporting

Director of Accounting

• Department-wide closed-cycle efficiency
• Cost-to-performance ratio of the accounting function
• Compliance with GAAP/IFRS standards
• Strategic initiatives implemented successfully
• Talent retention and engagement metrics

Certified Public Accountant (CPA)

• Client satisfaction scores
• Number of financial audits passed without major adjustments
• Accuracy in financial statement preparation
• Advisory services converted into retained work
• Continuing education credits are completed annually

Accounting job descriptions aren’t just HR formalities—they’re the foundation of how you attract, hire, and grow the right talent.

When written with clarity, a great job description does more than list duties. It sets expectations, defines success, and gives your team members direction from day one. Whether you’re hiring your first accountant or building a multi-role accounting department, having a library of strategic, ready-to-use job descriptions can save time and improve results.

DOWNLOAD ACCOUNTING JOB DESCRIPTION TEMPLATES HERE

Our professionally written templates are tailored to each role and optimized for performance, hiring, and growth, so you don’t have to start from scratch.

Why Partnering with Finsmart Elevates Your Hiring Game?

Watch how this solo practitioner solved her capacity challenges with our team(Embed the video here): https://youtu.be/-raIeGDZLvw?si=WcAkoDc3v-WYUgp_ 

Hiring accountants today is not just about filling a role—it’s about building a future-ready team that’s agile, efficient, and aligned with your firm’s growth goals. That’s where Finsmart steps in as more than just a talent provider. We become your strategic partner in transforming how you hire, manage, and scale your accounting function.

Whether you’re a CPA firm looking to expand your capacity or a business aiming to streamline financial operations, we bring clarity to your hiring process from the beginning, with guided onboarding and access to top-tier offshore talent that works as an extension of your team.

With 18+ years of experience in accounting offshoring, catering to 7+ countries, we have built an offshoring model that solves the clients’ problem. We call it the Accounting Seat Model. It is an embedded model, which means you get pre-trained, pre-vetted, English-speaking, skilled resources who embed seamlessly into your systems. Need a junior Bookkeeper? We have them. Need a shared CFO? We have you covered.

With Finsmart Accounting, no matter the seniority level or the skills, you will get them all here. Our team members are not just task takers – they are proactive, collaborative, familiar with US GAAP, tax processes, and major accounting platforms like QuickBooks, Xero, NetSuite, and more. They help you save time, reduce burnout, and maintain accuracy at every level of your accounting journey.

From the moment you partner with us, we work closely to:

• Understand your firm’s needs and workflows
• Customize the right job roles and responsibilities
• Set up secure systems and clear communication channels
• Integrate offshore team members who align with your culture and expectations

You don’t need to worry about hiring bottlenecks, unclear responsibilities, or training from scratch. With Finsmart, you get a head start—with the tools, templates, and talent you need to build a high-performing accounting team.

Partnering with Finsmart makes sure that your accounting processes are seamless from Day 1. To get started, we follow the following onboarding steps:

• Gather all details of the accounting firm – client name, address, partners, employees, point of contact, scope of work, and other basic details. 
• Together we set up the tech – Accounting Software, Internal Communications platform, time tracking, Document Management, task Management, Invoice Processing, Month Closing, Password Protection, and data security
• Deep dive into the accounting processes to understand what both parties expect
• Set the accounting offshoring workflow with our 14-step guide

“We are just happy to have a source where we can send our extra work to, so that we can take more work on. We don’t have to go hire more employees, we can just buy more time as needed, and a great resource,” says Julie Beth, Founder of JB Advisory, who has been using Finsmart Accounting for their recurring accounting activities. 

Ready to get started? Book a discovery call: 

Book a free discovery call to explore your options.

ACCESS THE JOB DESCRIPTION TEMPLATES NOW

The post The Complete Guide to Accountant Job Descriptions: Roles, Duties, and Templates appeared first on Finsmart Accounting - USA.

Sue further says that the first 5 years in an individual’s professional journey play a huge role in determining how they perceive the profession. This means the way they are being treated, the fairness in pay, the work hours, and how they feel, play an important role in determining their future of the talent in the accounting industry. 

As we constantly strive to address the challenges that have been causing a severe accounting talent shortage in the US, accounting leaders, firm owners, and recruiters have a role to play. Setting the expectations right and ensuring that your future employees are aligned with the wider goals of the organization and relatively smaller goals of the job title has a huge role to play in ensuring you attract and retain the top talent.  

Why a Clear Job Description Matters

Whether it is for your internal teams or your clients, accountants are needed everywhere. Their roles touch upon a major part of every business. Whether it is about balancing the books, maintaining cleanup, managing payroll functions, preparing for the tax season, maintaining compliance, or supporting the leaders in financial forecasting and decision making, accounting roles always carry high stakes. When responsibilities are vague or overlapping, they can lead to delays, errors, and even financial and reputational damage. 

A well-defined job description can help address several important aspects:

1. Clarity of role and scope:
   → Everyone knows exactly what they’re responsible for—no overlaps, no confusion. 
2. Improved team collaboration
   → When the roles are defined, especially within a team, it is easier to reduce the bottlenecks while ensuring a smooth cross-functional teamwork. 
3. Measurable accountability
   → When you have set parameters that define success, it is easier to track progress and hold team members accountable. 
4. Better performance management
   → Managers and leaders can provide focused feedback and growth plans based on the set expectations. 
5. Streamlined onboarding and training
   → New hires get up to speed faster with a roadmap of what they’ll be doing and how success is measured.

How Do Clear Job Descriptions Ensure Accountability?

In a field like Accounting, it is not uncommon to make errors. A Gartner report suggests that 18% of accountants make financial errors at least daily, and one-third of them make financial errors every week and about 59% of accountants make several errors per month. 

However, the most important part is that your team members should feel accountable. Whether it is a small or a larger team, when no one takes ownership and feels accountable, it is easy to lose focus on what is important. Overlapping jobs make the tasks even more difficult.

A clear job description can help inculcate a sense of accountability in many ways: 

• They Create Ownership from Day One

When a new member joins the team (in any position), a clear JD helps them understand their deliverables, the software and tools they are expected to use, and the outcomes they will deliver. This leaves no room for confusion on whether they own client reconciliations, monthly closings, or compliance reporting. This prevents tasks from falling through the cracks and encourages proactive performance. This also saves a lot of time on the leaders’ part, having to chase the gaps.

• They Align with Firm Goals and Department KPIs

An effective JD doesn’t just list tasks. It bridges the gap between individual and organizational goals. For example, if your firm is aiming for faster client turnaround or higher audit accuracy, those priorities should reflect in the roles you are hiring and their KPIs.

• They Minimize Conflict and Overlap

This is especially relevant for accounting firms with bigger teams. During tax season or audit season, there is a tendency to overlap tasks. While you might think this makes task completion faster, it does exactly the opposite. It leads to confusion and inefficiencies. A clear JD draws the line between people responsible for individual tasks. This prevents duplication and negligence. 

• They Provide a Baseline for Performance Reviews

Your best performers leave when they feel neglected and undervalued. Taking credit for another individual’s task is a common affair. A clear JD helps avoid that. Performance evaluation becomes difficult because there are no set benchmarks. A good JD is a contract between the employee and employer. It makes performance assessment easy and fair, ensuring proper raises, appreciations, and promotions. 

• They Improve Retention Through Role Clarity

You can’t expect employees to perform when they are unaware of what is expected of them. When they know what is expected and feel supported in their journeys, they tend to stay longer. Accounting is a high-pressure field, and vague or unrealistic job scopes will lead to high attrition rates.

• They Strengthen Offshore Team Integration

While offshoring has a lot of benefits, without set parameters, the success of this model goes for a toss. A right JD becomes the only source of reality for your offshore teams to align with expectations, workflows, and communication structures. It allows you to check for compatibility or workflow gaps early on. 

Top Elements Every JD Should Possess

To build clarity and accountability in your Job Descriptions, here are some key elements that you cannot miss out on: 

Job Title: Sets the tone for responsibility and ensures alignment with organizational hierarchy and expectations.

Role Summary: Provides a high-level understanding of what the role exists to achieve, guiding focus and ownership.

Key Responsibilities: Outlines specific tasks and deliverables the person will be held accountable for.

Required Skills & Tools: Clarifies the capabilities needed to perform effectively and be accountable from day one.

KPIs or Success Metrics:  Defines how success will be measured, leaving no room for ambiguity in performance reviews.

Reporting Line: Establishes who the role answers to, reinforcing accountability through clear supervision.

Company Overview: Aligns the individual’s responsibilities with broader company goals and values for mission-based accountability.

Compensation & Benefits: Ties rewards to responsibilities, reinforcing the link between performance and recognition.

DOWNLOAD THE COMPLETE JD TEMPLATE PACK HERE

Common JD Mistakes That Undermine Accountability

Avoid these pitfalls that defeat the purpose of using JDs to drive accountability:

• Too generic: “Responsible for financial reporting” doesn’t help anyone understand scope or timelines. 
• Overloaded roles: One JD covering 3 different job functions creates confusion and burnout. 
• Lack of KPIs: Without measurable outcomes, there’s no benchmark for good performance. 
• No process clarity: Missing process steps or tool guidelines can lead to major misalignment, especially when you deal with offshore teams.  
• One-time documentation: If JDs are never updated, they become irrelevant and unhelpful.

Need Help Filling an Accounting Role?

Writing the perfect job description is only half the battle. The next challenge? Finding someone who’s qualified and available.

That’s where Finsmart Accounting can help.

Hire full-time, remote Accounting professionals, across different levels, who are pre-vetted, trained, and ready to plug into your team—without the stress of local recruitment. With Finsmart, you get:

• Pre-screened talent 
• Fluent English and accounting software skills 
• Trained in international accounting standards 
• Fully remote and ready to work your time zone 
• Teams that are ready to be deployed from day 1

With our Embedded outsourcing model, you no longer have to wait to train the teams. They seamlessly settle into your teams. To get started, all we need is: 

• We begin by understanding your firm—its structure, team, clients, scope of work, and daily accounting needs. 
• Next, we align on the tech stack—whether it’s your accounting software, project management tools, data protection systems, and communication tools.
• We then map your existing accounting processes to identify the scope of improvements and clarify expectations. 
• We implement our proven 14-step offshoring workflow, designed to deliver speed, security, and scalability. 
• Finally, we assign a Team Leader and an Account Manager to handle all your accounting problems thereon. 

Ready to get started? Book a discovery call: 

Book a free discovery call to explore your options.

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