Why Outsourcing + Workflow Software is the Future of Accounting Firms
Accounting firms facing talent shortages are increasingly turning to outsourcing for accountants combined with workflow software to stay competitive. By blending offshore teams with a structured accounting workflow platform, firms can scale faster, maintain quality, and meet client demands without overloading their staff.
Why Outsourcing is No Longer Optional
As David Cristello, CEO of Jetpack Workflow, explained during the panel, “We help firms standardize their processes, automate recurring deadlines, and track all client work so nothing falls through the cracks.” That foundation is what makes outsourcing accounting services for small business or larger firms viable today. Without clear workflows, outsourcing can create confusion instead of capacity.
“A lot of firms tend to just start talking to vendors straight away and they don’t necessarily even know what direction they want to go in… Start basic, be self-reflective of why am I doing it and what type of work do I really need to get done.”
Building Offshore Teams that Feel Like Onshore Teams
Firms in the discussion consistently agreed that treating offshore professionals as part of the core team drives better outcomes. This is critical whether you are an outsourced accounting firm for startups, a small practice, or a growing CPA firm.
Tammy Little, CEO of FTC Group, shared her firm’s approach:
“They’re not treated any differently… They’re receiving the same training that our US-based employees are as well. They feel a part of our team, just maybe on a different time zone.”
Amanda Owens, Firm Administrator at Badger CPA, described how her firm scaled to 22 team members in the Philippines:
“We definitely have our Philippine team members fully integrated. They go through the same onboarding, the same training and development, the same promotion paths, the same performance reviews. Everyone is fully integrated.”
For clients, outsourcing has not been an issue. Dave Olson, CEO of Nimbl and Nimbl Staffing, put it simply:
“I’ve been using global team members for 15 years now and I’ve never had a client express concern. They might ask about security or how it works, but I’ve never had anyone not want to work with us because of it.”
Overcoming Internal Team Resistance
One concern many firm owners have is how onshore staff will react. Amanda Owens stressed the importance of communication:
“It really is the responsibility of the leadership team in how they communicate to the US team members ahead of time… It’s to grow the firm, to delegate transactional work, and to help achieve the bigger vision.” – Amanda Owens, Firm Administrator at Badger CPA
Keeping Communication and Workflow Tight
All panelists agreed that outsourcing only succeeds if paired with structured workflow software and regular communication.
-
Workflow platform: Tammy noted, “We use Jetpack Workflow which integrates everyone no matter where you are. We assign tasks and jobs in the system.”
-
One-on-ones: She also stressed the value of regular check-ins: “Everyone in our company has one-on-ones with me or their supervisor every other week. They feel heard and that’s what matters.”
-
Cultural alignment: Amanda highlighted training on both U.S. and Philippine culture to reduce misunderstandings and improve team cohesion.
Security and Compliance
Client data security remains a top priority. Dave Olson explained his firm’s safeguards:
“We require VPNs to access certain systems, use company-owned computers without admin access, and have anti-malware and security software on all devices. Really, it’s no different than our U.S. team.”
By holding offshore teams to the same standards, firms maintain compliance while expanding their capacity.
The Future: Outsourcing + Workflow Software
The panelists made it clear: outsourcing is not a stop-gap, it is the future of firm growth. Combined with a reliable accounting workflow platform, firms can:
-
Add capacity without overburdening staff
-
Maintain consistency through standardized processes
-
Scale services for clients including startups and nonprofits
-
Improve profitability while delivering high-quality client experiences
As Lawrence concluded, “If you want them to be like your employees, you’ve got to spend that time to really get them on board with you. Otherwise, communication can break down.”
Key Takeaway for Firm Owners
Outsourcing paired with workflow software creates a scalable, secure, and fully integrated team structure that positions firms for long-term growth. Whether you are an outsourced accounting firm for startups, supporting small businesses, or running outsourced accounting for nonprofits, the model works when backed by the right processes.
Ready to see how workflow software can support your outsourcing strategy?
FAQs
1. Why should accounting firms consider outsourcing?
Outsourcing helps firms overcome staffing shortages, reduce costs, and expand capacity. When paired with workflow software, firms can manage offshore teams seamlessly and maintain high-quality standards.
2. Is outsourcing only for large accounting firms?
No. Outsourcing is just as effective for small businesses, startups, and nonprofits. Firms of any size can benefit from having offshore staff support routine work while in-house teams focus on higher-value client services.
3. How do you keep outsourced teams integrated with U.S. staff?
Firms succeed when offshore staff are treated like onshore employees. That means the same onboarding, training, promotion paths, and performance reviews. Tools like Jetpack Workflow make it easy to assign tasks and track deadlines across distributed teams.
4. Will clients care if their work is outsourced?
Most clients do not mind. As Dave Olson of Nimbl and Nimbl Staffing explained, he has used offshore team members for 15 years without client pushback. Clients mainly care that deadlines are met, security is strong, and communication is consistent.
5. How can firms ensure data security with outsourcing?
Best practices include using company-owned devices, disabling admin access, requiring VPNs, and installing security software. These measures ensure offshore staff meet the same compliance and security standards as U.S.-based staff.
6. How does workflow software improve outsourcing?
Workflow software standardizes processes, assigns tasks clearly, and tracks deadlines across the team. This prevents confusion, supports accountability, and ensures client work never falls through the cracks.
Share this article
