Key Takeaways
- Back-office accounting outsourcing can save your business precious time and money by enabling you to delegate tasks like bookkeeping, payroll, and financial reporting, allowing you to focus on core activities.
- Providers like Near, Auxis, Aprio, and Vintti offer expertise, technology, and scalability to meet diverse business needs.
- Choosing the right outsourcing partner involves assessing expertise, technology, cost, communication, and security measures to ensure a seamless and beneficial business relationship.
Business owners face constant pressure to enhance efficiency and reduce operating costs. Dealing with back-office functions in-house can be a time-consuming drain on your already limited internal resources.
That’s where back-office accounting outsourcing comes in. By entrusting these routine accounting tasks to specialized third-party service providers, you can benefit from smoother operations, expert knowledge, and more time to focus on your core operations.
This article will explore several benefits of back-office accounting outsourcing, from cost efficiency and scalability to leveraging industry expertise. We’ll also identify key back-office functions that you can outsource, highlight top companies offering these services, and guide you in choosing the right provider for your needs.
By the end of this article, you’ll have learned practical insights and actionable steps to boost your business’s efficiency and cut costs through back-office outsourced accounting.
How Back-Office Accounting Outsourcing Enhances Efficiency
This scenario may sound familiar: Your business is growing, but your back-office accounting is struggling to keep up. Overwhelmed staff, mounting paperwork, and looming deadlines are creating a stressful environment that hinders progress.
By outsourcing, you can leave these burdensome back-office tasks behind and embrace a more efficient and cost-effective operation that leads to business growth.
Cost efficiency
According to a Deloitte report, 57% of businesses cite cost savings as their primary reason for outsourcing. By outsourcing, you eliminate the need to hire, train, and retain in-house staff, significantly reducing overhead costs.
Providers often operate in regions with lower labor costs, enabling them to offer competitive pricing while maintaining high-quality back-office outsourcing services.
Scalability
As your business evolves, your accounting needs will fluctuate. Outsourcing provides the flexibility to scale back-office services up or down as needed without the hassle of hiring or laying off employees. This adaptability ensures your accounting operations continue to align seamlessly with your business growth trajectory.
Access to industry experts
Outsourcing providers specialize in accounting and possess a deep understanding of industry best practices and regulations.
By tapping into their expertise, you gain access to a dedicated team of professionals who can streamline back-office processes, identify optimization opportunities, and ensure compliance with complex financial rules.
Increased efficiency
By leveraging the advanced technologies and streamlined processes of outsourcing providers, you can help make your back-office accounting tasks more efficient and accurate. Automation tools reduce manual errors and expedite routine tasks, allowing your business to close books faster and make timely financial decisions.
Focus more on core business activities
Outsourcing back-office accounting frees up valuable time for you and your in-house team to concentrate on core business activities. Instead of getting bogged down by routine accounting tasks, you can focus on strategic initiatives, business development, and customer engagement.
This shift in focus can drive growth and innovation, giving your business a competitive edge in the market.
Back-Office Accounting Functions That Can Be Outsourced
Outsourcing doesn’t mean handing over your entire business. Instead, it’s about strategically delegating tasks to optimize your operations. Here are some back-office accounting functions that are commonly outsourced:
Accounts payable and receivable
Outsourced accountants can manage customer and vendor invoices and deal with overdue accounts to ensure timely payments. Effective accounts receivable and payable helps improve cash flow management and maintain strong relationships with vendors and other relevant stakeholders.
Financial reporting
Back-office accounting outsourcing providers prepare income and cash flow statements, balance sheets, and other financial reports. This helps you make informed business decisions and adhere to compliance regulations.
Bookkeeping
Delegating bookkeeping services to a specialized third-party provider can help maintain records of your company’s financial transactions. Bookkeeping outsourcing offers many benefits, from ensuring the accuracy of financial records to tracking financial health and performance.
Tax filing and preparation
Your outsourced accounting provider can prepare and file tax returns and manage tax payments. This helps maximize tax payments and ensure tax compliance.
Payroll
Outsourced payroll tasks include processing employee paychecks, handling tax withholdings, filing payroll taxes, and managing employee benefits.
Top 5 Companies To Outsource Back-Office Accounting
While there isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution to back-office accounting, exploring various providers can help you find the perfect fit for your business needs and budget.
The following list includes companies that specialize in back-office accounting outsourcing, as well as broader staffing agencies with expertise in sourcing accounting professionals. It isn’t ranked, as the best choice depends on your goals and requirements.
1. Near
Okay, we admit it—we’re a little biased. But hear us out! At Near, we understand the frustration of spending excessive time and money on accounting talent that you can’t retain. That’s why we offer access to over 35,000 pre-vetted Latin American (LatAm) candidates, enabling businesses across industries to cut overhead costs by 30–70%.
Our pre-vetted candidates are fluent in English, experienced with US GAAP, and ready to work in your time zone in the US. Trusted by companies like Hotjar and Expensify, we help build high-performing finance teams quickly and cost effectively.
Think of it as assembling your dream accounting team without breaking the bank. Plus, our streamlined process gets you from interview to hire in under 21 days, and we’ll find you a replacement if your initial hire doesn’t work out.
2. Auxis
Auxis offers a comprehensive suite of outsourced accounting services, including financial close, reconciliations, journal entries, and more. It boasts a dedicated team of accounting professionals who are well versed in both US GAAP and IFRS standards.
Auxis emphasizes technology and automation to streamline processes and provide real-time financial insights. Leveraging its nearshore locations in LaAm, the company ensures alignment with your company culture and access to a talent pool with strong English proficiency.
3. Aprio
Aprio stands out with its comprehensive outsourced accounting services, offering expert advisors for accounting, state and local sales tax, payroll, and human resources needs. Catering to various industries, including SaaS, e-commerce, and government contracting, Aprio’s more than 50 technology partnerships provide tailored solutions.
Its cloud-based approach ensures real-time financial insights and efficient compliance, helping businesses of all sizes make smarter decisions.
4. Vintti
Vintti specializes in connecting businesses with remote accounting talent from LatAm. The firm emphasizes cost savings, with clients potentially reducing payroll expenses by up to 60%.
Vintti’s focus on cultural alignment and time zone compatibility ensures a seamless working relationship between businesses and their outsourced accounting teams. The company offers a wide range of accounting roles, from bookkeepers to accounting managers.
5. Flatworld Solutions
Flatworld Solutions specializes in providing comprehensive outsourced back-office accounting services that adhere to the IFRS and GAAP accounting standards.
By integrating advanced tools, such as AI-driven automation and cloud-based technologies, Flatworld Solutions streamlines back-office accounting processes, enhancing productivity and reducing operational costs by up to 50%.
Its back-office accounting services include bookkeeping, payroll processing, and virtual CFO services, all designed to integrate seamlessly with your internal operations.
How To Choose the Right Back-Office Accounting Outsourcing Solutions
Selecting the right back-office accounting outsourcing provider is essential for enhancing your business’s efficiency and ensuring its success. Follow these key steps when you hire an outsourced accountant or recruitment partner:
Assess your needs
Identify the specific back-office accounting tasks you need to outsource, such as whether you need to outsource back-office bookkeeping, payroll processing, or financial reporting.
Evaluate expertise
Research potential providers to ensure they have the necessary expertise and experience in your industry.
Check technology and tools
Ensure the provider uses advanced technology and tools for accounting operations, including software and automation capabilities.
Review security measures
Verify that the provider has robust data security measures, including encryption and compliance with data protection regulations.
Consider cost and value
Compare pricing structures but focus on the value offered. Look for high-quality services at competitive prices to maximize your return on investment.
Assess communication and support
Evaluate the provider’s communication channels and communication styles to ensure reliable and clear communication. This is particularly important in offshore accounting, as the provider’s team may be based in a different time zone or speak a different primary language.
Request references and reviews
Careful consideration of client feedback is vital. Read reviews and ask for references from other businesses to gauge the provider’s reliability and quality of work.
By following these steps, you can choose the right back-office accounting outsourcing provider that aligns with your business goals and enhances your operational efficiency.
Final Thoughts
Outsourcing back-office accounting is a powerful way to enhance efficiency and reduce costs.
By delegating routine accounting tasks, you can gain access to expert services and advanced technologies while benefiting from more time to focus on core activities. Remember to assess your needs, evaluate expertise, and check technology when choosing a potential outsourcing partner.
Ready to transform your back-office operations? At Near, we help you build a high-performing finance team quickly and cost effectively with our pre-vetted LatAm candidates. Fill out this form to receive a list of handpicked finance professionals, and let Near help you achieve greater efficiency and success.