Key takeaways
- Firms offshore bookkeeping, BAS preparation and year-end work to add capacity without local hiring.
- Review, advice and lodgement stay with the registered agent in Australia.
- The TPB expects client permission, honest disclosure and proper supervision.
- Start with a paid pilot and a written playbook before scaling.
Australian accounting firms use offshore teams to add trained capacity for bookkeeping, BAS preparation and year-end work without the cost and delay of local hiring. Done well, it lets partners take on more clients and spend more time on advisory work.
Why are firms offshoring now?
Three pressures push firms in this direction: difficulty finding and keeping experienced staff, sharp peaks around BAS quarters and tax season, and clients who expect more advisory input for the same fee.
What work do firms send offshore?
- Bookkeeping and reconciliations for client files
- BAS and IAS workpapers, ready for review and lodgement
- Year-end workpapers and financial statement drafts
- Payroll processing and STP checks
- Clean-ups, catch-ups and Xero migrations
Review, advice and lodgement stay with the registered agent in Australia.
What does the Tax Practitioners Board expect?
The TPB's guidance on outsourcing and offshoring makes three points clear. Firms need client permission before sharing client information with a third party. They must not suggest all work is done in Australia if it isn't. And they remain responsible for the quality of offshore work, with supervision that matches the work being done.
In practice, that means updating engagement letters to disclose offshoring, documenting your review process, and choosing a provider whose work you can check.
Dedicated team or pay per job?
| Model | Best for | How it's priced |
|---|---|---|
| Dedicated team member | Firms with steady, year-round volume | Fixed monthly fee per person |
| Shared team, per job | Firms that want flexible capacity | Fixed fee per BAS, month-end or set of workpapers |
| Peak-season support | Firms that only need help at busy times | Agreed block of work for the period |
How to start without risk
- Pick a small batch of real but low-risk files.
- Run a paid pilot and review every file against your standards.
- Write down your process, review points and turnaround times in a playbook.
- Scale up only once the quality is consistent.
Accountlogist provides white-label bookkeeping and compliance preparation for Australian practices. See how we work with firms or book a practice consultation to discuss a pilot.
Source: TPB(PN) 2/2018, as reported by Accountants Daily
General information only. Firms should read the TPB's current guidance directly.
