Building your Accounting Department…
When I meet a business owner operating at a successful $10+ mil in revenue I often hear them say “My CPA…” and I immediately know they are referring to a tax CPA. One thing ALL entrepreneurs have in common is that they have to file a tax return. So from day one of starting their company they have relied on a tax CPA to be their “trusted advisor” and handle their accounting. While tax CPAs are absolutely essential and qualified professionals, there is a HUGE difference between them and a Managerial Accountant with their CPA. Managerial Accountants know U.S. GAAP and can perform the duties of a Controller, CFO or Staff Accountant. I won’t go into all the differences between tax CPAs and Managerial Accountants, you can read about them in this WIKI CFO Article.
The Problem? – “I Can’t afford a Controller or Accountant”
When I tell these business owners that they need to hire a Controller or an Accountant, I am not talking about a Bookkeeper. Bookkeeping is NOT accounting. Bookkeepers do not apply accounting principles to the work they do, it’s simply recording transactions. An accounting degree is not a requirement for bookkeepers, they do not have to be CPAs which also means they do not know U.S. GAAP accounting standards. These factors all contribute to the typical bookkeeper’s inability to properly represent the company on the balance sheet.
The problem is that these business owners often can’t afford the degreed accountants, much less a Controller or CFO. I’ve seen this happen repeatedly in companies of all sizes and industries. Up until recently we even struggled with this in our own firm, Strategic CFO. The talent pool for these roles is diminishing very rapidly and the professionals remaining are demanding higher salaries. But ALL companies need timely U.S. GAAP financial reporting, cash flow forecasting, and budgeting. They all need to get loans and deal with other potential investors
I am convinced that the current market (and it’s been this way for 25 years) and future will not allow us to bridge this gap with U.S. wages and small company needs.
The Solution
Over the years, I’ve seen companies try a variety of approaches to solve the accounting talent gap—everything from “online accountants” and remote bookkeepers to offshore services in Asia. Some even lean on software developers who extract QuickBooks data and generate polished dashboards. But what’s missing in all of these? Real accounting expertise from qualified professionals.
Traditional outsourced accounting often sacrifices quality for cost. It may not follow U.S. GAAP standards, and issues like time zone misalignment and communication barriers can make things even harder. Sure, it’s cheaper—but is it accurate, strategic, or scalable? Usually not.
That’s why we created NearSourcing™ Accounting Solutions, a hybrid approach that blends the reliability of an in-house accounting team with the efficiency of outsourcing—without compromising on quality.
Instead of shipping your accounting function halfway around the world, we tap into a highly skilled, English-speaking talent pool just across the border in Mexico and Central America. These professionals are degreed accountants, trained in U.S. GAAP, and they operate in your time zone.
Your NearSourcing™ team includes:
- A dedicated Accounting Manager and Controller, who handle the day-to-day accounting remotely and communicate with you in real time via Microsoft Teams.
- A local Controller, based here in the U.S., who oversees the team’s work, provides quality control, and serves as your strategic partner.
This three-person team works exclusively for your company. They aren’t part of a shared service model. They’re integrated into your business. And unlike typical outsourced providers, your team doesn’t just work remotely—they also meet with you onsite for quarterly financial reviews. Your local Controller is available for additional in-person visits when needed.
The result? You get full-service accounting, real-time collaboration, GAAP-compliant financials, and strategic insight—without the high cost of building an in-house department. Our standard NearSourcing™ package starts at $14,500 per month.
If you’re tired of getting by with bookkeeping when what you really need is real accounting leadership, schedule a free consultation and see how NearSourcing™ can close the gap for your business.
Learn more about NearSourcing™ here.
