Countries · Sri Lanka
Offshoring to Sri Lanka: hire offshore staff for your Australian business
Sri Lanka offers a deep, English-speaking talent market with strong professional and accounting education. We recruit full-time staff there for almost any role, from accountants and bookkeepers to virtual assistants, customer support, IT and marketing. Fees are the same as the Philippines: from $5,999 + GST, filled in 3–4 weeks.
- Time difference
- AEST −4.5 h
- Talent pool
- 30,000+
- Time to fill
- 3–4 weeks
- Potential saving
- 60–70%
Quick answer
What does offshoring to Sri Lanka cost?
Offshoring to Sri Lanka means hiring a full-time team member who lives in Sri Lanka and works remotely, only for your business. You pay their monthly salary, typically A$700–1,100 for admin and support roles and A$1,200–2,800 for accountants and developers, plus our fee: $5,999 + GST once, or $1,000 a month with no upfront fee.
Why Sri Lanka
Accounting depth and long-term commitment
- A deep, English-speaking talent market
- Strong professional and accounting education
- People ready to become a long-term extension of your team
- Morning overlap with the Australian business day
Roles we place most in Sri Lanka
All roles →Salary guide
What staff in Sri Lanka earn
Sri Lankan salaries are among the most competitive in the region for skilled, English-speaking staff. We recruit at the experienced end of the market, so expect most hires in the upper half of each range.
Full-time salaries in Australian dollars, before our fee and IT options. Every role page has its own range. See our fees →
Working hours
An early shift that overlaps your day
Sri Lanka (UTC+5:30) is 4.5 hours behind AEST and 5.5 hours behind AEDT. Most staff work an early local shift, so their afternoon overlaps your morning and lunchtime.
This suits work you hand over in the morning and get back by the end of your day: reconciliations, reporting, research, drafting and development.
Accounting depth
Why accounting firms choose Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka has a long tradition of professional accounting education. Many candidates hold, or are studying towards, CA Sri Lanka, CIMA or ACCA, and many have worked in firms that serve Australian, UK and US clients.
That makes Sri Lanka a strong fit for reconciliations, management reporting, tax preparation, SMSF administration and trust accounting. Your onshore team keeps review and sign-off, and the offshore accountant does the preparation, so work is ready when your reviewers are.
Meet the kind of people you'll work with
Pictured: members of the Elephant Teams team.
Australian businesses building offshore teams with Elephant Teams
Sri Lanka offshoring questions
Does it cost more to hire in Sri Lanka or the Philippines?
Our fees are identical in both countries. Only the staff member's wage differs, and we compare both in your consultation.
What hours do Sri Lankan staff work?
Hours are agreed in the offer. Colombo is 4.5 hours behind Sydney (AEST), 5.5 hours during daylight saving.
Which is better for accounting roles?
Sri Lanka is often chosen for accounting depth. Read Sri Lanka vs Philippines →
Is it legal for an Australian business to hire staff in Sri Lanka?
Yes. You choose who employs them: you employ them directly, we employ them as Employer of Record (EOR) for $350 a month, or on Managed for You we employ and manage them. Sri Lankan employment rules, such as EPF and ETF contributions, apply whoever is the employer.
Do I have to pay Australian super for staff in Sri Lanka?
Generally no. ATO guidance says you don't have to pay super for non-resident employees who work outside Australia. Sri Lanka has its own contributions instead: the employer pays 12% to the Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) and 3% to the Employees' Trust Fund (ETF). Ask us to include them in your cost estimate.
Which roles suit Sri Lanka best?
Work that runs well on an early-shift overlap: accounting, bookkeeping, payroll, tax and SMSF preparation, research, data and development. Virtual assistants and email support also work well. If a role needs live phone cover across the whole AEST day, compare the Philippines.