Industries · Accounting & bookkeeping practices
Offshore teams for Australian accounting firms
We build offshore teams for Australian accounting and bookkeeping practices: full-time bookkeepers, tax accountants, payroll and graduate staff in Sri Lanka and the Philippines. We're part of Elephant Advisory, an accounting firm, so we hire for work we do ourselves. Roles are filled in 3–4 weeks from $5,999 + GST.
What an offshore team takes on
The preparation work, so your accountants can review and advise
An offshore team prepares the compliance and bookkeeping work; your registered agents review, sign off and lodge. Firms typically start with one bookkeeper or graduate and add tax and payroll staff as the workflow settles.
Client bookkeeping
Coding, bank recs and catch-up work across client files.
BAS & IAS preparation
Workpapers ready for your BAS agent to review and lodge.
Tax return preparation
Individual, company and trust returns and workpapers, prepared for review.
Payroll & STP
Client pay runs, leave and super processing.
Month-end & reporting
Management reports and month-end packs for advisory clients.
Practice admin
Jobs, document requests and client follow-up in your practice manager.
Roles accounting firms hire
Six roles that fit a practice
Pictured: members of the Elephant Teams team.
Practice software
Screened on your stack
Name your ledger and practice tools in the briefing and we assess candidates on them.
- Xero & XPM
- MYOB Practice
- QuickBooks
- FYI
- Karbon
- Class / BGL
- Dext / Hubdoc
Client data & security
Keep client data on kit you control
Most practices choose hardware coordination (you own the equipment) or fully managed IT (leased laptop with setup and security handled). Review your professional body's guidance on offshoring client work with your compliance lead.
Our IT security approach →
Which option suits a practice
Recruit-only if you have a team leader, managed if you're starting out
Firms with a senior who can train and review usually pick Ready for You at $5,999 + GST, with SOR ($0/mo) or EOR ($350/mo). Firms making their first offshore hire usually pick Managed for You at $1,000/month on a 12-month commitment.
READY FOR YOU
$5,999 + GST
Then $0/mo (SOR) or $350/mo (EOR). 3-month guarantee.
MANAGED FOR YOU
$1,000 / month
No recruitment fee, 12 months. 5-month guarantee.
Australian practices and businesses building offshore teams with us
Accounting firm FAQ
Offshore teams for practices: common questions
Can offshore staff lodge BAS or tax returns?
They prepare the work. Lodgement stays with your registered tax or BAS agents in Australia, who review and sign off.
Which role should a practice hire first?
Usually a bookkeeper or accounting graduate, then tax and payroll staff once review processes are set.
How do we protect client data?
Choose hardware coordination or fully managed IT, give staff access only to the files they need, and follow your professional body's offshoring guidance.
Can we cover tax season with temporary staff?
No. We place full-time staff only, which means you keep the skills year-round.
Sri Lanka or the Philippines for a practice?
Both work and our fees are the same. Sri Lanka is strong for accounting depth; the Philippines for client-facing admin. We recommend one in your consultation.
Plan your practice's offshore team
Talk to people who run an accounting firm. Free, 30 minutes.
Our team has hired for accounting practices since day one.