Outsourced Accounting: Roles, Costs, and What You Need to Know

If you’re running a growing business, you’ve likely felt the strain of managing your accounting.

Maybe invoices are piling up, payments aren’t being followed up, or you’re spending weekends trying to reconcile your books. Many business owners start out handling accounting themselves, but it can quickly become overwhelming. 

That’s where outsourcing can make a difference.

But how does outsourced accounting actually work? What roles can you delegate, and what should you expect to pay?

Here’s what you need to know. 

What Accounting Roles Can Be Outsourced? 

Most businesses don’t need to outsource their entire finance department. Instead, they can benefit most from targeted support in key areas. The most commonly outsourced roles include: 

• Accounts Receivable (AR) 

• Accounts Payable (AP) 

• Bookkeeper (often covering both AR & AP) 

• Staff Accountant 

• Senior Accountant 

These roles cover about 90% of accounting needs for small and midsize businesses. You may not need a full-time controller or CFO - just reliable support to handle the workload and free up your internal team. 

Why Do Businesses Choose Outsourced Accounting? 

Outsourcing isn’t just about saving money; it’s about solving operational headaches that slow your business down. Whether you’re experiencing growing pains or simply tired of juggling too many responsibilities, accounting is often one of the first (and smartest) functions to delegate. 

Common reasons businesses turn to outsourced accounting include: 

• Overloaded Internal Staff: Many businesses rely on a single person to manage all accounting functions. As transaction volume grows, this person can become overwhelmed, leading to mistakes. Outsourcing adds capacity without burning out your team. 

• Lack of In-House Expertise: About 50% of U.S. small and midsize businesses operate without a formally trained accountant. Often, someone in the office or the business owners themselves are handling the books. This is where outsourcing can help as it gives you access to experienced, college-educated professionals who are already proficient with tools like NetSuite and QuickBooks. 

What Kind of Experience Can You Expect? 

A frequent question is whether outsourced accountants have experience with specific platforms. The answer is yes. Just as long as you're working with a reputable outsourcing partner! For example, here at DCX we proactively help our clients with customizing their job descriptions to include specific software requirements. Over the years, we've noticed that QuickBooks and NetSuite are among the most requested platforms. But don't worry if you need expertise in Xero, Zoho, or another tool. These are available too. Just include it in your job description! 

How Much Does Outsourced Accounting Cost? 

Of all the outsourced functions, accounting is often perceived as one of the most expensive, but it’s actually not. Here’s a general breakdown from the accounting roles we typically hire for our US clients: 

AR or AP Specialist / Bookkeeper: 

• Starts at $2,195/month 

• Includes professionals with 1–3 years of experience, all college-educated 

Bookkeeping roles often encompass both AR and AP, giving you broader coverage with a single hire. Higher-level positions such as Staff or Senior Accountants can vary in cost depending on complexity, seniority, and software expertise, but still offer significant savings compared to U.S. salary benchmarks.

For more information on salary comparisons, check out the handy table here.

Outsourcing your accounting isn’t just a way to cut costs - it’s a strategic move to reduce stress and refocus your or your team’s energy on growing your business. By bringing in skilled professionals who can hit the ground running, you free up your internal resources and gain peace of mind knowing your finances are in expert hands.

If you’re ready to reclaim your weekends and set your business up for scalable growth, outsourcing your accounting could be the smartest next step.