Running a business is no small task, especially when it comes to handling the numbers. Between tracking expenses, managing payroll, and making sure the bills get paid on time, the finance and accounting side of things can take up more time than expected. That’s why many companies are turning to outsourcing. But we get it, handing over something as important as your finances can feel like a big step.
Why Are So Many Businesses Curious About Finance and Accounting Outsourcing Roles?
Outsourcing isn’t just a corporate buzzword. It’s a practical way to get expert help without the overhead of building an in-house team. Whether you're a startup looking to stay lean or an established company trying to scale smarter, outsourcing offers flexibility and peace of mind.
More importantly, businesses are realizing that the role of accounting is more than just keeping books. It’s about having the right numbers at the right time to make smart decisions—and that’s where outsourcing can really shine.
At KDCI Outsourcing, we’ve helped businesses of all sizes make that leap smoothly. And along the way, we’ve heard a lot of questions. So here are the top 10 FAQs we often get about outsourcing finance and accounting roles—answered in plain English.
1. What is finance and accounting outsourcing?
Finance and accounting outsourcing (FAO) means handing recurring processes—bookkeeping, accounts payable (AP), accounts receivable (AR), payroll, reporting, even FP&A—to an external specialist while you keep ownership of financial decisions. Investopedia simply calls it “hiring external parties to perform services that were traditionally handled in-house”. In practice, the provider plugs into your tech stack, follows agreed-upon workflows, and delivers validated financial data on schedule.
2. Why do companies outsource finance and accounting roles?
Three motives dominate: cost efficiency, access to scarce talent, and the freedom to focus on revenue-generating work. Stanfox’s survey of prospects found that companies want to “work on the business instead of in it,” especially when recruiting, training, and supervising in-house staff diverts energy from growth. Outsourcing shifts routine tasks to dedicated professionals and frees internal leaders for analytics, strategy, and stakeholder relations.
3. How much can outsourcing finance and accounting really save?
Savings are meaningful but not instant. Exela FAO’s client data shows typical cost reductions of 25-40 percent within 18 months, driven by 30-50 percent lower labor spend and shared technology costs. Hidden savings—duplicate software licenses, overtime during close, audit prep—often add another double-digit percentage. In short, outsourcing removes both visible and invisible inefficiencies.
4. Will we lose control over our financial processes?
Not at all. Think of outsourcing as having an extended finance team—not handing over the keys. You stay in charge, approve payments, and have access to reports anytime. We just take the heavy lifting off your plate so you can focus on more strategic decisions.
You also get full visibility into workflows and timelines. Many clients actually feel more in control after outsourcing because they finally have clear, consistent data.
5. Which finance and accounting tasks can be outsourced?
Almost any task that is rules-based or data-heavy is a candidate:
- Transaction processing (AP, AR, billing)
- General ledger maintenance and month-end close
- Management and statutory reporting
- Payroll and expense auditing
- Financial planning and analysis
- Compliance support (SOX, GAAP, IFRS)
6. Is outsourcing finance and accounting roles viable for small businesses?
Yes. Small companies often can’t justify a full-time controller, yet still need reliable books. Stanfox points out that outsourcing is “a cost-effective way to assign duties so owners can focus on other essential facets of running their business”. A fractional solution delivers professional oversight without the fixed payroll burden.
7. Is it safe to let someone else handle my financial info?
Absolutely. A trusted outsourcing partner uses strict data protection systems, secure file transfers, and follows industry standards like GDPR and SOC 2. At KDCI, we treat your financial data with the highest level of care and confidentiality. In fact, we often implement tighter security than what most small businesses have in-house.
8. How long does it take to get started?
It usually takes a few weeks to get everything set up. That includes understanding your current setup, aligning on workflows, and making sure communication is smooth. Once everything is in place, the transition is pretty seamless. The goal is to make sure things work better, not just faster.
Some businesses start seeing results within the first month, especially if they're outsourcing a time-consuming task like payroll or reconciliation.
9. Is outsourcing a good option for small businesses?
Yes! In fact, small businesses often benefit the most. Instead of hiring a full-time accountant, you get access to a whole team for a fraction of the cost. This is especially helpful if you’re still figuring things out or trying to scale. It lets you stay lean while still getting high-quality financial support.
Even startups with just a few employees use outsourced finance teams to handle everything from invoice tracking to tax prep.
10. How do we measure success after outsourcing finance and accounting roles?
Beyond cost savings, focus on:
- Close-cycle time
- Invoice-to-cash days and early-payment discounts captured
- AP exception rate
- Audit adjustments and compliance findings
- Percentage of analyst time spent on insights vs. data entry
Establish a joint KPI dashboard during onboarding and review it quarterly. Deloitte advises aligning metrics with business outcomes, not just activity counts.
The KDCI Outsourcing advantage
KDCI has spent more than a decade building high-performance finance and accounting teams for US, Canadian, and Australian businesses. Our Manila-based professionals integrate with your ERP, follow global best practices, and deliver the real-time insights you need to steer the company forward—without the overhead.
Whether you need a part-time bookkeeper or a full finance team, KDCI Outsourcing has the talent, structure, and experience to support your growth.
Ready to turn closing time into strategy time? Let’s talk.
