If you’ve been trying to hire locally and scale profitably, you already know: the math doesn’t work.
Salaries are rising, experienced talent is becoming increasingly harder to find, and even your best employees are being stretched thin. Compliance never stops, but growth does, especially when your firm is running at full capacity by Q1.
That’s why more accounting leaders are turning to virtual accounting staffing as a more effective approach. Not to cut corners, but to increase capacity, reduce overhead, and let their core team focus on what drives revenue.
With the right offshore staffing for CPA firms, the model is clear:
- Daily production is handled offshore.
- Client-facing and advisory work stays in-house.
- Turnaround improves. Margins improve.
- And partners finally get breathing room to grow the firm.
At Unison Globus, we’ve helped firms across the U.S. adopt what we call Offshore Staffing 2.0, a structured, scalable approach to building long-term capacity without adding permanent overhead.
In this blog, we’ll walk through what that looks like in action, sharing results from three accounting firms that increased output, protected quality, and freed up time to focus on growth.
ROI of Virtual Staffing: How Smart Firms Measure Value
When accounting firms consider outsourcing, the first question isn’t just “how much will it cost?” It’s “What do we get back?”
The real ROI of virtual staffing goes beyond reducing expenses. It’s about expanding your firm’s capacity, improving delivery, and freeing up your team for higher-value work—all without the overhead that comes with local hiring.
According to a 2024 CPA.com survey, over 55% of firms that adopted outsourced accounting services reported faster turnaround and improved staff efficiency within the first year. At Unison Globus, the firms we support consistently see gains across three areas.
01. Capacity expansion without full-time hires
First, there’s the increase in capacity. Adding just one or two offshore team members often raises overall output by 30 to 40 percent. Whether it’s monthly bookkeeping, tax preparation, or reconciliation work, having consistent, review-ready support allows your team to take on more clients without adding internal workload.02. Reduced overhead with consistent output
Second, the financial impact is significant. Offshore professionals cost less to onboard and retain compared to U.S.-based staff. With virtual accounting staffing, firms can reduce per-role staffing costs by up to 60 percent. The savings go beyond salaries—they extend to benefits, training time, and office resources. That margin can be reinvested into growth, technology, or retained as profit.03. Stronger workflows, better client delivery
Third, client experience improves. By removing routine production work from your local team’s plate, you give them more time for review, communication, and client-facing conversations. According to Accounting Today, firms that use offshore support are twice as likely to meet deadlines during peak season. That translates to fewer errors, better relationships, and more space for advisory conversations that drive revenue.So while many firms begin this journey to reduce accounting overhead, the return is far more valuable. When measured against capacity gained, delivery speed, and profitability, virtual staffing isn’t just worth it—it’s a competitive edge.
Here’s what that ROI looks like in action, across the three pillars firms care about most:
Virtual Staffing vs Local Hiring for Accounting Firms
Still deciding between offshore staffing and hiring locally? Here’s how the two models compare:| Category | Virtual Staffing | Local Hiring |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Up to 60% lower overall staffing cost | High fixed costs (salary, benefits, space) |
| Time to Deploy | 5–7 business days to go live | 4–8 weeks average hiring cycle |
| Scalability | Easy to scale up or down as needed | Difficult to scale without long contracts |
| Talent Access | Access to trained accounting & tax professionals | Limited local talent pool |
| Oversight & Control | Full visibility with structured SOPs | Requires hands-on daily management |
| Workload Flexibility | Part-time, full-time, or seasonal models | Typically full-time only |
| Retention Risk | Managed transition plans and backups are available | Higher risk of attrition and rehiring |
Case Study Highlights: How 3 Firms Increased Accounting Capacity
Real results start with the right structure. These three firms used Unison Globus Offshore Staffing 2.0 to unlock capacity, reduce pressure, and serve more clients, without hiring in-house.
Firm A: From Backlog to 7-Person Offshore Team Over 5 Years
A leading U.S.–U.K. tax advisory firm initially engaged Unison Globus in 2019 to address a critical backlog of expat tax returns. Within just 2.5 months, over 250 returns were completed under the Ad-Hoc Tax Package model.What began as a cleanup project soon expanded into full-year engagements:
- Year 2–3: Over 1,400 complex tax returns completed across two years
- Year 4: Transitioned to a dedicated full-time team: 3 Tax Accountants, 1 Senior, 1 Reviewer
- Year 5+: Scaled to a 7-member offshore team; expanded into Trust filings and investment account analysis
- Notable collaboration: Client-led in-person training visits to India, now an annual tradition
Results
- Cleared major backlog within 10 weeks
- Expanded into new services and compliance areas
- Built a trusted, high-performing offshore team from the ground up
Firm B: Building Year-Round Tax and Accounting Capacity
A regional U.S.-based CPA firm began its offshore journey in 2020 with a three-member full-time tax team focused on 1040 preparation.Within two years, their offshore structure evolved into a fully integrated extension of their practice:
- Year 2: Added business tax returns; onboarded a full-time Tax Reviewer during peak season
- Year 3: Promoted talent internally; migrated software systems with Unison’s support; added ERTC and accounting services
- Year 4: Expanded team; handled 200+ tax returns and year-end books
- Year 5: Ongoing support across payroll, 1099s, and accounting—plus standout feedback:
“We’re having trouble keeping pace with them.”
Results
- Multi-disciplinary team spanning tax, bookkeeping, and ERTC
- Reduced partner workload and review pressure
- On-demand capacity without hiring locally
Firm C: Managing Peak-Season Bottlenecks with Flexible Offshore Support
A U.S.-based regional firm with a 15-person team partnered with Unison Globus to manage persistent Q3 and Q4 bottlenecks. The goal: improve turnaround without hiring locally or compromising delivery quality.What began as a seasonal engagement soon became a proven model for handling high-volume periods:
- Year 1: Deployed 3 offshore professionals on a project-based contract during Q4
- Scope: Tax preparation, reconciliations, and cleanup tasks
- Delivery model: Short-term, high-impact engagement with built-in scalability
- Outcome: Achieved faster turnaround and eliminated reliance on temp hires
- Ongoing use: The firm now uses flexible offshore staffing to consistently manage seasonal workload spikes
Results
- 30% improvement in turnaround time during peak season
- Protected team from burnout without sacrificing client satisfaction
- Maintained delivery standards without adding full-time headcount
Why Firms Choose
Unison Globus Offshore Staffing 2.0
Choosing the right offshore model isn’t about finding short-term help.
It’s about building dependable, long-term capacity that matches
how your firm works.
Here’s how Unison Globus Offshore Staffing 2.0 delivers that consistency:
It’s about building dependable, long-term capacity that matches
how your firm works.
Here’s how Unison Globus Offshore Staffing 2.0 delivers that consistency:
Designed for professionals, not just processes We support the specific needs of CPAs, EAs, and accounting firms. Our teams are trained in U.S. tax and accounting workflows, with a focus on compliance, accuracy, and timely delivery.
Fast onboarding without added complexity
Most firms are fully up and running within a week. From the first day, every team member follows structured task flows and clearly defined scopes, reducing training time and misalignment.
Seamless integration into your operations
We align with your checklists, software, and review cycles. No need to adopt new systems or workflows. The goal is to strengthen what already works, not replace it.
Scalable support, sized to your needs
Whether you need help during peak periods or consistent year-round coverage, we provide flexible engagement models that let you scale up or down with ease.
A reliable partner with industry depth
As a leading accounting staffing firm in India, Unison Globus brings 18+ years of experience supporting U.S.-based professionals. Our engagements prioritize security, transparency, and continuity.
Conclusion : Scale Smarter with Unison Globus Offshore Support
Firms that scale well aren’t just doing more. They’re doing it with less friction, lower overhead, and better alignment between teams and priorities.
That’s exactly what Unison Globus Offshore Support is built for.
Whether you’re navigating seasonal demand, planning for long-term growth, or simply need more room to focus on advisory, our model gives you the flexibility to expand without overextending your team.
We’ve helped hundreds of CPAs, EAs, and accounting firms implement reliable, review-ready workflows that boost productivity and protect quality. Our accounting firm capacity solutions are designed to reduce bottlenecks, improve margins, and create the kind of capacity that leads to real profit, not just survival.
If you’re ready to explore what offshore staffing for CPA firms can look like inside your practice, we’re ready to help.
Let’s build smarter, together.
