Overview
Client: Mid-Sized CPA Firm
Industry: Public Accounting – US CPA & Tax Services
Client Size: 15+ in-house team members, servicing 500+ clients
Engagement: End-to-end outsourced accounting support, including bookkeeping, tax return prep, AP/AR, payroll, and reporting
Client Background:
This New York-based CPA firm provides a mix of tax, accounting, and advisory services to small and mid-sized businesses across the US. Known for their strong client retention and customized financial guidance, they were expanding rapidly—but facing internal constraints due to increasing client demands, staffing shortages, and seasonal workload spikes.
They sought an experienced outsourcing partner that could deliver US-compliant, CPA-led accounting support—without compromising quality, turnaround, or security.
Challenges Faced:
- Staffing Limitations: Struggled to hire experienced accountants locally, especially during tax season
- Deadline Pressures: Recurring bottlenecks during monthly closes and tax return preparation
- Reduced Focus on Advisory: Partners stuck managing admin-heavy accounting processes
- Compliance Concerns: Needed assurance on IRS compliance and data confidentiality
- Inconsistent Reporting: Delays in delivering client-ready financial statements
Our Approach:
Sapphire Outsourcing developed a structured, phased engagement plan, aligning with the firm’s goals and systems from day one.
- Assigned a dedicated offshore team, led and supervised by a licensed US CPA
- Took ownership of bookkeeping, payroll, AP/AR, and tax return workflows
- Introduced AI-supported automation for ledger reviews, reconciliations, and return validation
- Delivered custom management reports for client use
- Ensured a fully secure integration with firm systems via encrypted VPN on AWS-hosted servers
Results Delivered
Tangible Outcomes:
- 55% cost savings on back-office operations
- 2x faster turnaround on monthly deliverables and tax return filings
- Increased client onboarding capacity by 30%
- Over 1,000 tax returns processed with 99.2% accuracy
- 100% IRS compliance and audit-ready documentation
Intangible Benefits:
- Seamless integration with in-house staff
- Partners regained time to focus on client strategy and growth
- Reduced stress and workload during peak seasons
- Complete confidence in security protocols and data access controls
Client Feedback
“Partnering with Sapphire has been a game-changer for our practice. The quality, accuracy, and responsiveness are outstanding—and knowing the team is led by a US CPA gives us absolute peace of mind. It feels like they’re part of our firm.”
— Managing Partner, CPA Firm Based in New York
Data Security & Compliance
Sapphire’s engagement adhered to strict US standards and included:
- ISO 27001:2013 & ISO 9001:2015 certified operations
- AWS-hosted private cloud with full control and monitoring
- Sophos firewall, antivirus, and VPN-based access
- Role-based user restrictions and audit trail logs
- No third-party involvement—fully Sapphire-operated infrastructure
Key Takeaways & Best Practices
- CPA-led outsourcing ensures trust, compliance, and quality alignment
- Structured onboarding creates a smooth transition and reduces internal disruption
- Hybrid AI + human review model delivers speed and precision
- Cloud-based security infrastructure is essential for client confidence
Conclusion
This New York-based CPA firm was able to scale operations, improve turnaround, and reclaim partner bandwidth—without increasing overhead. Sapphire’s CPA-supervised, secure outsourcing model empowered them to serve clients better, grow their book of business, and maintain a trusted brand.
