Hire a Remote Filipino Accountant Through RecruitGo.
Filipino accountants hold BSA degrees, many are CPA board passers, and they already work inside QuickBooks, Xero, and NetSuite for US and Australian firms. Hire through RecruitGo with full Philippine labor law compliance, from recruitment through payroll and benefits.
Why the Big Four Already Hire Filipino Accountants
Deloitte, EY, KPMG, and PwC all operate significant offshore accounting operations in the Philippines. The country produces over 30,000 accounting graduates annually from a university system that teaches IFRS-aligned standards, US GAAP principles, and auditing fundamentals. Many graduates pass the Philippine CPA board exam, one of the tougher professional licensing exams in the country.
The Philippine CPA board exam covers auditing, taxation, management advisory services, and financial accounting and reporting. Filipino CPAs working remotely for foreign firms bring the same foundational rigor as their US counterparts, at a fraction of the cost. Non-CPA accountants with BSA degrees are also highly capable for staff accountant and financial analyst roles.
Philippine Financial Reporting Standards are aligned with IFRS. Many Filipino accountants also have direct US GAAP experience through years of supporting American firms in the BPO sector. This cross-standard fluency means they can work with US, Australian, UK, and international entities without a steep learning curve.
A mid-level Filipino accountant costs $900 to $1,500/month. The equivalent US staff accountant costs $5,800 to $7,000. Even after mandatory benefits (SSS, PhilHealth, Pag-IBIG, 13th month pay), total employer cost is approximately 121% of base salary. At a time when the US faces a severe accounting talent shortage, Philippine accountants offer both cost savings and availability.
Filipino accountants have worked in remote and offshore setups for over a decade. They are comfortable with cloud accounting platforms (QuickBooks, Xero, NetSuite, Sage), asynchronous communication (Slack, email), video calls with partners and clients, and shared document workflows.
Accountant Cost Comparison by Country
Select a market to see monthly salary ranges by experience level, hourly rates, and cost savings compared to US hiring.
The Philippines produces 30,000+ accounting graduates annually. Many are CPA board passers with direct experience supporting US, UK, and Australian firms remotely. Deloitte, EY, KPMG, and PwC all run significant offshore operations here.
What Can a Filipino Accountant Handle?
An accountant is not a bookkeeper with a better title. Bookkeepers record transactions. Accountants analyze, interpret, and report on financial data, prepare tax workpapers, support audits, and advise on financial decisions.
Which Role Do You Actually Need?
This is the most common question we get. Both roles work with your financial data, but at different levels. Here is a direct comparison.
| Accountant | Bookkeeper | |
|---|---|---|
| Primary function | Analyzes, interprets, and reports on financial data | Records transactions and maintains ledgers |
| Financial statements | Prepares and reviews P&L, Balance Sheet, Cash Flow | Provides the data for statements but typically does not prepare them independently |
| Tax work | Prepares tax workpapers, supports CPA with filings, handles provisions | Limited to sales tax data entry and basic categorization |
| Audit support | Prepares audit schedules, responds to auditor inquiries, documents internal controls | Provides transaction-level data when requested |
| Analysis | Variance analysis, forecasting, budgeting, management reporting | Minimal. Focuses on accuracy of records, not interpretation |
| Judgment required | High. Makes accounting treatment decisions, applies standards (GAAP/IFRS) | Low to moderate. Follows established chart of accounts and procedures |
| Typical credentials | BSA degree, CPA (many), CMA, ACCA | BSA or Accounting Technology degree, some CPA |
| Philippines salary | $600 to $2,500/month | $350 to $1,300/month |
| When to hire | You need financial reporting, tax support, audit prep, or management-level analysis | You need transaction entry, reconciliation, and monthly close support |
Not sure which you need? Tell us your accounting setup during the hiring brief and we will recommend the right role and experience level.
EOR-Employed Accountant vs Freelance Contractor
Accountants handle your most sensitive financial data: bank accounts, tax records, client financials, and payroll information. Proper employment status protects your data, your clients, and your firm.
| Comparison | EOR-Employed (RecruitGo) | Freelance / Direct Hire |
|---|---|---|
| Employment status | Fully employed with local contract | Independent contractor (often misclassified) |
| Social security | SSS, PhilHealth, Pag-IBIG all covered | None. Your liability if reclassified |
| 13th month pay | Calculated and paid by EOR | Not applicable (but legally required if deemed employed) |
| Income tax | Withheld and remitted by EOR | Accountant's responsibility (often not filed) |
| Financial data access | NDA, data handling, and confidentiality clauses in employment contract | Freelance NDA has limited cross-border enforceability |
| Client data protection | Governed by Philippine Data Privacy Act + employment terms | Weaker legal framework for foreign employers |
| Accounting software access | Revocable per employment terms. Clear offboarding protocol | No enforceable access control after contract ends |
| Termination protection | Managed per Philippine labor law with proper due process | No protection. Risk of DOLE complaints |
| Your legal risk | Zero. EOR bears employer liability | Full. You may be deemed the employer |
Hire Your Accountant in 3 Steps
Share your accounting software (QuickBooks, Xero, NetSuite, Sage), reporting requirements (GAAP, IFRS, or both), whether you need a staff accountant, senior accountant, or accounting manager, and any industry specialization (SaaS, e-commerce, construction, professional services, nonprofit). We recommend the right experience level and credential requirements.
We source from our accounting talent pools and assess each candidate on: credential verification (BSA degree, CPA board pass, certifications), accounting software proficiency (timed exercises in your specific platform), financial statement preparation ability, tax knowledge (GAAP vs IFRS scenarios), and English communication. You receive 2 to 3 candidates with test scores, credential verification, and video introductions.
Select your accountant. We sign the local employment contract, register them with SSS, PhilHealth, and Pag-IBIG, set up compliant payroll in PHP, and coordinate secure access to your accounting platform and financial systems. Onboarding for accountant roles typically takes 5 to 10 days due to access provisioning and knowledge transfer.
Hire Accountants From Other Countries Too
The Philippines is our top market for accountants, but we also source from these countries based on your timezone, accounting standards, and budget.
Hiring a Remote Accountant
Frequently asked questions about hiring Filipino accountants through RecruitGo.
Filipino accountants range from $600 to $2,500/month depending on experience, credentials, and scope. Staff accountants (GL maintenance, reconciliation, basic reporting) cost $600 to $900. Senior accountants (financial statement preparation, tax workpapers, audit support, multi-entity accounting) cost $900 to $1,500. Accounting managers (team oversight, complex reporting, consolidation) cost $1,500 to $2,500+. The equivalent US staff accountant costs $5,000 to $5,800/month.
Bookkeepers record transactions: data entry, categorization, bank reconciliation, and basic month-end close. Accountants analyze and interpret that data: preparing financial statements, running variance analysis, supporting tax filings, assisting with audits, and making accounting treatment decisions under GAAP or IFRS. If you need someone to enter invoices and reconcile bank feeds, hire a bookkeeper. If you need someone to prepare your P&L and help your CPA with tax season, hire an accountant.
Yes. Philippine accounting education teaches PFRS (aligned with IFRS), and many Filipino accountants have extensive US GAAP experience from working with American firms in the BPO sector. They understand accrual accounting, revenue recognition (ASC 606), lease accounting (ASC 842), and the chart of accounts structures that US firms use.
Yes, and this is the most common setup. Your Filipino accountant handles ongoing financial operations: GL maintenance, reconciliation, financial statement prep, and tax workpaper compilation. Your US-based CPA or controller reviews the work, signs off on filings, and provides strategic tax guidance. The collaboration is seamless because Filipino accountants use the same cloud platforms and speak fluent English.
Filipino BSA graduates can be eligible to sit for the US CPA exam depending on the state board's education requirements. Some states require 150 credit hours, which may require additional coursework. However, for remote staff accounting, a Philippine CPA license combined with US GAAP experience is the more practical credential.
We verify credentials (BSA degree, CPA board exam pass where applicable), test accounting software proficiency (timed exercises in QuickBooks, Xero, or NetSuite), assess financial statement preparation ability, evaluate tax knowledge (GAAP vs IFRS scenarios), and test English communication. You receive 2 to 3 candidates with full credential verification, test scores, work samples, and video introductions.
