Key Takeaways
- Deep Talent Pool — The Philippines produces over 200,000 CPAs annually, many with direct experience at Big 4 affiliate firms like SGV & Co. (EY), Isla Lipana & Co. (PwC), and others.
- Cost-Effective Expertise — Accountants in the Philippines offer premium-level qualifications at significantly lower salary costs compared to their Western counterparts, making them attractive for U.S. businesses of all sizes.
- Remote Work Makes It Seamless — Advances in cloud technology (RingCentral, AWS) and the post-pandemic shift in remote work culture have made managing offshore accounting teams easier than ever.
- End-to-End Support via Connext — Connext’s EOR model handles recruiting, HR, payroll, compliance, and IT, so companies get skilled accounting talent while retaining full visibility and control.
The article gives an introduction to finding the right accountant with accounting firm experience from the big 4 companies in the Philippines.
Want an Accountant with Accounting Experience from the Big 4 Companies? Look no further than the Philippines.
In today’s labor market, finding the right accounting talent to grow your business can be challenging, especially if you are looking for someone with a premium background in this type of industry, like accountants with accounting firm experience from the big four companies. For most of our clients, the solution has been hiring dedicated teams from the Philippines.
There are close to more than 200,000 Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) in the Philippines graduating each year. A lot of them work for, or have worked for, one of the Big 4 Accounting firms and have those premium level work experiences that American companies covet.
The Big 4 Accounting firms use affiliate firms with different names. Here is the list. A lot of our Accounting employees resumes for example, say they worked at SGV & Co., which is the affiliate of Ernst & Young (EY).
- SGV & Co. (SyCip Gorres Velayo & Co.) (affiliate of Ernst & Young)
- Manabat Delgado Amper & Co. (formerly C.L. Manabat & Co.) (affiliate of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu (DTT))
- Isla Lipana & Co. (formerly Joaquin Cunanan & Co.) (affiliate of PricewaterhouseCoopers)
- Manabat Sanagustin & Co. (formerly Laya Mananghaya & Co.) (affiliate of KPMG)
- BDO Alba Romeo & Co. (Philippine Member Firm of BDO International)
We hire from these affiliate firms often, placing high level talent to fill client needs for positions such as:
- AP/AR Specialist
- Junior CPA
- Senior CPA
- Controller
- Financial Analyst
Why It Is a Good Idea to Hire Accountants in the Philippines
Hiring accountants in the Philippines provides numerous advantages, such as wide pool of educated CPA talents, English speaking professionals and significantly lower salary wages compared to western counterparts.
Additionally, filling Accounting needs in the Philippines is incredibly common with the world’s largest firms. This trend is becoming more common for small and mid-sized organizations. The main contributors to this shift are:
Technology and Cloud Software – companies like RingCentral and AWS give companies the ability to connect with a remote worker in less than 30minutes. This was not the case several years ago.
Remote Work Mindset Shift – the pandemic has forced executives to re-think how and where work is done. Remote work is more normal now than ever. If you’re in Seattle, does it matter if your employee is in Los Angeles or Manilla? Not necessarily.
Nationwide Employee Shortage – There are more than 10 million job openings in the United States. A good portion of which belong to the SME market and can be filled by hiring remote workers.
Experience Base of Global Workers – We are now at a point where global workers have been supporting large US companies for years now. These employees have experiences from companies like Microsoft, Google, Comcast, JP Morgan, Ernst and Young, and more.
If you have a need and would like to explore the possibility of hiring accountants in the Philippines, we would love to help. Please contact us or go to our Accounting solutions page to learn more about how we help clients build custom offshore accounting teams to enable their growth.
Why Partner with Connext
Given the number of CPA graduates, accountants with accounting firm experience and dedicated Filipino workforce, it is no surprise why outsourcing in the Philippines is advantageous. However, it is also important to note that working with the right partner is also essential for hiring the best team.
Connext helps finance leaders build dedicated offshore accounting teams with qualified CPAs and experienced accountants who can support bookkeeping, accounts payable, accounts receivable, billing, collections, audit documentation, reporting, and other finance operations.
Through Connext’s EOR model and co-managed approach, companies gain skilled accounting talent while Connext handles recruiting, HR, payroll, compliance, IT, and local management support. Your team keeps visibility and control, while Connext helps manage performance, structure, and day-to-day operational support.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What types of roles can be filled by Filipino accountants?
Positions include AP/AR Specialists, Junior and Senior CPAs, Controllers, and Financial Analysts.
2. Why hire an accountant with accounting firm experience?
Accountants with Big 4 firm experience bring premium-level training, exposure to complex financial operations, and industry best practices that are difficult to find elsewhere, giving your business a significant advantage in accuracy, compliance, and financial strategy.
3. Is the language barrier a concern?
No. Filipino accounting professionals are English-speaking, making communication straightforward with U.S.-based teams.
4. Is offshore accounting only for large corporations?
Not at all. While large firms have long used this model, it is increasingly common among small and mid-sized businesses (SMEs) looking to fill talent gaps.
5. What does Connext handle on behalf of the client company?
Connext manages recruiting, HR, payroll, compliance, IT infrastructure, and local management support under its Employer of Record (EOR) model.
6. What accounting functions can an offshore team support?
Offshore teams can cover bookkeeping, accounts payable and receivable, billing, collections, audit documentation, financial reporting, and broader finance operations.
