Knowledge Centre

Reduce costs and scale capacity by working with South African CBAPs trained in international standards.

Global Outsourcing & Cross-Border Support

1. What You Need to Know 

Outsourcing doesn’t mean lowering standards, it means accessing quality talent at better value. 
South African CBAPs are trained in IFRS, IFRS for SMEs, and often have exposure to US GAAP and international tax principles. They can perform back-office accounting, tax preparation, and compliance work for foreign CPA/CA firms under the oversight of the licensed local firm.  

2. Why It Matters to You 

For firms abroad, outsourcing to CBAPs means confidence + cost savings. 
Significant cost reduction compared to onshore staff. 
Work performed by professionals bound by CIBA’s Code of Ethics. 
Familiarity with international standards and cloud accounting tools. 
Flexible scaling of teams during busy season. 

3. Frameworks, Standards, or References 

Cross-border work is supported by international accounting standards and local oversight. 

  • Frameworks: IFRS, IFRS for SMEs, GAAP knowledge (US/UK/AU context), double-taxation concepts. 

  • Standards & ethics: IFAC Code of Ethics, CIBA’s professional standards. 

  • References: US IRS and AICPA tax compliance frameworks (for US clients, under CPA supervision). 

  • What your accountant will actually do: 

  • Prepare bookkeeping, payroll, and management accounts for offshore clients. 

  • Draft US tax return working papers and schedules for CPA review. 

  • Provide reconciliations, year-end adjustments, and compliance support. 

  • Manage workload surges (e.g. US busy season). 

4. How to Apply  

Steps for a CPA/CA firm abroad to use South African CBAPs: 

  1. Identify capacity gaps (tax prep, bookkeeping, reconciliations). 

  2. Engage a South African CBAP firm through a service agreement. 

  3. Share required compliance frameworks and templates (US IRS, UK HMRC, etc.). 

  4. South African team prepares work papers and returns. 

  5. Local CPA/CA reviews and files with regulator. 

5. Common Mistakes to Avoid 

Avoid outsourcing pitfalls by doing it right: 

  • Using unregulated offshore staff → Choose regulated professionals like CBAPs. 

  • Poor communication on standards → Agree on templates and review processes. 

  • Assuming offshore = lower quality → South Africans are highly trained, English-speaking, IFRS-based. 

  • Ignoring data protection → Ensure POPIA/GDPR compliance in cross-border transfers. 

9. Need Help? 

Still stuck? We’re here to help. 

  • [Open a Support Ticket – tagged: Outsourcing]