Outsourced Accounting Services. A Smarter Way to Scale Your Finance Team
It's More Than Counting Beans
Bookkeeping tracks your transactions. Outsourced accounting services manage your financial engine, ensuring the right amounts are paid, collected, and accounted for at the right time. Counting beans has its place. Putting them to work with purpose is where outsourced strategy earns its keep.
With outsourced accounting services from Dark Horse, you'll get a turnkey accounting function for your business that can scale as you do and supplement in-house personnel as well. Whether it's paying bills, invoicing customers, managing cash flow, creating internal controls, or building management financial reports, we provide everything an in-house controller or accounting manager would, plus the systems and structure to ensure it’s done right every time.
When Do You Need More Than Bookkeeping?
As your business begins to employ people, send more dollars to outside parties or generate increasing revenue and receivables from a growing customer base, you need a real accounting function, one that handles the numbers so you and your team can focus on driving the business forward.
Outsourced accounting services from Dark Horse CPAs become a strategic advantage. Our CPAs provide support ranging from AP/AR clerk to controllership level, equipping you with the needed financial data to make informed decisions.
Fractional CFO
strategic support, financial planning, and analysis to take your business to the next level
Outsourced Accounting
full-service accounting to help you manage the back office.
Bookkeeping
timely and accurate recordkeeping
Outsourced Accounting
Our 3-Step Process
1. Initial Discovery
We'll develop a working understanding of your business, current accounting function, and future needs to lay the foundation for effective outsourced accounting services
2. Accounting Assessment
We’ll take the info from the Initial Discovery phase to create a tailored proposal and roadmap for building your accounting function. This includes a list of recommendations and areas that require further evaluation.
3. Ongoing Accounting
We’ll implement scalable systems and processes using the right accounting app stack to optimize your accounting department's efficiency. As your business evolves, we'll add or subtract services to make sure your accounting operations continue to meet your needs
The Accounting Assessment
Your People, Process and Platform Roadmap
We'll evaluate how your accounting function currently operates, identify the necessary changes, establish how responsibilities are distributed, and what’s the timeline. Dark Horse CPAs will identify where we can leverage technology to reduce the manual processes and inputs as much as possible.
Our team takes the time to understand your industry so that our recommendations reflect the real-world context in which your business operates. This process lays the groundwork for more effective outsourced accounting services, including a thorough Bookkeeping Assessment.
$3,500
Rightsourcing Lowers Cost, Improves Outcomes
Building an internal accounting team demands expertise, oversight, and accountability. But how can you be sure a new hire understands the tools needed to streamline operations? What happens when they hit a roadblockor when your business grows faster than their skill set? Who is ultimately responsible to ensure they are doing what you need, when you need it?
Dark Horse removes these concerns by ensuring the right talent, tools, and resources are implemented to meet your business where it is today. We intentionally structure our engagements to be a cost-effective alternative to bringing the work in-house. You get all the talent, best practices, and knowledge of an entire team of accountants without the in-house price tag.
The ROI On An Accounting Process
Improving your accounting processes almost always results in substantial cost savings and a deeper understanding of your business, leading to informed strategies and better overall decision making. We'll help you get your numbers right so you can move your business forward.
Without Dark Horse
A medium-sized manufacturing company with five subsidiary units was struggling with its outdated accounting system, resulting in inefficient financial reporting and lack of real-time data. The existing system required manual entry for many processes, leading to data errors and inconsistencies, particularly in intercompany transactions. This resulted in:
#1
Inaccurate financial reporting due to manual data entry and poor integration between the subsidiaries.
#2
Delayed decision-making caused by the absence of real-time financial data.
#3
Increased operational costs from inefficiencies and redundant processes.
#4
Difficulty in tracking and reconciling intercompany transactions.
The client operated in the dark, overspending on headcount to compensate for these inefficiencies.
With Dark Horse
Our accounting firm was approached to assess and revamp the client’s financial management processes. Our evaluation focused on three key areas: People, Process, and Platform.
#1
Provided training and support to the finance teams, ensuring a smooth transition to the new system.
#2
Automated intercompany transactions and reconciliations, cutting errors and manual labor.
#3
Achieved a more streamlined financial reporting process, enabling timely and informed decision-making.
#4
Reduced operational costs by eliminating redundancies and improving process efficiencies.
This successful evaluation and implementation of new accounting technology transformed the client’s financial management capabilities. They now receive actionable reports every month and have reduced accounting-related costs by 33% through optimized outsourced accounting services.
Outsourced Accounting FAQs
Outsourced accounting services represent a step beyond basic bookkeeping. We start by analyzing the People involved in your accounting function, the Process they go through each month, and the technology and tools (also called Platforms) they use to get the job done.
If any of these areas are underdeveloped, we help implement structure and best practices to create a fully functional accounting operation. In most engagements, Dark Horse serves as the business’s complete outsourced accounting department.
Think of bookkeeping as the foundation, accurately recording your financial transactions, like payments and invoices. It's essential for capturing your financial history. Outsourced accounting services for small business owners builds upon that foundation by managing your ongoing finance operations, including:
- Accounts Payable & Receivable: Paying bills, collecting customer payments, and managing outstanding balances.
- Payroll Processing: Ensuring accurate, timely employee payments and tax compliance.
- Systems Integration: Connecting your accounting platform to other tools for seamless, automated workflows.
- Credit Card & Expense Management: Streamlining tracking through integrations and structured expense reporting.
Dark Horse CPAs act as your virtual accounting department, but with a distinct advantage: we're technology experts. We stay current on the latest accounting software and tools, constantly evaluating the market for the best solutions to fit your needs.
Our strong relationships with leading technology providers give you direct access to their support, ensuring any questions or issues are addressed quickly.
This combined expertise in accounting processes and technology allows us to manage your day-to-day finances and optimize your systems for superior efficiency and financial insights:
- Scalable Expertise: An in-house accountant might have a strong grasp of bookkeeping but may lack expertise in areas like complex tax situations or advanced reporting. With Dark Horse, you tap into a team of CPAs with diverse specializations and experience across various industries. Our support can scale as your business needs evolve.
- Technology Advantage: We serve as your virtual accounting department and technology advisors. We continually evaluate the best accounting software and tools for your specific business, ensuring optimal efficiency and automation. Our close relationships with industry-leading tech providers give you direct access to their expertise and support.
- Cost-Efficiency: When you factor in salary, benefits, software licenses, and the potential for turnover, hiring an in-house accountant can be significantly more expensive. Outsourcing offers a predictable monthly cost and eliminates additional overhead burdens.
Payroll can be a complex, yet necessary, part of business. We offer comprehensive payroll solutions designed to simplify the process and keep your business compliant with ever-changing regulations.
We work closely with Gusto, a top-rated payroll provider known for its user-friendly interface, exceptional support, and proactive compliance monitoring. They offer resources to help you stay informed about regulatory changes that may affect your payroll.
While Gusto is our preferred solution, we also have experience supporting clients using other major payroll providers, such as ADP, Paychex, and others. As experienced accountants, we have access to a wide network of payroll and HR providers, including PEOs.
This enables us to identify the best solution for your business's unique needs, ensuring that your employees are paid accurately and in compliance with all applicable regulations.
You’ll receive standard financial reports each month—Profit and Loss, Balance Sheet, and Statement of Cash Flows. These core reports give you a clear view of revenue, expenses, profitability, assets, liabilities, and cash flow.
If you require a more in-depth analysis, that's where we can truly add value! We can customize reports tailored to your business and industry. We're happy to discuss the type of reporting schedule that would best support your decision-making, whether it's monthly or something more frequent.
Our priority isn't just handing you reports, but helping you understand the trends they reveal. We'll partner with you to analyze your financial data, identify areas for improvement, and provide actionable recommendations to help you make strategic adjustments within your business.
Our outsourced accounting services go beyond basic bookkeeping to provide you with deeper insights and support for strategic growth:
- Back-office Essentials: Bank and credit card reconciliations, accounts receivable and payable management, payroll processing, and preparation of core financial statements.
- Tax Readiness: We'll handle your month-end and year-end closing processes, generate accurate financial reports, and ensure your books are ready for tax filing (including necessary 1099s).
- Insightful Guidance: Our CPAs will analyze your data, providing clarity on trends, profitability, and areas for potential improvement.
- Technology Integration: We'll work seamlessly with your existing accounting software or assist you in transitioning to a preferred cloud-based solution.
- Team Coaching & Oversight: We can help coach and guide your internal accounting team, serving as a reliable resource during the close process while training them on accounting processes and technology improvements mutually agreed upon for your business.
We understand that change can be a concern, but rest assured, we specialize in making transitions smooth and successful. Here's our proven approach:
- Collaborative Assessment: We start by thoroughly understanding your current accounting setup, identifying any key processes and potential challenges. Take an Assessment!
- Customized Plan: We'll work with you to design a tailored transition strategy that meets your specific business needs. This ensures minimal disruption to your daily operations.
- Clear Communication: Transparency is key! We maintain open communication throughout the process, providing regular updates and addressing any questions you may have.
- Ongoing Support: Our commitment doesn't end with the transition. You'll have a dedicated team from Dark Horse providing continuous support, ensuring a seamless and successful experience long term.
We've guided countless businesses through similar transitions.
Scalability is a core benefit of outsourced accounting. As your business evolves, we'll adapt our services to continue providing seamless support:
- Flexible Packages: Adjust service levels based on increased transaction volumes or new requirements.
- Specialized Expertise: If needed, we can tap into additional resources within our team, who possess industry-specific or advanced accounting knowledge.
- CFO-Level Guidance: A smooth transition to our Fractional CFO services for strategic financial insights and decision-making support.
Whether you're scaling or restructuring, our outsourced accounting services adapt to your business's evolving needs. We're one of the few white label accounting firms that can support both your backend operations and client-facing service delivery.
Find Your Dark Horse CPA
Suzi Drennen, CPA
Principal
John Warner, CPA
Principal
Hayes Hokanson, CPA
Principal
Susan Snowden, CPA
Principal
Joey Kinney
Associate Principal
Jon Kaine
Associate Principal
Riana Linsky, CPA
Principal
Brian McComas, CPA
Principal
Tim McLain, CPA
Principal
Megan Durst, CPA/ABV, CVA
Principal
Mike Madden, CPA, EA
Principal
Gary Wantulok, CPA
Principal
Stella Sanchez, CPA
Principal
Nancy R.
I have used James Larsen as my CPA for many years and am confident in his work ethic and tax knowledge.
Locations
Because we're entirely cloud-based, we can work with you from anywhere. If you prefer to work with a local CPA, check out our quickly growing list of locations.
Get an expert Tax & Accounting CPA who will partner with you to achieve unparalleled results.
