Onboarding Accounting Team Philippines for Shopify Bookkeeping

A 2025 study by Grand View Research projects that the finance and accounting outsourcing industry in the Philippines will grow to USD 3.63 billion by 2030, with an annual growth rate of about 12.8%.

For many global companies, the onboarding accounting team Philippines is becoming a strategic move to reduce operational costs while maintaining top-quality financial management.

This need is even more evident for Shopify-based businesses, where every transaction, ad spend, and refund must be tracked accurately. If you’re planning to hire accountants Philippines, here are key steps and insights to ensure a smooth onboarding process.

Why Companies Are Onboarding Accounting Teams in the Philippines

For Shopify businesses, having accurate and real-time bookkeeping is essential for financial transparency and audit readiness. Many companies prefer to onboard accounting teams from the Philippines for several reasons:

• Accountant salaries in the Philippines are 60–70% lower compared to Western countries, without compromising work quality
• Many Filipino accountants hold international certifications (such as CPA and QuickBooks ProAdvisor) and have extensive experience with global clients.
• The Philippines ranks high in English proficiency, making cross-country communication smoother and reducing the risk of miscommunication.
• Flexible working hours and a work culture similar to Western countries make remote collaboration more efficient.
• Filipino accountants are experienced in e-commerce bookkeeping, covering daily transactions, ad expenses, and refund reconciliations.
• The country’s well-established BPO industry provides strong support in technology, data security, and ongoing professional training for accounting professionals.

These advantages make the Philippines accounting onboarding process both efficient and cost-effective for global companies managing online operations like Shopify.

Steps to Onboarding Accounting Team in the Philippines

To ensure a smooth process, follow these key steps to onboard your accounting team in the Philippines effectively

Step 1: Select the Right Hiring Model

First, you need to decide which hiring model best suits your business needs, such as:

• Outsourcing through a local or offshore partner in the Philippines
• Direct hiring of Filipino accountants to work remotely
• Hybrid model, combining your internal team with a Filipino accounting team

The hiring model you choose will affect several aspects, including cost, workflow, and management structure. Therefore, it’s important to select one that aligns with your business requirements, considering factors like transaction volume, bookkeeping complexity, and working hour overlap.

Step 2: Recruit and Screen Qualified Accountants

After deciding on the recruitment model, the next step is the screening process. You can shortlist potential talents by considering several key factors such as:

• Experience in e-commerce or Shopify accounting, for example, handling transaction reconciliation, platform integrations, and payment gateway connections.
• Proficiency in accounting software like QuickBooks, Xero, NetSuite, or e-commerce specific tools.
• English proficiency and communication skills to ensure smooth collaboration.

Don’t forget to carry out a comprehensive selection process, including background verification, interviews, and technical tests. Make sure candidates are familiar with international accounting standards, especially if your business operates globally.  

Step 3: Set Up Legal and Compliance Requirements

Once you’ve selected your candidates, it’s essential to make sure all legal and compliance aspects are properly addressed. This includes:

• Ensuring the employment contract or outsourcing agreement complies with both Philippine labor laws and, if applicable, the client’s country regulations.
• Meeting tax obligations, labor regulations, and data protection standards in the Philippines.
• Reviewing financial data security protocols, including system access, non-disclosure agreements (NDAs), and proper data backup and work recording procedures.
• If you’re working with an outsourcing vendor, verify their credentials, security certifications, and standard operating procedures (SOPs) to ensure compliance and reliability.

Step 4: Prepare Technology and System Access

The next step is to prepare all the tools and systems your Filipino accounting team needs to work efficiently and securely. This includes:

• Providing access to your Shopify account, including sales data, refunds, and payment gateway integrations.
• Granting access to your accounting or bookkeeping software (such as QuickBooks, Xero, or other e-commerce accounting tools).
• Setting up remote collaboration tools like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Slack, or Google Workspace to maintain seamless communication.
• Implementing data security measures, such as VPN access, multi-factor authentication, and regular backups.
• Aligning work hours or shifts to ensure there’s sufficient overlap between your team and the Filipino accountants, especially if you’re in different time zones.

Step 5: Train and Transfer Knowledge

Training is the key to helping your new team fully understand how your company operates, especially when it comes to Shopify bookkeeping. Here’s how to make the process effective:

• Create clear process documentation (SOPs) for your Shopify bookkeeping workflow , including how transactions are recorded, how bank reconciliations are done, and how reports are prepared.
• Hold structured onboarding sessions to introduce your Filipino accountants to your company culture, quality standards, communication expectations, and the tools they’ll use daily.
• Provide mentoring or initial pairing with an experienced member of your existing team to ensure smooth knowledge transfer and faster adaptation.

Step 6: Establish Workflow and Communication Systems

Set up a clear workflow and communication system to ensure your remote Filipino accounting team integrates smoothly with your internal operations. Here are some best practices:

• Set reporting schedules and regular meetings, daily or weekly check-ins, and use dashboards or progress-tracking tools to monitor tasks.
• Define clear roles and responsibilities, such as who enters data, who reviews it, and who prepares reports for management.
• Establish main communication channels, like Slack or Microsoft Teams, and schedule overlapping work hours for meetings and clarifications.
• Track performance metrics, such as bookkeeping error rates, transaction completion time, and internal satisfaction scores.
• Implement feedback and continuous improvement systems to refine processes over time.

Overcoming Common Onboarding Challenges

Even with a solid onboarding plan, some challenges may still arise. Here are a few common issues to watch out for.

1. Cultural and communication gaps

While the Philippines has a high level of English proficiency, there can still be subtle differences in communication and work culture. To prevent misunderstandings, conduct cultural orientation sessions and create an internal glossary or guide that clearly defines job roles, deliverables, and expectations for both sides.

2. Maintaining work quality remotely

With a remote setup, maintaining quality control is crucial. Implement regular performance reviews, internal audits, and clear quality metrics. You can also use automation tools to verify data accuracy and perform manual backups for cross-checking.

3. Managing staff turnover and training continuity

High turnover can occur in outsourcing environments. To minimize disruptions, maintain complete process documentation (SOPs) and provide ongoing training programs. In case of staff changes, ensure a smooth handover process so that essential knowledge is retained.

4. Ensuring consistent data security

Working remotely with sensitive financial data makes security a top priority. Apply data encryption, VPN access, limited system permissions, and audit logs. The Philippines’ Data Privacy Act also provides a strong legal framework for data protection, helping businesses stay compliant and secure.

Build and Onboard Your Accounting Team in the Philippines with Global Virtuoso

After understanding the steps and challenges of onboarding an accounting team in the Philippines, the most efficient way to start is by partnering with a trusted outsourcing vendor like Global Virtuoso

As a leading finance and accounting outsourcing provider, Global Virtuoso supports companies throughout the entire process,  from recruitment and training to managing accounting teams that meet international standards. With extensive experience serving global clients, they ensure a fast, secure, and compliant onboarding process tailored to your business needs.

Partnering with an experienced vendor also helps you save time and operational costs, as your bookkeeping and accounting tasks are handled by skilled professionals. Global Virtuoso offers a full range of services, including End-to-End Accounting Service, Bookkeeping Outsourcing Service, Account Payable, Financial Reporting, Outsourced CFO, Seasonal and Year-End Support, and Customized Accounting Solutions designed to fit your business goals.

Contact us now!