Accounting outsourcing: optimize your financial management

In France, outsourcing accounting means entrusting a company's financial management to a chartered accountant or specialized firm. This practice is particularly common among VSEs and SMEs, where the quest for efficiency and compliance is essential.

However, choosing a qualified professional is essential. Only members of an accounting firm registered with the Ordre des experts-comptables are authorized to practice. This guarantees the company a high level of competence and security in its operations.

The role of chartered accountants goes beyond simple bookkeeping. They advise management on strategic issues, ensure regulatory compliance and optimize accounting processes.

Whether you're a start-up, SME or large corporation, outsourcing your accounting can be a strategic decision. This approach offers considerable advantages: lower costs, greater specialist expertise and optimized financial performance.

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At Iter Advisors, we put our know-how at your company's service to improve your financial management throughoutsourcing. Our aim is not to replace your accountant, but to complement his or her expertise for greater efficiency.

What is accounting outsourcing and how does it work?

Definition of accounting outsourcing

Accounting outsourcing involves entrusting all or part of your accounting tasks to a chartered accountant or specialized firm. These service providers, registered with the Conseil de l'Ordre des Experts-Comptables, handle a wide range of assignments:

  • Bookkeeping.
  • Tax and social security returns.
  • Preparation of annual reports.

This model is based on close collaboration between the company and the service provider. The signing of an engagement letter guarantees a clear framework, specifying the responsibilities of each party and the objectives to be achieved.

How does outsourcing work?

The principle behindoutsourcing is simple: to enable companies to concentrate on their core business, while delegating complex tasks to experts. Thechartered accountant provides :

  • Management in compliance with current regulations.
  • Streamlined costs thanks to tailored services.
  • Access to modern tools to automate and optimize accounting processes(Pennylane, Netsuite, Sage...).

What accounting services can be outsourced?

Typical outsourced services

Outsourcing your accounting to a chartered accountant enables you to entrust your company with a wide range of complex tasks, while ensuring their conformity and quality. The most common tasks include

  • Bookkeeping: This includes recording accounting transactions (purchases, sales, salaries), bank reconciliations, as well as managing end-of-period inventory entries.
  • Tax and social security returns :
    • VAT: Declaration and payment of value-added tax.
    • Corporation tax (IS): Calculation, declaration and payment of the tax due by the company.
    • CFE (Cotisation Foncière des Entreprises): Declaration and payment of this annual tax linked to the company's economic activity.
    • CVAE (Cotisation sur la Valeur Ajoutée des Entreprises): Calculation and declaration for eligible companies.
    • DAS2 (Declaration of fees): Annual declaration of fees, commissions or expenses paid to third parties.
    • Company vehicle tax (TVS): Calculation and payment for companies using vehicles for business purposes.
    • Déclaration unique des performances sociales (DUP): Mandatory for certain companies, combining several social declarations.
  • Social management and payroll :
    • Drawing up pay slips.
    • Declaration and payment of social security contributions(URSSAF, pension, provident fund).
    • Management of formalities linked to employee hiring or departure(DPAE, balances of all accounts).
  • Annual closings: The chartered accountant prepares balance sheets, income statements, appendices and tax returns for legal obligations and relations with third parties, such as banks or investors.

What is accounting assistance?

Accounting assistance is primarily aimed at SMEs that do not have an in-house accounting department, or that require specific support. It includes :

  • Occasional support for specific tasks: for example, managing inventory entries or year-end closing adjustments.
  • Advice on tax and financial optimization: an outside view helps identify opportunities to reduce tax charges or optimize cash flow.
  • Training in-house teams: Chartered accountants can train staff in the use of accounting tools and the understanding of financial processes.

What are the advantages of accounting outsourcing?

Lower operating costs

Accounting outsourcing is a cost-effective solution for converting fixed costs into variable costs. By avoiding the need to recruit a dedicated in-house accounting team, a company makes significant savings:

  • No payroll or social security charges: No obligation to pay a fixed salary, vacations or allowances for in-house staff.
  • Cost adapted to your needs: the fees charged by a chartered accountant can be adjusted to suit the assignment, whether it's a monthly service or a one-off, such as the preparation of a balance sheet.

For small structures or startups in a growth phase, this model offers access to professional skills without straining cash flow. Companies can allocate the resources saved to strategic initiatives, such as business development orinnovation.

Expertise and regulatory compliance

Chartered accountants provide unrivalled expertise in tax and social security regulations. This expertise considerably reduces the risks associated with errors or delays in declarations, which can lead to financial penalties:

  • Legal compliance: tax, social security and legal declarations are made in compliance with current standards and deadlines.
  • Anticipating regulatory changes: Thanks to constant monitoring, thechartered accountant adapts accounting practices to comply with new laws and directives.

Moreover, their role as strategic advisors goes far beyond simply carrying out tasks: they help companies identify opportunities for tax or financial optimization, thereby boosting their competitiveness.

Save time and increase flexibility

Accounting management is a time-consuming activity, especially for managers of SMEs and startups, who are often multi-tasking.Outsourcing allows them to :

  • Refocus on strategic activities: such as prospecting for new customers, product development or team management.
  • Flexible services: Thechartered accountant adjusts his services according to your needs: one-off support for annual closings, recurring management of tax returns, or assistance with specific projects such as fund-raising.

This flexibility is particularly valuable in uncertain economic environments, where needs can change rapidly (classic example of start-ups).

Case study
OptiDigital

See the case study
Activity
Adtech Industry
Initial sales
8 M€
Funds raised
30 M€
on time
Number of employees
35

Factors influencing cost

Accounting outsourcing costs vary according to several criteria:

  • Company size: A small company with a low volume of transactions will pay less than a large company with complex operations and many employees.
  • Services required: Full outsourcing(bookkeeping, payroll management, tax and social security returns) will be more expensive than partial outsourcing (e.g. preparation of annual financial statements only).
  • Frequency of interventions: Companies requiring regular support(monthly or weekly) will see higher costs than those seeking one-off assistance.

Cost ranges in France

For accounting outsourcing in France, rates vary depending on the services provided and the size of the company:

Small businesses (fewer than 10 employees)

  • Average monthly cost: Between €150 and €500 excluding VAT for bookkeeping and simple tax returns(VAT, corporation tax).
  • Average annual cost: Between €1,800 and €6,000 excluding VAT for complete management, including closing of accounts and preparation of balance sheets.

SMEs (10 to 50 employees)

  • Average monthly cost: Between €500 and €1,500 plus VAT for extended services including general and cost accounting management, as well as tax advice.
  • Average annual cost: Between €6,000 and €18,000 excluding VAT, depending on the complexity of the assignment(number of declarations, audit, reporting).

Large companies or companies with high transaction volumes

  • Average monthly cost: Between €1,500 and €5,000 plus VAT, for comprehensive management including specific services such asfinancial analysis and account consolidation.
  • Average annual cost: Between €18,000 and €60,000 excluding VAT for full accounting, tax and social security services.

Social part (payroll management and social declarations)

  • Cost per employee: Approximately €15 to €25 excl. tax per payslip, with additional fixed costs for monthly or quarterly declarations.
  • Average monthly cost: Between €100 and €1,000 plus VAT, depending on the number of employees and the complexity of the collective bargaining agreements applied.

How to choose a service provider for accounting outsourcing?

Selection criteria

Choosing the right service provider is an essential step in ensuring successful accounting outsourcing. Here are the main criteria to consider:

  • Reputation and experience: Opt for an accounting firm with solid references and proven experience in supporting companies similar to yours. Customer reviews, recommendations and case studies are reliable indicators.
  • Sector expertise: A service provider who understands the specifics of your business sector (e.g.: tech, retail, industry) will be better placed to understand your financial and tax issues. For example, a SaaS startup will require different support than a manufacturing company.
  • Digital tools Make sure that the service provider uses modern solutions to optimize processes:
    • ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) for centralized data management: Pennylane, Yooz, Odoo...
    • Reporting software for detailed financial analysis: Finthesis, QlikSense, PowerBI...
    • Collaborative platforms for real-time monitoring of accounting operations.

Steps to get started

Successful collaboration depends on careful planning and smooth communication. Here are the key steps:

  • Define your needs: Evaluate precisely the tasks to be outsourced(accounting entry, tax declarations, payroll management) and determine your expectations in terms of results.
  • Draw up a detailed contract with your chartered accountant The engagement letter is an essential document that defines :
    • Tasks entrusted to the service provider.
    • Expected objectives(deadlines, deliverables).
    • Pricing terms(monthly, annual or per service).
  • Establish regular communication: Schedule monthly or quarterly follow-up meetings to ensureprogress on assignments. Use collaborative tools to easily share information, such as dashboards or activity reports.
  • Evaluate performance: Organize periodic reviews to analyze service quality and identify any necessary adjustments. These evaluations ensure that the service provider continues to meet the company's specific needs.

Conclusion: outsourced accounting, a strategic solution for your business

Accounting outsourcing is a key solution for optimizing financial management, reducing costs and boosting efficiency.

With Iter Advisors, benefit from personalized support to make your transition to outsourcing a success.

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