Comparison
AI vs offshore outsourcing for accounting firms
Many NZ and Australian firms outsource annual accounts to teams overseas. AI outsourcing is a newer option. Here is how they compare, so you can decide what suits your firm.
Side by side
How the two models differ
| Offshore team | AnnualsAI | |
|---|---|---|
| Who prepares the work | Staff accountants employed by the outsourcing provider. | AI prepares the work and AI reviews it. No person at AnnualsAI prepares or reviews it. |
| Where the work is done | Varies by provider. Often in your systems, sometimes in the provider's own. | Inside your firm's own software, using access you give us. |
| Turnaround | Agreed with each provider. | Annual accounts within 5 days of receiving everything we need. The AI works nights and weekends. |
| Price | Usually per job or per dedicated staff member. | Quoted per job, set to be no more than outsourcing overseas. First job free. |
| Communication | Varies: email, calls, chat apps. | Email only, in writing, handled by AI. |
| Your firm's role | Review and sign off. | Review and sign off. AI can make mistakes, so every job must be checked by your firm. |
| Client data | Accessed by the provider's staff. | Processed by our AI provider to do the work. See our privacy policy. |
Which suits you
Questions to ask before you choose
- Do you need someone to talk to by phone, or is written email enough?
- How much of the year-end work is routine and well documented?
- Are your clients happy for their information to be processed by an AI provider? Your firm must tell them.
- Does your review process catch errors reliably, whoever prepares the work?
- What does a trial job cost? Ours is free.
We think the move from offshore teams to AI is only beginning, and both models will sit side by side for some time. Read our research on AI and offshore accounting for the evidence.
Compare it on a real file
Send us one entity and judge AI against your current process.