Service Model
Requires CPAs to disclose sensitive end-client details, making the process cumbersome and repetitive every time a new client is added.
The Accounting Seat Model for CPA Firms
The Accounting Seat Model™ is how 300+ firms scale without hiring. A dedicated accounting professional who works in your tools, follows your workflow, and reports to you is live in 7 days. Published pricing.
Since 2007
300+ Firms Trust Us
7-Day Onboarding Guarantee
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Finsmart Model
Why Finsmart 'Accounting Seat' Wins?
We identified two prevalent outsourcing models – Service Model and People Model – both of which come with inherent challenges.
Fix AppointmentPeople Model
Involves hiring FTEs, requiring extensive recruitment efforts, compensation negotiations, and onboarding delays.
Finsmart – Accounting Seat Wins!
Accounting Seat bridges the gap between these models, offering a smarter, more efficient alternative.
With Accounting Seat, enjoy expert outsourced accounting resources directly managed by you, working as part of your internal team using your firm's platforms and communication channels. The innovative, plug-and-play solution that delivers expert, pre-vetted accounting professionals for seamless integration.
The Accounting Seat Model™
Start with One Accounting Seat.
One subscription. Three layers of expertise.
Every Accounting Seat comes with a three-layer team that keeps your books accurate and your work moving. All three layers are part of one monthly subscription.
- Dedicated Account Expert handles your daily accounting work as an extension of your team.
- Engagement Manager runs onboarding, watches performance and owns delivery.
- Senior Accounting Advisor steps in on complex matters and gives technical oversight.
Start with one seat. Add more as you grow. No hidden costs.
How It Works
From Brief to Billing in 4 Steps
Your dedicated seat is matched, onboarded, and producing work. All of this happens within 7 business days.
Step 01
Define Your Seat
Tell us your tools, workflow, volume, and skill requirements. We map the exact profile needed — bookkeeper, accountant, tax preparer, or AP/AR specialist.
Step 02
Matched in 72 Hours
We present a pre-vetted professional from our trained talent pool — matched to your software stack, industry, and seniority level. You approve the match.
Step 03
7-Day Onboarding
Your seat gets access to your systems, email, Slack, and workflow tools. We handle the briefing, NDA signing, and integration — you just walk them through your process.
Step 04
Works Like In-House
Direct communication, your management style, your deadlines. The only difference from an in-house hire: no payroll taxes, no benefits overhead, no recruiting cost.
30-day replacement guarantee on every placement. No lock-in contracts.
Schedule a Free ConsultationTransparent Pricing
No Quote Needed. Here Is Exactly What It Costs.
Bookkeeping Seat
Dedicated bookkeeper managing your clients' day-to-day books - reconciliations, categorisation, payroll support - entirely under your firm's brand.
$20
/hr
or
$2,400
/mo — Dedicated Bookkeeper
- Bank & credit card statement upload via secure app
- Categorize bank & credit card feeds
- Match deposits to invoices and records
- Bank & credit card reconciliation
MOST POPULAR
Sr. Accounting Seat
Dedicated Sr. Accountant working in your clients' books, delivering full accrual accounting and reporting under your firm's brand.
$25
/hr
or
$3,200
/mo — Dedicated Sr. Accountant
- Bank & credit card statement upload via secure app
- Categorize bank & credit card feeds
- Match deposits to invoices and records
- Bank & credit card reconciliation
- Full-cycle accounting management
- Month-end close & journal entries (depreciation, amortization, prepaid, accruals)
- Sales tax reconciliation
- 401(k) reconciliation
- Revenue reconciliation
- AR aging analysis
- AP aging analysis
- Financial reporting & compliance
- Process optimization
Reviewer Seat
A senior review layer for your firm's most complex engagements - independent sign-off before deliverables go out under your brand.
$30
/hr
or
$3,600
/mo — Dedicated Reviewer
- Chart of accounts review (monthly)
- Transaction & journal entry review
- Balance sheet, AR, AP & payroll reconciliation (monthly)
- Sales tax reconciliation
- Financial statement review (monthly/quarterly/yearly)
- Budget vs. actuals analysis
- Management reporting
- CPA workpapers for year-end review/audit
- Year-end tax readiness
Specialized Seats
Need Something this Tax Season?
Beyond core seats, Finsmart offers specialized seats for tax, cleanup projects, and workflow automation — all on the same transparent, no-contract model.
Tax Associate Seat
Full-time, dedicated Tax Preparer. Works in your tools. Reports to you.
$3200
/month
- Input basic Form 1040 data from client-provided documents
- Input Form 1120S (S-Corp) and Form 1065 (Partnership) using client-provided P&L and Balance Sheet
- Prepare FinCEN Form 114 (FBAR) for foreign bank account reporting
- Generate a missing documents list by comparing current-year records with prior-year returns
- Provide daily progress updates and maintain accurate time tracking
- Conduct basic quality checks for data accuracy
Tax Senior Seat
Scale your tax department with skilled professionals who deliver accuracy, insight, and control.
$4500
/month
Project-based - no monthly minimum
- Prepare detailed workpapers for individual and business tax returns
- Individual & Estates: 1040, 1040NR, 1041, 706 (Estate)
- Business Entities: 1120 (C-Corp), 1120S, 1065, 5471/5472 (Foreign Ownership)
- Non-Profits: 990, 990EZ
- Prepare book-to-tax adjustments (AJEs) for accurate tax reporting
- Analyze tax returns, and identify discrepancies by comparing prior-year tax returns
- Assist with estimated tax calculations
- Direct client interaction for missing documents and/or clarifications (if required)
- Initial review of tax returns prepared by others (if required)
Tax Manager Seat
Lead with confidence. Ensure every return is reviewed, compliant, and ready to file.
$6000
/month
- Deliver a ready-to-file tax return in compliance with laws and regulations
- Perform detailed review of tax work papers and provision calculations completed by other associates
- Conduct thorough tax research and provide recommendations to CPA (no direct deliverables or tax advisory to clients)
- Provide ongoing coaching and mentoring to the tax team
- Communicate with clients directly and provide a tax return walkthrough (if required)
- Track project status, work assignment for team, client service opportunities, and other significant matters (as required)
Specialized Seats
Need Something More Specific?
Beyond core seats, Finsmart offers specialized seats for tax, cleanup projects, and workflow automation — all on the same transparent, no-contract model.
Cleanup Seat
US GAAP-trained accountant. Monthly close, financial statements, audit support.
$25
/hr
Project-based - no monthly minimum
- Backlog reconciliation & catch-up
- Miscategorised transaction correction
- Months or years of messy books, handled
- Pay only for hours worked
- Transition to a dedicated seat anytime
- 3-tier support team included
Workflow Seat
Senior-level oversight. Manages your accounting team and close process.
$2,499
/month
4-week customization - or $5,000/mo with 8-week practice mgmt. setup
- Workflow design & automation
- Practice management software setup
- Defined 4- or 8-week engagement window
- Built around your existing tools
- Team training included
- 3-tier support team included
What Is the Seat Model?
Not a Vendor. Not a Platform. A Seat.
Most outsourcing providers give you access to a shared talent pool — someone juggling 8 other clients at the same time. The Accounting Seat Model™ is fundamentally different. You get a single, fully dedicated professional who:
- Works only for you - 100% of their time on your tasks, not shared across clients.
- Uses your software - QuickBooks, Xero, Sage, NetSuite, Bill.com, or whatever you run.
- Follows your workflows - no adapting to our platform or learning our process.
- Reports directly to you - you manage them like in-house staff, without the overhead.
Why The Seat Model Wins
Seat Model vs Everything Else
See how the Accounting Seat Model™ stacks up against the alternatives firms typically consider.
| In-House Hire | Traditional Outsourcing |
Best Choice
Finsmart Seat Model™
|
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Fully dedicated to your firm | Yes | Shared pool | Yes — 100% dedicated |
| Works in your tools (no migration) | Yes | Their platform | Yes — any platform |
| Onboarding speed | 6–12 weeks | 2–4 weeks | 7 days |
| Transparent, published pricing | Hidden (benefits, taxes) | Quote-only | Yes |
| No long-term contracts | Permanent hire | Annual contracts | Yes |
| Pre-trained accounting specialist | Depends on hire | Varies by firm | Yes |
| NDA signed by professional | Yes | Company-level only | Standard |
Explore Further
Need Something More Specific?
From white label bookkeeping for CPA firms to full accounting for SMBs and enterprises: explore our complete service catalogue.
White Label Accounting
Full-service accounting under your brand. Your clients never know we're here.
Explore service →White Label Bookkeeping
Accurate, timely bookkeeping delivered under your firm's name.
Explore service →Tax Preparation
US-trained tax preparers who handle individual, business and partnership returns.
Explore service →CFO Services
Strategic financial leadership: reporting, forecasting and advisory on demand.
Explore service →Accounting Cleanup
Inherited a messy set of books? We clean up backlogs and reconcile accounts fast.
Explore service →Workflow Management
End-to-end workflow coordination so your firm delivers consistently, at scale.
Explore service →Bookkeeping
Clean monthly books, bank reconciliations and transaction categorisation.
Explore service →Accounting
Monthly close, financial statements and management reporting for your business.
Explore service →Accounts Payable
Invoice processing, vendor payments and AP ageing managed end-to-end.
Explore service →Accounts Receivable
Invoicing, collections follow-up and AR ageing reports to protect your cash flow.
Explore service →Financial Planning & Analysis
Budgets, forecasts and variance analysis that give you a clear view of where your business is heading.
Explore service →Pricing FAQs
Questions About Pricing
None whatsoever. There are zero setup fees, onboarding charges, or surprise invoices. The seat price you see is the exact amount you pay from Day 1. Our 7-day onboarding is included at no extra cost.
Yes. Finsmart operates month-to-month — no lock-in contracts, no cancellation penalties. Simply give 30 days’ notice and your seat is closed.
Every seat is backed by a Dedicated Account Manager, Engagement Manager, and Senior Accounting Advisor — all included at no extra cost. No extra fees for asking questions or escalating issues.
You can add as many seats as you need — each at the same published rate. Many firms start with one Bookkeeping Seat and add Sr. Accounting or Reviewer Seats as they scale.