General

Can I hire a  team?

Yes. But first you need to identify the requirements which also includes to realize whether you have enough workload to keep the team occupied. We usually recommend to take a baby step and hire 1 or 2 staff and if the requirement grows you are free to scale up the team size whenever you want.

What are the benefits of remote staffing?

Like any of your local staff, a remote staff from KM ACCOUNTS also works under your management and fully report to you. As they work from remote offshore offices of KM ACCOUNTS, this saves your cost and efforts involving infrastructure setup, HR hassles and several other compliance issues. View details here : https://kmaccounts.com/#benefits.

What is remote staff? Where does KM ACCOUNTS’s remote staff work from?

Remote staff is an employee who works for your firm under your management but from a location which is physically out of your office. This could be from anywhere, employee’s home, a coffee shop in neighborhood, a different city or even from an overseas location. KM ACCOUNTS’s Remote Staff actually works from our offices located in India.

How does it save 75% on labor cost?

KM ACCOUNTS’s remote staff are available for about a third of the conventional salary paid to local staff. Besides it does not require infrastructure development at your office due to remote working. There are no cost recruitment or training cost involved. There is no liability of compliances, Medicare or other benefits. Also, it is not required to pay bonuses or overtime charges. Hence overall, counting various direct or indirect benefits due to remote staffing, 75% saving on labor cost is just a conservative number.

For what work an KM ACCOUNTS remote staff can be hired?

When you hire a remote staff you will have to identify the requirements at your end. However, just like any local employee a remote staff can perform most of the tasks related to:

1. Bookkeeping
2. Monthly accounting
3. Tax Preparation
4. Financial Statements (review, audits, compilation tasks)
5. Billing – Bill Payments, Billing Collection, Follow ups and other administrative tasks
6. Other Office Admin tasks

In a nutshell a remote staff performs most of the tasks that are done in a public accounting firm

Do you have an in house facility to train the staff?

Yes, in order to provide best quality service to our clients it is important to have well trained staff. We have a state of the art (in house) training facility with dedicated trainers. We have 35 different modules of training which includes English communication, Soft skills, American culture, software and technology used in American accounting industry, etc. We continuously keep upgrading these training modules according to latest industry trends.

Are the staff at KM ACCOUNTS aware of regulations such as US GAAP, IRS, etc

1. Yes, we usually hire only those candidates who have relevant experience of US GAAP, IRS and other regulations. All the staff at KM ACCOUNTS are trained in accounting, tax code, and preparation of returns in US context. Local experience in Indian accounting, tax or financial industry is not counted. However, we let the clients interview and test each candidate and be assured to have best person working for them.

Can I hire someone who has experience in UltraTAX/CCH/Pro-System SX software?

Yes, if you specifically want somebody with knowledge on a particular software or platform, we could filter and find one out for you. Generally, every person we hire is evaluated in 3 ways regarding his expertise and knowledge:

1. Technical knowledge:analyzing what work he is going to do whether accounting, tax, financial reporting, payroll, data entry or billing entries, etc., and also what has been his technical experiences on his past assignments in previous employment.
2. Software knowledge:unless there is a specific request from a client about experience in particular software we do not put that filter in providing you the final resumes. Software knowledge can be acquired if you have the relevant technical knowledge.
   • For example, if you know to operate a computer, you can easily grasp and learn the functionality of other system, it doesn’t matter if it is a windows computer or an apple computer.
   • In past he might have worked on a different software and probably you use a different software. Now he could just migrate onto another platform with little training.
3. Knowledge of the protocols and processes of the firm:When a remote staff starts working for you he only starts to get familiar with the company’s work culture and procedures, as these things could be learnt only at job. This is a common phase with any kind of staff.

So, keeping in mind the above points, when we put this filter, the number of people who are going to your universe will reduce.

Hiring and Onboarding

Is there a free look in period?

Yes, there is a free look in period that begins as the agreement is signed and is valid until next 20 days. In this duration we search for the befitting candidates according to the clients requirements. Although this is highly improbable, but in case if we could not present you with candidates within this duration you are free to cancel the agreement and ask for 100% refund of the deposit paid at signup. However, once a candidate has been selected within this time, you cannot exercise this.

What is your internal HR process – how do you identify a candidate and check their competency?

Our internal HR and hiring process is very rigorous so that we qualify as best at the expectation of our clients.

1. We carefully screen the resumes of the applicants and conduct background/reference checks upon the shortlisted candidates.
2. This is followed by Technical and HR rounds of interviews.
3. There are other aptitude tests too which include typing speed & accuracy, English speaking & writing skills and technical test in relevant fields.

This is how we create our own candidate pool before we share the resumes with potential clients. Apart from that, we have a signed agreement with each candidate which assures long term association with us as well as pledge to keep office data confidential.

Do we get to interview and check a candidate’s qualification/competency/experience before I hire?

Yes. Soon after the agreement signup, we provide the client with resumes of such candidates who match the criteria specified by him. At the client’s preferred time we arrange for the video interviews (and online tests if required). This whole process is transparent and conducted in order to let our client choose the best person according to requirement.

 

What is your in house attrition rate at KM ACCOUNTS?

Attrition rate at KM ACCOUNTS has been below 10%. Our HR policies are robust, ensuring least gaps. Whenever a new employee joins, he signs a contract for minimum 3 years of association. In special circumstances, sometimes we do allow to leave earlier than that. Also, KM ACCOUNTS is one of the preferred local employers because of the multiple facilities we provide, including cab, medical insurance, meals at office, regular recreations and several other benefits to prolong the employer-employee association.

 

Am I locked in with the agreement once I sign up?

1. We proceed with the interviews after signup, here you interview and test the candidate to check for his/her experience and qualifications before finally hiring. This can take at most 30 days. After this time, in an unlikely case if you do not find any suitable candidates you can inform us and ask to cancel the agreement. We would refund the deposit and the agreement will stand cancelled.

How long does it take to have somebody onboard and start working for me?

It takes anywhere between 7 – 30 days to get a staff onboard and start working for you, This time variance depends on the availability and the skillset required in a candidate as specified by a client.

What are the timings of work? How do you manage the time difference?

Normal shift / work timing for a full-time staff is 4 am to 1 pm EST (inclusive of 30 minutes of meal break and 15 min for coffee break). This allows for a 3-4 hours of overlap between your office timings and the staff working for you. Please note that since they start work at 4 am, so you may assign work in the evening and meanwhile you come to office in the morning, most of the work is done. However, these timings can be made flexible and matched according to your office hours, but that might cost you extra, as such staff needs to be paid midnight allowances and other facilities.

Is there a minimum commitment period while hiring KM ACCOUNTS Remote Staff?

No there is no minimum commitment period for a particular staff. Although there is a minimum contract of 3 months association (with KM ACCOUNTS) in case of temporary and 6 months for a permanent hiring option, however, in a very unlikely event of a client not willing to continue work with a selected staff, then we replace him at a notice period of maximum 30 days. This does not involve any fees.

Can accounting firm or tax professional hire someone on seasonal, temporary or part-time basis?

Yes, KM ACCOUNTS provides temporary hiring option. In fact KM ACCOUNTS’s hiring models are flexible to suit all the needs of accounting firms of all sizes. Click here to read more (hiring options table).

What are the hiring options?

We have a very flexible hiring model and this works for all sizes of public accounting firms. According to the requirement of clients that specifies for how long and how many hours per week does he need a staff, there are many options to choose from, such as, Permanent, Temporary, Seasonal, Full-Time, Part-Time, etc. Click here to see the details (leads to the flexible hiring options page)

How do we pay you?

At the time of signup, it can be done online, or else you may provide us with bank details so that we can make ACH to your account. On usual basis, we send weekly bills and debit accordingly. We intimate beforehand about the charges, and send statements with the corresponding time sheets. To Pay online, Click Here. (leads to the payment gateway link)

What is the billing cycle?

We have a system of weekly billing cycle.

What are the hourly rates?

Our hourly rates start at $8/hour – $15/hour depending upon few factors

1. Requirement of skillset and experience level.
2. Hiring model.
3. whether you would like to go with engagement model of remote staffing or outsourcing option.

What if I do not like a remote staff after having worked for a few days?

Chance of happening such thing is very unlikely because a person is selected only after personally interviewing and checking eligibility by the client himself. However, in a rare scenario if you wish not to continue working with a staff already working for you, we will replace him/her. This process may take a maximum of 30 days.

Outsourcing and Remote Staffing

How is remote staffing different from outsourcing?

People usually misunderstand remote staffing with outsourcing, whereas they are two different things. Outsourcing is good to carry out non-core, or one time services, while it could give inconsistent results in core business operations. On the other hand, having a remote staff saves from this risk as the work is always carried out in your supervision, which is a rarity in outsourced services.

Are you an outsourcing company?

No, we are not an outsourcing company. Instead, we are a staffing agency based in the USA, and we provide remote staffing solutions to all sizes of Accounting and Tax firms nationwide.

How can we justify whether remote staffing is better than outsourcing?

We do not endorse whether remote staffing is better or outsourcing. Both these things have their own benefits. However, we do not recommend outsourcing for accounting and related tasks. Outsourcing can be used for non-core business operations that are not repetitive in nature. If the same is done for the core operations, it may lead to poor quality work delivery, and consequently, can lose credibility in business group. On the other hand when your own staff is working at your tasks, you can supervise him/her, leaving lesser chance of fatal errors. It is not possible when you outsource as there you are just assigned an account manager personally might not know who is working on the assigned task. Your staff also learns on the job and with experience only gets better, which is ultimately great for your firm in longer run.

Remote Staff

How remote staff will access source document/ information/data?

There are three methods that remote staff can use to access documents/information/data at client’s end:

1. Remote access:Set us a workstation with necessary software and documents; allow remote access with username and password where staff can login, work, and logout after he is done completing assigned work.
2. Cloud/server access:Have the documents uploaded on the cloud or server where staff can access, work, and save the work done after completion.
3. File Transfer:Send the documents to the remote staff through email or online transfer applications. The client will work upon that, and send the file back for your review.

You can use any of the three methods to let your staff access a particular file (document/information/data), and give you back the completed work.

Can the remote staff work on email ID provided by my firm?

Yes, you can provide your remote staff an email ID on your firm’s domain. Generally, each staff is assigned his/her own email through KM ACCOUNTS’s own domain, yet there are a lot of clients who wish to have their staff use email IDs personalized according to their firm’s need. We allow it after risk assessment.

How does a remote staff generally communicate with me?

There are a number of convenient methods to communicate with your remote staff.

1. Telephone:Every employee has a dedicated USA telephone number to connect with.
2. Email:You can send emails for instructions, and ask for daily reporting on email.
3. Video conference:Every employee’s workstation comprises of webcam, microphone, and necessary software for speaking over video; you can choose any application such as Skype, Google Hangouts, etc. for live video call as well as chat over instant text messaging software.

Is there a fee for setup?

No, there is no extra fee for setup. At the time of signup and requirement statement, you can tell us the list of software (including versions) you use at work. We would have it installed at our workstations accordingly. At your end, you might need to set a remote sharing ID and password, which your remote employee will use to logging in and logging out of your system in order to work. If you need any help in setup, our IT team will help you promptly.

How does a staff work from remote location? Do they work from an office or their home?

Our remote staff works from our secure remote offshore offices in India. Our 2 offices are in the city of Ahmedabad. We follow a strict no work-from-home policy for safekeeping of client data and information.

Does he/she speak English?

Yes. English is a very widely spoken language of India. In fact, it is the second most widely used language of a large number of Indian professionals. English language never plays a barrier in communication as we only hire employees who are fluent in English. However, the accent of Indians is quite neutral, yet a lot different than that of Americans. So, it is advisable to speak at a little slower rate, and give staff a chance to get used to how you communicate with them for lucid understanding.

How can I monitor the performance / day to day output of the staff working remotely for me?

A staff fills timesheets on daily basis for indicating his/her tasks completion status, and the time taken to for attempting them. KM ACCOUNTS has its online timesheet as a standard, which employees generally fill in, and send to their respective employers . However, if a firm has its own timesheet format, and wants their employees to make entries into that, we approve it. By reviewing these timesheets, you can transparently monitor the performance and output of your staff.

Security

How do you undertake the safekeeping of client data?

At the time of signing up the contract, we provide our commitment of safekeeping client data in a written undertaking. We take every measure to honor it. In case, we fail (we haven’t yet so far) at some level or a violation still occurs, a client is entitled to proceed legally. However, there has never been such incident where a client found breach in data security, which in itself speaks volumes about the level of commitment we show towards protection of confidentiality that we are trusted with.

What does ISO 27001 stand for?

ISO 27001:2013 is an internationally recognized Information Security Standard published by International Organization for Standardization. This certification is awarded to the exclusive organizations that comply with the information security guidelines of ISO, and strictly abide by it at all times. KM ACCOUNTS is one such organization with this certification.

Can I come personally to visit your office?

Of course! We would be more than glad to be your hosts, and welcome you with our hospitality. We believe it is always better to see to believe. By visiting us, you not just see the whole infrastructure and security setup, but also get to know how things actually work at our office. Few of our clients have visited us in the past, and have had happy memories. You can view our online reviews for references.

Do you have close circuit cameras for surveillance?

Yes, our entire premises are covered under security cameras both from exterior and interiors. In fact, every cabin inside the office has 2 cameras fixed for a better visibility of the happenings and monitoring against any untoward incidents. These cameras are operational on 24X7 basis.

How does your staff respect the privacy of information they handle?

Before we hire someone, we carry out background checks, and go through the references of previous employers about the person’s conduct at past organization if any. While joining the organization, every employee has to sign an undertaking that states that he/she will respect the privacy of the client data being handled. Additionally, he is legally bound to do so, and there could be legal actions against an employee if inconsistencies are discovered from his/her end. So far, none of our employees have disappointed us in this regard.

What are the mechanisms at your office to guard against breach in data security?

To begin with, the whole office is paperless. We do not allow pen-paper-any stationery, digital computer printers, personal mobile phones, portable storage devices into the work area. The USB ports are disabled for data transfers. No staff has access to personal emails, social media, or any such means that can facilitate transferring sensitive data. The emails, folder systems, and internal servers at office are continuously monitored by in-house IT department for inconsistency. There are no printers connected to our internal network, hence, we eliminate the chances of taking data out of office by any means either electronic or printed. It is like your own office where the data never leaves the premises.