The finance and accounting functions for many businesses across the Asia-Pacific and Middle East & Africa regions are going through a transition as companies look to outsource non-core operations to managed service providers. Driven by cost efficiencies, access to expertise, and scalability, the managed services industry is witnessing strong growth.

Cost Optimization through Outsourcing

Controlling financing costs remains a top priority for companies of all sizes. Outsourcing finance and accounting tasks allows businesses to focus their resources on core revenue-generating activities. By leveraging managed service providers, companies can reduce fixed operating expenses related to payroll, infrastructure, software licenses, and more. Well-established service providers are able to achieve economies of scale and pass on significant cost savings to their clients. According to a recent study, APAC companies outsourcing non-core finance functions see an average 25-30% reduction in overall costs.

Access to Technical Expertise On-Demand

Recruiting and retaining accounting, payroll, and financial analysis experts can be difficult and expensive especially for Small and Medium Enterprises. However, such technical skills are crucial for ensuring statutory and regulatory compliance, performing complex calculations, and generating actionable insights from financial data. Finance and accounting managed service providers address this challenge by delivering deep subject matter expertise on an as-needed basis. Their experienced teams keep abreast of the latest practices, rules, and technologies so clients have access to up-to-date guidance and support.

Scalability and Flexibility for Growth Companies

Dynamic startups and growing businesses require flexible resourcing models that can scale with their evolving needs. Managing in-house finance teams becomes challenging amid frequent changes in headcount, operations, and geographical footprint. Engaging managed service vendors allows companies to access accounting capabilities without long-term commitments or large upfront investments. As businesses expand into new markets and product lines, service providers seamlessly increase support through their own global delivery centers. This makes outsourcing an attractive option for finance operations seeking agility and scalability.

Technology Enablement and Digital Transformation

Advanced tools and automation are revolutionizing finance processes. However, implementing and maintaining the latest accounting technologies requires dedicated resources and ongoing investments that many firms cannot afford. Top managed service providers leverage robotic process automation, artificial intelligence, cloud solutions, and other digital innovations to streamline workflows, uncover insights, and deliver regular enhancements. Their technical expertise and economies of scale allow continuous upgrades that keep client operations at the forefront of digital transformation. Over 90% of APAC and MEA Finance and Accounting Managed Services  organizations agree that finance managed services accelerate their digital journeys.

Regulatory Changes Add Complexity

Evolving rules and policies introduce compliance challenges across diverse geographical jurisdictions. Interpreting and adhering to new accounting standards, taxation guidelines, economic reforms, and reporting requirements is a full-time job in itself. Outsourcing non-core finance activities to specialists helps companies stay focused on the big picture while their managed services partners handle tedious region-specific updates and ensure ongoing regulatory compliance. This is invaluable especially for multi-national companies operating in multiple countries with differing sets of regulations.

Established Frameworks Ensure Governance and Security

Data protection and information security are paramount concerns while sharing financial data and systems with external partners. Top service providers address these risks through robust governance frameworks, certifications, and infrastructure investment. Their compliant global delivery infrastructure, regulatory expertise, ISO certifications, and established best practices give clients the confidence and peace of mind that critical operations are in safe hands. Regular audits and service reviews further ensure strict adherence to governance protocols and SLAs.

The increasing needs around cost optimization, expertise access, scalability, and digital tools are driving huge demand for finance and accounting managed services across diverse APAC and MEA industries including manufacturing, retail, healthcare, logistics and more. As the industry evolves rapidly with technological advancement, reputed service providers will play a vital role in modernizing finance operations of global businesses across the regions.

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