BOSS Outsourced Accounting FAQ

BOSS maintains robust organisational security and compliance through:

• Australian Governance: BOSS India, a subsidiary of BOSS Australia, operates under our Australian headquarters, with all client contracts made through an Australian entity for maximum confidence.
• Professional Affiliations: As a Practice Entity Member of Chartered Accountants Australia & New Zealand (CA ANZ), we adhere to their ethical standards and align with guidelines from the TPB, CA ANZ, IPA, and APESB.
• Tax Agent Registration: BOSS is a Registered Australian Tax Agent, led in India by Kiran Kumar, who is also a Registered Australian Tax Agent.
• Insurance and Privacy: Comprehensive Professional Indemnity Insurance (PII) safeguards all BOSS work, and we strictly comply with Australian privacy regulations.

BOSS prioritises security and compliance. Outsourcing accounting work offshore can be a serious concern, and we encourage you to check with your insurer to understand their stance. Many may hesitate to provide coverage or shift responsibility in case of issues, leaving your firm exposed.

BOSS implements robust measures to ensure client data security and employee accountability:

• Confidentiality Agreements: Every BOSS employee signs a Confidentiality Agreement. At your request, specific team members (e.g., accountants, bookkeepers, IT specialists, or reviewers) can sign direct agreements with your organisation.
• Rigorous Recruitment: Our Bangalore team undergoes thorough recruitment processes, matching Australian standards, including competency assessments, background checks, and police clearances.
• Advanced Security Protocols: We disable USB ports, restrict internet access (e.g., no webmail), and use biometric software with fingerprint verification for office entry and exit, ensuring security risks in our India office are as minimal as in Australia.

BOSS ensures the highest levels of professionalism and integrity through:

• Rigorous Ethical Standards: Your dedicated BOSS accountant in India adheres to the professional and ethical standards of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in India, which are as stringent as the CA ANZ standards followed by Australian accountants.

This commitment guarantees consistent quality and integrity across all our services, providing you with reliable and trustworthy accounting support.

BOSS provides flexible and secure options for handling client data to suit your workflow:

• Online Access: We can securely connect to your office network or work directly on cloud-based platforms like Xero for seamless, real-time collaboration.
• Offline File Transfer: For offline workflows, you can upload files to our secure web server, and we'll download them for processing using accounting software such as HowNow.

These options ensure efficient, secure, and adaptable handling of your client data, tailored to your firm's needs.

Our online workflow is designed for efficiency and seamless collaboration:

• Data Storage: Your data resides on your server or in the cloud. Hardcopy documents needed by your BOSS accountant or bookkeeper must be scanned and saved to your server or uploaded to our secure web server for cloud-based systems.
• Work Assignment: Assign work by emailing a job request form or discussing details via Microsoft Teams, including specifics like completion dates and hourly budgets.
• Work Process: Your BOSS accountant completes the work online, emails any queries (which you can answer via email or phone), and provides progress updates through a weekly Excel report.
• Completion: Once finished, your accountant sends a confirmation email to notify you the work is complete.

Our offline workflow ensures flexibility and reliability:

• Data Submission: Scan hardcopy files and upload them to our secure web server, along with exported client data from your bookkeeping, general ledger, or tax software.
• Work Assignment: Assign work via a job request form emailed to BOSS or through discussions on Microsoft Teams.
• Work Process: We download your data into compatible software and begin processing the job.
• Delivery: Completed working papers and software files are uploaded to our web server for you to retrieve and import, with an email notification when the job is ready for review.

BOSS offers streamlined ATO integration for efficiency:

• Restricted Access: Some clients grant us restricted ATO portal access, allowing us to lodge tax returns on their behalf, whether working online or offline.
• Professional Standards: As a Practice Entity Member of Chartered Accountants Australia & New Zealand (CA ANZ) and a Registered Australian Tax Agent, we handle all tasks with the highest professionalism and security.

BOSS ensures our team is fully equipped to meet your needs through:

• Continuous Tax Training: All accountants and bookkeepers participate in the fortnightly BOSS Tax Training Program™, keeping them updated on Australian tax laws, compliance changes, and software like Xero, MYOB, and HowNow—eliminating the need for you to train outsourced staff.
• Induction Program: New team members complete a one-month induction focused on Australian accounting practices and regulations.
• On-the-Job Mentorship: For the first six months, senior reviewers oversee all work, providing hands-on training and feedback to maintain high standards.
• Ongoing Development: The BOSS Tax Training Program™ supports continuous professional growth throughout their careers.
• Resource Access: Staff stay informed via the CCH tax library and ATO portal, with ongoing access to senior experts (5–15 years of experience) for complex issues.

BOSS provides robust supervision to ensure quality and transparency:

• Expert Mentorship: All accountants have direct access to our Director, Kiran Kumar, a Registered Australian Tax Agent and member of the Institute of Public Accountants (IPA) Australia with over a decade of expertise, offering ongoing guidance throughout their careers.
• Digital Monitoring: We track job progress, budgets, and productivity digitally, delivering weekly Excel reports to keep you informed on your work's status.

The answer is simple—everything!

From straightforward bookkeeping to intricate tax jobs, data migrations, super fund accounting, or complex financial work, BOSS has the expertise to handle it all.

During quieter periods, we can assist with jobs such as:

• Preparing interim financial statements, for example, up to December or March.
• Calculating minimum/maximum pension contributions for the current year (ideally completed before June 30).
• Managing BAS work that is currently handled in-house.

To optimise regular work, accounting firms may want to consider the following suggestions:

Explore the full range of work BOSS staff can do: BOSS Services & Solutions

BOSS outsourced staff are equipped to deliver the same expertise as Australian accountants and bookkeepers, ensuring seamless integration with your practice through:

• Comprehensive Skill Set: Our staff handle all tasks a qualified professional in your firm would perform, with expertise tailored to Australian accounting practices.
• Specialised Focus: Operating exclusively with Australian accounting firms from our Bangalore office, we maintain an in-depth understanding of Australian tax laws and regulations.

BOSS implements rigorous processes to guarantee high-quality deliverables:

• Proficiency in Australian Software: All staff are skilled in tools like Xero, MYOB, and HowNow, with the flexibility to use your firm's working papers or BOSS' electronic working papers (e.g., HowNow).
• Quality Review Process:
  • For Casual Quick-Fix Solution™ and Freedom Solution™, every job is thoroughly reviewed by a senior accountant before delivery, requiring only final partner approval at your firm.
  • For Dedicated Solution™, complimentary senior reviews are provided for accountants during their first six months and for bookkeepers during their first three months, ensuring consistent quality during onboarding.

Absolutely. We encourage communication with your offshore accountants, mirroring interactions with in-house team members through:

• Direct Interaction: Daily contact via Microsoft Teams or email ensures smooth collaboration, with all BOSS staff speaking English.
• Time Zone Advantage: The Australia-India time difference allows overlapping work hours, enabling real-time collaboration during part of your workday.
• Efficient Workflow: BOSS staff work into your evening hours, streamlining query resolution. For instance, queries can be emailed at the end of their day, allowing you to respond at the start of your workday. By mid-day, when offshore staff resume, they can proceed without delay, minimising downtime and enhancing productivity.

• Casual Quick-Fix Solution™: All work is billed at a transparent fixed-fee rate, agreed upon before work begins. No notice period is required, offering maximum flexibility.
• Dedicated Solution™: Fees for accountants and bookkeepers are billed on a predictable monthly basis, based on their experience. BOSS offers adaptable full-time or part-time dedicated schedules, working 1 to 5 days a week, tailored to your needs.
• Freedom Solution™: Work is billed at a fixed-fee rate, with pricing confirmed upfront. A minimum commitment of 50 hours per month is required, but additional hours can be added at the same fixed-fee rate, ensuring scalability.

For a detailed breakdown of what's included for each solution, see:
The BOSS Solutions Comparison Chart

• No. BOSS is committed to full pricing transparency.
• There are no hidden fees, add-ons, or unexpected costs.
• All charges are clearly outlined upfront—with no fees for onboarding, recruitment, training, software licenses, management, or long-term commitments.

Self-Managed Super Funds (SMSFs) are ideal for outsourcing due to their consistent data requirements, yet their complexity demands expertise. BOSS delivers streamlined, high-quality SMSF administration through:

• Specialised Expertise: Our dedicated SMSF team, highly skilled and continuously trained, stays current with the latest SMSF laws and regulations, ensuring full compliance.
• Efficient Auditing Process: We provide high-quality work papers and detailed SMSF accounting reports, enabling your auditor to work swiftly and effectively.
• Comprehensive Services: We handle all administrative tasks, including drafting tax returns (with optional lodgment), preparing white-label financial statements, member statements, client letters, minutes, and pension calculations—all customisable with your branding.

By outsourcing to BOSS, your accounting firm or financial planning practice can focus on client relationships and audit oversight, while we manage the complexities, saving you time and enhancing efficiency.

By outsourcing SMSF administration to BOSS, you can:

• Eliminate the need to train staff on complex SMSF regulations.
• Avoid the costs of purchasing and maintaining specialised SMSF software.
• Free up internal resources for other priorities.
• Accelerate the turnaround time for SMSF administration tasks.

Our SMSF outsourcing service is offered on a fixed-fee basis, with a minimum commitment of 50 hours per month. All pricing is transparent and agreed upon before work begins, ensuring no surprises.

For more detail on the SMSF fixed-fee arrangement see:
BOSS Solutions Comparison Chart

To optimise your outsourcing experience with BOSS, focus on preparation, training, and efficient processes:

• Streamlined Job Preparation: For jobs taking three hours or less, thorough organisation is key. Well-prepared smaller jobs enable seamless processing and faster turnaround.
• Training Support Staff: Dedicate one week to train a staff member, such as a receptionist, to handle preparation tasks, significantly reducing the time spent by billable team members.
• Complete Client Information: Gather all necessary client data upfront before sending jobs to BOSS. This practice eliminates delays and minimises back-and-forth communication, ensuring smoother workflows and enhanced efficiency.
• Handling Complex Queries: Don't hesitate to send complex client cases. Our skilled accountants excel at resolving queries and can propose solutions or prepare draft queries for your practice to forward to clients.
• Minimising Queries: Avoid unnecessary queries by securing complete and accurate data from the start. Implement clear processes, such as providing clients with checklists and communicating deadlines well in advance.

Stay proactive by organising yourself and your clients. Use key dates to plan ahead and send timely reminders to ensure clients provide their data promptly.

For additional insights, visit:
How to Make Outsource Accounting Work with BOSS

Our team is proficient in the accounting software listed below. If your preferred software isn't included, we can quickly adapt to it, as learning new tools is straightforward—similar to transitioning from a PC to a Mac.

Financial and Tax Return Preparation Software

• MYOB AE Practice Manager.
• MYOB AE (formerly Solution 6).
• MYOB AE Assets.
• MYOB AE Accounts - Series 8.
• MYOB AE Series 6.
• Sage HandiSoft (HandiLedger and HandiTax).
• MYOB AO Classic (Legacy).
• MYOB AO (Tax Module).
• APS Advanced Tax Elite.
• APS Advanced Tax.
• APS Advanced XPA.
• Reckon Elite.

Cloud Software Used by BOSS Clients

• Xero and Xero Workpapers.
• Class Super.
• BGL 360.
• Saasu.
• Spotlight Reporting.
• CCH iFirm.
• HowNow.

Bookkeeping Software

• MYOB (all versions).
• Reckon Accounts Premier Accountant Edition 2013.
• Reckon Accounts Enterprise 2013.
• QuickBooks Enterprise.
• BankLink.
• CashFlow Manager.

Specialized Super Fund Software

• BGL Simple Fund.
• HandiSuperFund.
• Class Super.

Utility Software

• Nitro Pro.
• Adobe Acrobat X Pro.

Other Software

• HandiTime and Billing.
• MYOB ProfitOptimiser.
• CGT Deluxe.