The shift we’re seeing mirrors what happened in other industries. Uber doesn’t own cars. Airbnb doesn’t own hotels. They built platforms that connected supply with demand in smarter, faster ways, and finally, the accounting industry is just starting to catch up.

Outsourcing has changed. It’s no longer just a cost play; it’s a performance strategy.

The firms that scale successfully are moving past low skill outsourcing and embracing something better: global reach paired with local expertise. Call it going “glocal”. Call it smart. It works.

The Numbers Are Moving

The latest IPA Insights report confirms the shift. Among firms already outsourcing, 64% plan to increase their usage in the next year. Only 8% plan to reduce it. For firms not yet outsourcing, 31% say they’ll start in the next 12 months.

The reason behind that momentum? We know it well…

Profit.

Firms that outsource see stronger financial returns. Net income per partner is $706,000 compared to $641,000 for those who don’t. The difference is the result of a better operating model, one that gives firms control over resourcing, flexibility in delivery, and access to global talent that fits the work, not just the budget.

Glocal Models Are the Future

Accounting and advisory firms that want to grow without burning out their teams can’t rely on transactional support alone. Growth requires talent with real experience and deep technical capability.

Offshoring makes that possible. It connects firms to specialized professionals across regions: onshore, nearshore, and offshore, and it unlocks access to talent that simply isn’t available locally at scale.

South Africa is a prime example. The Chartered Accountant [CA(SA)] designation is one of the most respected financial qualifications in the world. Known for precision, technical strength, and leadership potential, these professionals bring immediate value. Firms that build global talent pipelines benefit from this unique level of expertise without compromising local standards or client service.

Done right, this model delivers:

• Round-the-clock client coverage
• Reduced delivery costs
• Fast access to specialized skill sets
• Scalable operations with no drop in quality

The days of viewing outsourcing as a transactional back-office function are over. It is now a strategic lever, and one that firms can’t afford to ignore if they want to stay competitive.

Want to see what glocal looks like in action?

Read The Firm of the Future and see how top firms are building smarter, more agile models and winning because of it.