Amid a growing shortage of accounting professionals across the United States, many CPA firms and businesses are facing an urgent question—how to sustain growth and client service when capacity has become the biggest constraint. Accsera was founded to provide that answer through a managed Center of Excellence model that delivers qualified, U.S.-trained talent, scalable capacity, and uncompromising quality from India’s accounting hub.

The Context: A Profession at a Crossroads

In early 2024, Christine Gervais’ feature in *Insightful Accountant* captured a stark reality: the United States is facing a deep and persistent accountant shortage. Over 300,000 accountants and auditors left the field between 2020 and 2023 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). CPA exam participation hit its lowest level in nearly two decades. According to the AICPA’s 2023 *Trends Report*, 75% of practicing CPAs are Baby Boomers nearing retirement, creating annual job openings exceeding 130,000 across the decade.

Talentfoot’s 2025 research further underscored the strain—CPA roles now take an average of 73 days to fill, 40% longer than non-CPA positions. For every five open CPA-required roles, only three qualified candidates are entering the pipeline.

The Business Impact: 42% of Firms Turning Away Work

The numbers translate into real-world consequences. The *CPA Trendlines Outlook 2024* survey found that 42% of firms are turning away work for lack of staff. Larger firms have started culling clients to ease workload, while smaller practices defer engagements and extend compliance cycles. Even established firms report rising burnout and falling margins.

Analysts from *Forbes*, *Accounting Today*, and *The CPA Journal* agree: this is no longer a cyclical issue but a structural shift. With accounting graduates down 7.4% last year and 60,000 professionals exiting annually, the industry faces an enduring deficit. Advancetrack’s 2025 global survey found that 94% of firms cite talent shortages as their top growth constraint—74% saying they simply cannot take on more clients.

A Strategic Response: The Accsera Center of Excellence (COE)

Addressing this shortage demands more than outsourcing. It requires a dedicated model that blends technical depth, domain expertise, and operational integration. Accsera’s Center of Excellence (COE) was built precisely for that purpose—to serve as a seamless extension of U.S. accounting teams, providing on-demand access to skilled professionals trained in U.S. GAAP, IRS regulations, and modern accounting platforms.

What Sets Accsera’s COE Apart

• **Immediate Resource Access** – Pre-vetted accounting professionals ready to integrate with your team, eliminating recruitment delays and training overheads.
• **U.S.-Specific Expertise** – Teams proficient in U.S. GAAP, IRS, and state tax compliance, ensuring every engagement meets American professional standards.
• **Scalable, Flexible Capacity** – Expand capacity during tax season or maintain dedicated offshore team members year-round.
• **Quality Assurance & Security** – Robust QA reviews, cloud-based controls, and strict data security compliance underpin every engagement.
• **Strategic Cost Advantage** – 50–60% lower costs without compromising on quality, compliance, or client experience.
• **Comprehensive Service Capability** – From bookkeeping and payroll to financial reporting, due diligence, and fractional CFO services.

Our Service Spectrum

For CPA Firms:
• White-label bookkeeping and accounting
• Tax preparation (1040, 1120, 1120S, 1065, state returns)
• Surge support during tax season
• Dedicated offshore team integration
• Quality review and audit support

For Businesses:
• Bookkeeping, A/P, A/R, and reconciliations
• Payroll and compliance
• Financial reporting and analysis
• Virtual controller and CFO support
• Audit preparation, cash flow, and budgeting

Why Centers of Excellence Are the Future

Industry leaders now view managed Centers of Excellence as the next frontier in accounting operations. They enable firms to overcome labor shortages, maintain quality, and scale sustainably. Progressive CPA practices are redesigning their operating models around global collaboration—leveraging technology and cross-border expertise to deliver consistency, speed, and resilience.

Solving the ‘Now’ Problem

While new education pipelines and CPA-pathway reforms will take years to bear fruit, firms need immediate capacity solutions. Accsera’s COE offers precisely that—ready integration, proven delivery systems, and deep alignment with U.S. accounting culture. Firms can focus on advisory work, strategy, and client relationships while we execute the technical foundation flawlessly.

Expanding the Value Proposition

Beyond accounting, Accsera supports boutique investment and private equity firms through our transaction support practice—covering pre-investment screening, full financial due diligence, sponsor-ready modeling, and portfolio performance monitoring.

Is Your Firm Ready for the Future?

If hiring delays, deferred client work, or talent scarcity are affecting your firm’s growth, you’re not alone. The 42% statistic from *CPA Trendlines* is a wake-up call. Accsera’s Center of Excellence exists to help U.S. firms convert capacity constraints into growth opportunities—ensuring that no engagement needs to be turned away for lack of resources.

We invite you to connect with us for a confidential consultation and discover how a strategic partnership with Accsera’s COE can strengthen your firm’s foundation for the next decade.

Visit: www.accsera.com

References

• Christine Gervais, ‘Critical Accountant Shortage,’ Insightful Accountant, 2024
• AICPA, ‘2023 Trends Report’
• Talentfoot, ‘CPA Time-to-Fill Statistics, 2025’
• CPA Trendlines Research, ‘42% of Accountants Turn Away Work Over Staff Shortages,’ November 2023
• Matt Rampe, ‘The State of the Profession,’ The CPA Journal, 2024
• Advancetrack, ‘Accounting Talent Index 2025’
• ‘Accountants Are Turning Away Work—Hurting Firms And Small Businesses,’ Forbes, December 2023