The Best Accounting Firms In The Philippines: Top Picks

Are you a business owner looking for the best accounting firm in the Philippines? Choosing an accountant is challenging, and it can be difficult to differentiate between big-name firms and local ones. That’s why we have compiled a list of top-rated accounting firms across the Philippines based on customer reviews, leadership, reputation, market presence, and more. Regardless if you are a small or large company looking for reliable financial services, our guide will help you find an ideal partner who understands your needs. Read on to learn about each of the top picks and what sets them apart from other providers.

What Is An Accounting Firm And What Do They Do

An accounting firm is a business entity or organization of accountants and professionals specializing in accounting, taxation, auditing, financial planning, payroll services, and other related areas. With the help of an experienced team of certified public accountants (CPAs), these firms provide customized solutions to their clients, ranging from large corporations to small employers.

An accounting firm assists its clients in making informed decisions concerning all aspects of financial management as well as guidance on tax compliance and structuring transactions to increase profits while minimizing losses. In addition to providing traditional bookkeeping and auditing services, many modern firms also offer consulting advice on allocating resources for maximum efficiency and profitability. These companies are highly specialized in such areas as budgeting processes; asset management; income tax filings; mergers & acquisitions; estate planning; corporate finance; international marketing strategies; cost analysis tools & techniques etc., thereby enabling their customers effectively manage their businesses.

Accounting firms use various software applications, including spreadsheets like Microsoft Excel® for data entry along with robust computer programs that aid end-to-end reporting such as QuickBooks®, Sage®, and Xero® among others, for keeping records accurate and up-to-date quickly. These programs can be integrated into different departments across an organization, allowing them to access critical information at any time, thus facilitating seamless communication between multiple stakeholders over large organizations across locations without manual paperwork required priorly by profession. Furthermore, they render excellent customer service with dedicated teams available round the clock who effectively answer your queries, leaving you to stress-free so that you can focus solely on what matters – Your Business!

What Are the Services Offered by Accounting Firms?

Financial Planning

Accounting firms offer various financial planning services to help their clients reach their short-term and long-term financial goals. These include budgeting advice, retirement planning, estate and investment management, cash flow analysis, and business financing needs.

Tax Preparation

The most common service offered by accounting firms is tax preparation assistance for individuals or business entities. This includes filing income taxes in the current year or preparing amended returns from earlier years; completing estimated taxes; representing taxpayers before the IRS for audits; offering advice on minimizing future tax burdens; providing guidance regarding regulations that impact individual or corporate taxation obligations; and providing general information related to taxes owed by the client’s business entity.

Bookkeeping

Many small businesses cannot afford a full-time bookkeeper but require assistance with routine tasks such as recording income statements and tracking expenses to ensure accurate reporting of profits/losses over periods specified by governmental agencies, investors, or other stakeholders to comply with rules & regulations established by those agencies/stakeholders. Accounting firms can provide these services directly or via an outsourced partner firm that specializes in them specifically to lessen administrative costs associated with maintaining an internal accounting department at your company’s offices when the volume doesn’t justify a dedicated staff member (or team).

Auditing

Auditors are responsible for examining an organization’s books within specified time frames under agreed-upon standards (e.g., Generally Accepted Auditing Standards) to assess & report on internal control structures employed therein while also detecting potential fraud perpetrated within its systems/processes that could cause potential liability issues if they were allowed to persist undetected into future audit periods.

Payroll

Accounting firms offer payroll processing services that help business owners manage their employees’ paychecks accurately and efficiently. This includes preparing the necessary reports & filings required to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local laws; verifying calculations such as deductions for taxes, insurance premiums & other withholdings from employee wages; tracking sick days and vacation time; managing contributions & reporting changes in employee status (e.g., promotions or terminations).

How To Choose The Right Accounting Firm in the Philippines For Your Business

Choosing the right accounting firm for your business is one of the most important decisions you can make as a business owner. Not only does an accountant help ensure you are compliant with tax laws and regulations, but they also provide insight into potential pitfalls to avoid in your business operations. Here are some tips to keep in mind when selecting an accounting firm:

1) Assess Your Needs

Identifying what type of services you need from an accountant will inform which type of accounting firm best fits your needs. Do you require assistance preparing financial statements? A bookkeeper who regularly reconciles bank accounts and creates reports? Tax support? Select a CPA (certified public accountant) or EA (enrolled agent), depending on the services needed. They have licensed professionals with expertise in more specialized areas, such as taxation or audit assurance.

2) Check Availability & Location

If location matters to you, consider how close the office is relative to where it would be practical for meetings. This can save time, energy, and money if necessary paperwork needs attention quickly or if either party requires regular communication with managers. Make sure they’re available when needed – during busy times like tax season, firms may be more active than usual with clients, so it’s essential to verify their availability before committing long-term.

3) Research Their Reputation & Expertise

Researching existing customer reviews can give insight into client experiences working with certain accounting firms and other associated services that might complement yours, if relevant at all, and whether any aspect raised concerns about their ability to resolve issues timely and accurately through feedback provided by customers who interacted directly – past or present; especially considering tax filing requirements due on specific deadlines yearly. There should be zero excuses for non-compliance! Additionally, inquire about their chosen field(s) of expertise versus general knowledge regarding basic financial processes like auditing, credit management, etc.

4) Compare Rates & Fees

Generally, accounting firms’ level of service and experience will dictate their rates. Compare these fees with other firms to get the best deal possible. Ask about additional costs for particular services before committing to a contract, such as filing returns, preparing financial statements, or providing consultation on some issues not included during initial conversations – this can also help avoid hidden last-minute expenses that may cause problems later.

What To Look For When Hiring An Accounting Firm

When choosing an accounting firm, you want a team of experts who can provide the best advice and services. Here are some factors to consider when hiring an accounting firm:

1. Experience & Qualifications – Make sure the firm you choose has the proper credentials and experience in providing accounting services. Their staff should be knowledgeable in various areas such as tax planning, auditing, financial statement preparation, and business consulting.

2. Client References & Reviews – Ask for a list of client references so you can read up on their experiences with the firm. Additionally, check online reviews to see what other people have said about them.

3. Fees & Payment Terms – Understand how much they will charge you for their services and the payment terms. Be sure to ask whether they offer a flat-fee package or an hourly rate.

4. Communication & Availability – Make sure the firm is available when you need them, and they are willing to answer any questions promptly. Ask how often they will communicate with you, as well as what methods of communication they use (phone, email, etc.).

5. Location – Consider whether the firm’s physical location is important to you or if it would be better to work with an online service or one in another city.

The Benefits Of Using An Accounting Firm

Using an accounting firm can bring many benefits to your business. An accounting firm has the knowledge and resources to help you with your finances, from bookkeeping to taxation. Here are some of the main advantages:

1. Professional Expertise

Accounting firms have highly qualified professionals specializing in tax consulting, financial planning, auditing, and reporting. By leveraging their expertise, companies can save time and money that would otherwise be used for training or hiring additional staff members.

2. Time Savings

Professional accountants have the experience to quickly analyze financial data, identify potential problems and solutions, and develop growth and savings strategies within tight timelines set by clients or industry standards. This helps businesses move forward faster without sacrificing accuracy or quality in decision-making processes around investments and other critical finance-related issues.

3. Lower Costs

The cost of running a professional accounting service is relatively lower than employing an internal staff member full-time because firms don’t require salaries, benefits, or resources associated with employee management; instead, they charge solely for their services rendered. Furthermore, they can provide better rates since they usually purchase technologies en masse versus individual companies doing so alone, which results in higher costs per unit acquired/used/licensed, etc.

4 Improved Record Keeping

An accounting firm will be able to gather all necessary documents related to various company transactions, including investments made into stocks & bonds platforms as financing projects, among others; advisors will also be able to use modern tools like artificial intelligence & cloud computing systems for even more efficient handling of bookkeeping entries such as income tracking expenses along with compiling financial statements (balance sheet/income statement). All these combined give organizations a better handle on their finances compared when performing it manually with paper-based methods where errors are more prone due to human factors.

5 Reduced Risk Of Financial Mistakes

Working alongside experienced professionals also reduces risks associated with overlooking certain details or not knowing how specific laws apply in particular situations, thereby avoiding massive penalties due to incorrect filing claims/documentation due to discrepancies between national and local regulatory framework(s) and so on.

Top Accounting Firms In The Philippines

Sycip, Gorrez, Velayo & Co. (SGV) (Partner Firm of EY)

Founded: 1946

Services: Assurance, Tax, Consulting, Strategy, and Transactions

Website: www.sgv.ph

Overview: SGV is the leading accounting firm in the Philippines, serving almost half its top 1000 corporations. Their Assurance service line has been ISO 9001-certified since 1996, and they consistently recruit top notchers of the Certified Public Accountant Licensure Examinations. Boasting strong and highly qualified homegrown leaders, SGV stands out from other firms due to its significant lead over them. What sets them apart even more, is that, unlike other firms on this list, SGV maintains their branding based on the local firm rather than their global partner, a testament to the strength of the local brand.

SGV & Co. is proudly affiliated with Ernst & Young Global, a network of over 300,000 professionals spanning 150 countries. They are recognized as one of the best Audit and Tax services providers in the Philippines, being the preferred choice amongst the country’s top corporations and businesses. In addition, they have been repeatedly honored as one of the Best Companies to Work For for 24 consecutive years.

PwC Philippines – Isla Lipana & Co. (Partner Firm of PwC Global)

Founded:1922

Services: Client Accounting Services, Assurance, Tax, Consulting, Deals, and Corporate Finance

Website: www.pwc.com/ph

Overview: Boasting more than a hundred years of experience, Isla Lipana & Co. is the oldest accounting firm in the Philippines and a proud member of PWC (PricewaterhouseCoopers) – the world’s second-largest accounting firm. Serving 152 countries and hiring over 328,000 professionals, Isla Lipana & Co provides a wide range of services, including auditing, taxation, advisory, and Japanese business services. As one of the most sought-after auditing firms in the country, they continue to deliver superior expertise for their clients.

Isla Lipana & Co. is one of the leading auditing firms in the country, boasting an impressive partnership with a global accounting firm that dates back to 1958. As the oldest operating professional services firm in the Philippines, they continue to provide remarkable high-quality standard services for their clients.

R.G. Manabat & Co. (Partner Firm of KPMG Global)

Founded: 2007

Services: Audit & Assurance, Tax, Advisory

Website: www.home.kpmg/ph/en/home

Overview: Despite its relative youth, KPMG Philippines has quickly become a household name in the Philippines. Having been recognized by the International Tax Review as a Tier 1 Tax Practice and Tier 1 Transfer Pricing Practice in the Philippines, they have earned the number one ranking for overall quality for global financial services consulting. Additionally, KPMG Philippines ranks third amongst accounting firms serving the top 1000 corporations in the country, representing 10% of said list.

Representing the Philippines in KPMG International Limited, one of the Big 4 Accounting Firms in the world, RGM has achieved great recognition. The International Tax Review Asia Pacific Tax Awards ranked RGM as Tier 1 in Transfer Pricing Practice and Tier 1 in General Corporate Tax Practice in the Philippines. What’s more, Statista named RGM one of the Philippines’ Best Employers, and it remains the only audit firm on their list of Top 100.

Punongbayan & Arraulo (Partner Firm of Grant Thornton Global)

Founded:1988

Services: Audit & Assurance, Tax Advisory and Compliance, Outsourcing, and Managed Services

Website:www.grantthornton.com.ph

Overview: For more than three decades, Punongbayan & Araullo has been one of the foremost accounting firms in the Philippines. Its establishment dates back to 1988. It is now a member firm of Grant Thornton International Ltd., one of the leading global organizations comprised of independently owned and managed accounting and consulting firms. With member firms in over 135 countries and boasting more than 62,000 professionals, Grant Thornton provides the following:

Audit and assurance.
Tax advisory and compliance advisory services.
Business process solutions to its ever-expanding client base.

Representing the Philippines in Grant Thornton, one of the leading professional services firms in the world, Punongbayan & Araullo (P&A) has secured an outstanding reputation. With its award-winning recognition as a globally recognized accounting firm and its world-class capabilities and global scale expertise, P&A is genuinely ahead of the game.

MOORE Roxas Cruz Tagle and Co

Founded:1995

Services: Audit & Assurance, Tax, Advisory, Business Services, And Talent Center

Website:https://roxascruztagle.moore-global.com/

Overview: Roxas Cruz Tagle & Co. is a proud member firm of MOORE, an international network of professional accountancy and advisory services, working with some of the world’s leading corporations across 110 countries. Recognized as one of the preeminent accounting firms in the Philippines, Roxas Cruz Tagle & Co. boasts expertise across industries and specializations, providing professional services such as audit and assurance, tax, consulting, business services, and outsourcing.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the accounting firm you choose will have a lasting impact on your business. With our guide to the best accounting firms in the Philippines, you can be confident that whatever firm you decide on will provide exceptional financial services. Each of our picks offers unique qualities and benefits that establish them as top-rated choices in an otherwise competitive market. Whether running a startup or a giant company with hundreds of employees, you’ll find what you need from these trustworthy providers. So if you’re looking for an accountant that makes your finances simple and stress-free, we invite you to consider the exceptional options we suggested today. Get in touch with PGT for help with all of your accounting needs.