Accounting & finance
Hire a U.S. CPA-track accountant who already speaks GAAP
We recruit English-speaking accountants in Mexico and Latin America who hold or are pursuing the U.S. CPA credential, for CPA firms and finance teams that need senior-level U.S. accounting work done during U.S. hours.
Also hired as: Remote CPA · Certified Public Accountant · CPA Candidate · Offshore CPA · Nearshore CPA · Senior Accountant (CPA)
What a nearshore U.S. CPA does for you
The U.S. CPA is issued by state boards of accountancy, and a growing number of Latin American accountants sit for the exam, pass all four sections and obtain a license through a state that accepts international candidates. Others are partway through the exam. Either way, these professionals have studied U.S. GAAP, federal taxation, auditing standards and business law in the same depth as their U.S. peers, which makes them a natural fit for work that a local-GAAP accountant would have to learn from scratch.
Two kinds of employers hire for this role. CPA firms use them as senior associates on tax season workpapers, review-ready 1040, 1065, 1120 and 1120-S returns, compilation and review engagements, and audit fieldwork support. In-house finance teams use them as senior accountants or assistant controllers who own the month-end close, revenue recognition under ASC 606, lease accounting under ASC 842, and the audit PBC list. In a firm, the work is engagement-based and deadline-driven; in-house, it is a recurring cycle tied to one set of books. Tell us which world you are in and we will screen for it.
Licensing matters, so we are precise about it. Attest work, the signature on an audit or review report, and anything your state reserves for licensees stays with your firm's licensed CPAs and partners. A nearshore CPA prepares, analyzes, documents and reviews under your quality control system, the same way an unlicensed senior or a licensed staffer at another office would. If your firm requires a PTIN or an Enrolled Agent credential for preparers, tell us and we will only present candidates who have it or are willing to obtain it.
Time zone is where nearshore pays off for this role. Busy season means fast back-and-forth with managers, clients and the review queue, and a CPA in Mexico or Colombia is answering review notes the same afternoon instead of overnight. When we screen, we test U.S. GAAP and tax knowledge directly, verify exam progress or license status where possible, and check experience in the platforms you actually use, whether that is CCH Axcess, UltraTax, Lacerte, CaseWare or NetSuite and Sage Intacct on the in-house side.
Skills we vet for
- Professional, client-ready English, written and spoken
- U.S. CPA license or exam progress (FAR, AUD, REG and a discipline section)
- Deep working knowledge of U.S. GAAP and the ASC codification
- Federal and multistate tax preparation and research
- Audit and review procedures under AICPA standards (support role)
- Account reconciliations, consolidations and intercompany eliminations
- Advanced Excel (lookups, pivot tables, tie-outs)
- Clear workpaper documentation that a reviewer can follow
Tools they work in
- CCH Axcess
- UltraTax CS
- Lacerte
- ProConnect Tax
- GoSystem Tax RS
- CaseWare
- Thomson Reuters Checkpoint
- QuickBooks Online
- NetSuite
- Sage Intacct
- Xero
- Microsoft Excel
- SafeSend
- Karbon
Use something else? Tell us, and we will screen for it.
Where we recruit
Where to hire a U.S. CPA
Countries where we often find strong candidates for this role, compared with U.S. Central Time in winter.
Mexico
Mexico has a large community of accountants who trained on U.S. GAAP at multinational subsidiaries and Big Four offices, and many are pursuing the U.S. CPA.
Same time vs. Central
Colombia
Colombia's shared-services sector in Bogotá and Medellín has produced experienced U.S.-facing accountants, many working toward the CPA, on U.S. Eastern time for most of the year.
1 hour ahead vs. Central
Argentina
Argentine accountants bring rigorous technical training and frequently work for U.S. firms, a couple of hours ahead of the East Coast.
3 hours ahead vs. Central
How it works
Hiring your U.S. CPA with General Staffing
- 01
Tell us about the role
A short call to learn the work, the tools, your hours and the person who fits your team.
- 02
We search and vet
We recruit across Latin America and check English, experience and skills for this role.
- 03
You interview a shortlist
You meet only candidates we would hire ourselves, and you make the final choice.
- 04
They start, we stay close
We help with onboarding and keep checking in so the placement works for both sides.
Hiring a remote U.S. CPA: questions
Can someone in Latin America really be a U.S. CPA?
Yes. The CPA exam is offered internationally, and several U.S. state boards license candidates who meet their education, exam and experience requirements regardless of where they live. We present candidates who hold the license or are actively pursuing it and tell you exactly which applies.
Can a remote CPA sign our audit or review reports?
Attest sign-off stays with your firm's licensed CPAs and partners, under your state's rules and your quality control system. A nearshore CPA prepares and reviews the work that supports the report, the same role a senior associate plays in your office.
Do they know U.S. GAAP and U.S. tax, or just their local rules?
That is the main reason to hire for this role. CPA candidates study U.S. GAAP, federal taxation and AICPA standards in depth, and we test that knowledge in screening rather than relying on a resume.
Can they help during tax season?
Yes, but plan ahead. We place full-time, year-round professionals, so the best fit is a firm that has tax work in season and advisory, write-up or extension work the rest of the year.
Do they need a PTIN?
Anyone who prepares federal returns for compensation generally needs a PTIN. If your firm requires one, tell us and we'll make it part of the screening.
How long does it take to find a CPA-level candidate?
It depends on whether you need a licensed CPA or a candidate in progress, and on the software and specialty. We'll give you a realistic timeline on the strategy call.
Ready to hire your U.S. CPA?
Tell us about the role. We'll come back with a plan, a timeline and vetted candidates.