Hiring accounting talent in the Philippines is no longer an experiment. It is a proven way for firms to expand capacity, remove day-to-day work from partners, and build a stronger team without lowering expectations. In this episode of the Accounting Insiders Podcast, Gary DeHart talks with Isaac Smith, co-founder of Team Up, a recruiting firm that helps accounting practices hire directly in the Philippines. Isaac explains how he scaled a 12 to 14 person bookkeeping team with Philippine talent, what he learned about culture and leadership, and why offshore hiring fails when firms overcomplicate the process. What you will learn: ✔️ How Isaac built his first team in the Philippines ✔️ Why firms need to drop the “us vs them” mindset ✔️ Where hiring goes wrong and how to avoid it ✔️ How communication works across cultures and time zones ✔️ English ability and technical skills in the Philippines ✔️ Contractor vs employee, compliance, and EORs ✔️ When client-facing work fits in Philippine hours ✔️ Why personality fit matters as much as credentials Isaac’s message is straightforward. Build one team, not two. Set the same standards for everyone. Give people the support they need, and they will match the work you expect.
Learn more about Team Up and connect with Isaac:
🌐 Website: hireteamup.com
🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/theisaacsmith/