About us
An offshore accounting team for US CPA firms
Accountant Staff is an offshore accounting firm based in Cape Town, South Africa, providing bookkeeping, month-end close, AP/AR, payroll support, and the full accounting function to US CPA and accounting firms.
01 Based in
Cape Town, South Africa
02 Serving
03 GAAP
04 US hours overlap
How it started
Accountant Staff was started to answer a problem that many US firms keep describing. They can’t find qualified accountants at home, and the work they send to India or the Philippines keeps coming back needing to be redone.
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Co-founder Michael de Ravel has been hearing this story from the firm owners he works with since 2017. He also heard it from his own father, whose CPA firm brought all of its offshore work back in-house after spending more time on corrections than on his golf swing.
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South Africa solves the problem. Our accountants qualify through SAICA and SAIPA, two of the most demanding accounting programs in the world. They’re also fluent in English, and their afternoon is the US morning.
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At Accountant Staff, quality is overseen by a senior CFO and Chartered Accountant who leads a finance team of more than 100 people in Cape Town. He sets the review standards, manages monthly cadence, shapes how client work is structured, and monitors key deliverables.
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Because the team works offsite, data security is part of our setup with you from day one. Chris Fahy, Chief Technology Officer, oversees IT, cyber security, and data integrity across the firm and every client environment, working with your systems and under your access controls.
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The result is the offshore accounting company US firms want on the other end of the call: dedicated, reliable accounting staff, senior involvement on key deliverables, CFO-level oversight on quality, and client data handled with the same care as the numbers.
Senior leadership
Every Accountant Staff team works under the direct oversight of a senior CFO and Chartered Accountant.
Co-founder
Business leader with more than 20 years across agency ownership, retail operations, and senior marketing management. Since 2017 he has run MITCO Digital, a digital agency serving CPA and accounting firms across the US, which gives him a first-hand view of the pressures US firms face. He leads business development at Accountant Staff and holds a BBusSc (Hons) in Marketing from UCT.
Chief Technology Officer
CTO overseeing IT, cyber security, and data integrity across the company and every client environment. Excels in areas where technology meets operations. Equally at home discussing risk and governance in the boardroom or a product roadmap. Applies a systems-thinking approach to security, with a focus on putting robust guardrails around new technology before it is scaled. Father to four, and outdoors with them whenever he is not working.
CFO & Chartered Accountant
Accountant Staff benefits from the direct oversight of a Chartered Accountant and senior CFO, with more than 20 years leading finance teams, currently heading a team of 100+ in Cape Town. Trained in audit before moving into senior finance roles across financial services, fintech, and global payments. He sets the review standards, manages monthly cadence, and oversees key deliverables for every Accountant Staff client.
Meet the team
Qualified, full-time accountants and back office support staff, assigned to your firm. These are the people doing the work and who you can speak to directly.
Lead Accountant
Professional Accountant (SA) and Chartered Global Management Accountant with more than seven years in public accounting. Previously a Finance Manager at a public accounting firm, running a large multi-industry client portfolio and leading a team of accountants against monthly deadlines. Reads, and spends her weekends exploring Cape Town.
Senior Accountant
A decade of finance experience, including multi-entity reporting for Ecolab (US) and its subsidiary Lobster Ink in Switzerland and South Africa: month-end journals, indirect and payroll tax, balance sheet reconciliations and AFS drafting. Formerly Group Accountant across a seven-company group and Regional Accountant at Bidvest Waltons. Works in SAP, QuickBooks, Syspro, Pastel, Power BI and Excel.
Senior Accountant
Professional Accountant (SA) with nearly five years of SAIPA articles covering corporate, trust and non-profit tax, AFS drafting on CaseWare and company secretarial work. Produces monthly management accounts, board packs and variance analysis across services, manufacturing, agriculture, retail, telecoms, property and education. Studying CIMA alongside his SAIPA designation. A national-level triathlete outside work.
Accounts Payable Manager
Over ten years across finance, business development and process improvement, with accounts payable and receivable expertise built at Takealot and Jumo.World. A Business Management graduate, cum laude, currently completing IBM’s Business Analyst certification. Golf, soccer and the stock market fill the rest of his time.
Data Entry & Assistant
Experienced in corporate financial administration, with a strong background in account reconciliation, procurement, and client invoicing across a range of industries. Thrives in high-volume work where accuracy matters, keeping account queries moving. Outside work, she can usually be found tending her sourdough starter.
Data Capture
Coming soon
FAQs
Where is Accountant Staff based?
The team is based in Cape Town, South Africa and works with CPA and accounting firms across the US.
Who runs Accountant Staff?
Accountant Staff has 3 partners. Michael de Ravel runs the business, and Chris Fahy oversees technology and data security. Quality is managed by a senior CFO and Chartered Accountant advisor.
Are your accountants full-time staff or freelancers?
Full-time. Each accountant or back office support staff member is assigned to your firm and works in your systems. We don’t hire freelancers.
What qualifications do your accountants hold?
The team includes Professional Accountants (SA), CIMA-qualified management accountants, and staff trained through SAICA and SAIPA programs. Each bio above lists the individual’s qualifications and experience.
How does a South African qualification compare to a US CPA?
South African chartered accountants train through multi-year programs with practical experience and board exams, much like the CPA route. Most work with IFRS, and the team is used to US GAAP reporting for US clients.
What US hours does the team cover?
The team’s afternoon overlaps with the US morning, roughly 8am to 11am Eastern. We find that’s a helpful window for calls, questions, and feedback, and work continues while your office is closed for the night.
How do you keep client data secure?
The team works inside your systems and under your access controls, so client data doesn’t move to new platforms. Chris Fahy oversees IT, cyber security, and data integrity across every client environment.
Can I speak to the accountant who would do our work?
Yes. After onboarding, you (or your team) will directly with the accountant or offshore team member who would run your file.
Put a face to your offshore team
Book a short call – get to know us and where we can support your firm.