What are Client Accounting Services?

Client Accounting Services (CAS) refer to outsourced accounting solutions that provide businesses with ongoing support for bookkeeping, payroll, financial reporting, and CFO-level advisory. CAS firms like LBMC serve as an external accounting department, helping companies save time, reduce costs, strengthen compliance, and gain clear financial insight — without the burden of hiring in-house staff.

For busy entrepreneurs and business leaders, Client Accounting Services, or CAS for short, can offer huge benefits. As a business leader, you’re well aware of the importance of reliable accounting and financial reporting to the success of your business. However, it’s fair to say many businesses lack the resources and expertise to successfully staff and manage their own internal accounting department.

In these scenarios, the solution lies in outsourcing their accounting needs to an external accounting firm that provides client accounting services. This is a service that many accounting firms have provided for years. Thanks to recent developments in technology, such as the advent of cloud-based accounting platforms and dramatically improved remote communication tools, it’s easier to outsource your accounting now than at any time in the past. As a result, client accounting services are rapidly growing in popularity.

If you haven’t outsourced any accounting tasks until now, it’s natural to be unsure about whether it’s a good match for your business. You might lack clarity on the types of accounting tasks you can outsource to an external partner or not realize the benefits you stand to experience from taking this approach.

In this overview, we’ll outline exactly what client accounting services are and share the accounting tasks that can be outsourced. We’ll also explore the benefits businesses can unlock from outsourcing their accounting needs to an experienced client accounting services provider like LBMC.

What is Client Accounting Services (CAS)?

Businesses have the freedom to choose which tasks they want to outsource. These are typically tasks that would be performed by an internal accounting department, including preparing financial reports and running payroll. Depending on the service provider, businesses can outsource some or all of their accounting processes.

Client accounting services are often referred to as outsourced accounting services. These services are typically ongoing engagements. Businesses tend to work with the same CAS provider for a long time, and will often add additional services, such as tax planning or strategic advisory services.

What’s Included in Client Accounting Services?

Depending on the CAS firm you choose to partner with, it’s possible to outsource all manner of accounting tasks. These can vary from setting up your accounting infrastructure to helping shape the future financial strategy of your business.

Generally, CAS can be categorized into three distinct service tiers:

1. Bookkeeping services
2. Accounting and Controller services
3. Chief Financial Officer (CFO) services

Let’s take a closer look at the sorts of tasks that can be outsourced under these three categories.

Bookkeeping Services

Bookkeeping is the foundation of all good accounting. It’s a relatively low-level position but one that’s vital to the success of your business. It’s the bookkeeper’s role to organize your financial data and ensure your records are accurate.

That entails tasks including:

• Reconciling bank accounts
• Maintaining ledgers and recording transactions
• Payroll
• Tracking accounts receivable and accounts payable

The majority of these tasks are relatively monotonous and time-consuming, and as such, they can be a real drain for entrepreneurs and business owners. By outsourcing these services to a CAS firm, leaders can reclaim their time and rest easy knowing their financial records will be accurate.

Accounting and Controller Services

In addition to simple bookkeeping tasks, there are also more advanced accounting tasks that entrepreneurs can outsource to a CAS provider. This saves business owners from hiring a dedicated CPA on a full-time salary. Instead, they can access the services of external CPAs who work for CAS firms on an as-needed basis.

Popular accounting tasks that can be outsourced to a client accounting service include:

• Set up and ongoing management of digital accounting tools
• Financial reporting, including the creation of important reports such as Profit & Loss Statements and Balance Sheets
• Communicating with external financial partners such as banks and lenders

Many of these tasks would form part of the responsibilities of a Controller. For that reason, some CAS providers brand these services as “outsourced controller services”. While there may be some differences between different firms, accounting services and controller services are broadly similar.

Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Services

Many CAS firms only provide bookkeeping and accounting services, but others provide a more advanced service: an outsourced Chief Financial Officer, or CFO. This service tends to be more of a strategic advisory engagement, offering businesses access to proven financial leadership that helps them to reach their financial goals on an accelerated timeline.

An outsourced CFO can provide a variety of services. Many outsourced CFO services take a flexible approach and provide advisory services tailored to the unique needs of your business.

Services typically include:

• Defining financial strategy
• Financial forecasting and budgeting
• Building internal financial controls and business processes
• Overseeing debt or equity financing processes

Partnering with an outsourced CFO allows businesses of any size to leverage the expertise and skills of distinguished financial leaders. These services are often provided as a consulting engagement and may only last for a short period, although many businesses work with an outsourced CFO on an ongoing basis.

What Are the Benefits of Using Client Accounting Services?

Outsourcing your accounting needs to a CAS provider delivers meaningful advantages for growing businesses. Key benefits include:

• High-quality accounting at lower cost – Access the expertise of an experienced accounting team without the expense of building one in-house.
• More time to focus on growth – Free up leadership from time-consuming financial tasks to focus on strategy and expansion.
• No recruiting or training headaches – Eliminate the burden of hiring, onboarding, and managing internal accounting staff.
• Built-in tools and processes – Benefit from established systems, technology, and best practices that streamline financial operations.
• Greater financial visibility – Gain accurate, timely insights into cash flow, performance, and trends.
• Strategic financial guidance – Tap into CFO-level insight and planning support without a full-time hire.

When to Consider Client Accounting Services?

Knowing when to outsource your accounting function—or keep it in-house—depends on your business size, complexity, and growth stage. Outsourcing is often the better choice when your internal resources are stretched, or financial reporting and visibility are starting to impact decision-making.

Common signs it may be time to outsource include:

• Late or inaccurate financial reports that create risk or decision delays
• Limited cash flow visibility that makes it hard to forecast or plan
• Increased pressure from lenders or investors for timely, accurate reporting
• Outgrowing QuickBooks or entry-level systems with no plan to scale
• Managing multiple entities or locations with no consolidated financial view
• Inconsistent or ad hoc internal processes that lack structure or accountability
• Leadership spread too thin, spending time on accounting instead of strategy

If you’re experiencing one or more of these triggers, working with a Client Accounting Services (CAS) provider like LBMC can offer structure, stability, and forward-looking financial support—without the overhead of building an internal team from scratch.

LBMC: Your Client Accounting Services Expert

At LBMC, we’re proud to provide client accounting services to many different kinds of businesses — from fast-growing startups to established middle-market companies. Our team works closely with private equity-backed organizations, healthcare providers, and multi-entity groups that need scalable, high-quality financial support without the burden of building and managing a full in-house team.

We tailor every engagement to your needs, offering everything from basic bookkeeping to controller services and CFO-level guidance. Whether you’re navigating rapid growth, complex compliance needs, or multi-location operations, we bring the structure, insight, and technology to help you move forward with confidence.

Our professionals are experienced across leading platforms, including QuickBooks Online and NetSuite Cloud Accounting, ensuring seamless integration and efficient day-to-day operations.

Serving Businesses Across the Southeast

LBMC supports growing companies across Tennessee and the Southeast — including Chattanooga, Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville, Louisville, and Charlotte—with client-focused accounting services that deliver clarity, control, and strategic insight.

Content provided by Rory Satkoski, Shareholder and provider of CAAS services in our Louisville office.

LBMC: FAQs for Client Accounting Services 

What does a Client Accounting Services (CAS) firm do?

A CAS firm provides outsourced accounting support for businesses that need consistent, high-quality financial management without the cost of hiring and managing an internal team. Services often include bookkeeping, payroll, financial reporting, budgeting, controller oversight, and outsourced CFO support.

What types of accounting tasks can be handled by a CAS provider?

CAS providers can manage a wide range of accounting functions, including:

• Transaction entry and reconciliation
• Accounts payable and receivable
• Payroll processing and tax filings
• Monthly close and financial reporting
• Budgeting and forecasting
• Compliance support and audit readiness
• Strategic advisory and outsourced CFO services
  

Which software platforms do CAS teams typically use?

At LBMC, we support a range of cloud-based accounting platforms, including:

• QuickBooks Online
• NetSuite Cloud Accounting

These tools enable secure, real-time collaboration and scalable solutions tailored to each client’s operations.

When should a business consider outsourcing its accounting?

Outsourcing makes sense when you’re:

• Struggling with late or inaccurate reports
• Lacking clear visibility into cash flow
• Outgrowing entry-level systems like QuickBooks
• Managing multiple entities or locations
• Facing pressure from lenders or investors for reliable financials

It’s also a smart choice if your team is stretched thin and financial oversight is taking a back seat to growth.

How does LBMC customize Client Accounting Services for different industries?

We tailor our services based on your industry, size, and goals. Whether you’re in healthcare, manufacturing, technology, or private equity, we understand the nuances that drive your financial needs. Our team configures accounting processes, reporting, and insights to align with your specific compliance requirements and operational structure.

Does LBMC offer Client Accounting Services in my city?

LBMC serves businesses across Tennessee and the Southeast, including Chattanooga, Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville, Louisville, and Charlotte. We also support clients virtually, offering the same high-quality service and responsiveness regardless of location.