Frequently Asked Questions

Our Services

We provide specialized services including Accounts Payable (AP) outsourcing and remote bookkeeping. Our AP outsourcing service delivers a scalable, dedicated team to manage your accounts payable processes efficiently. Our remote bookkeeping service offers skilled professionals to handle your financial records, ensuring accuracy and compliance with European standards. ​

We provide specialized services including Accounts Payable (AP) outsourcing and remote bookkeeping. Our AP outsourcing service delivers a scalable, dedicated team to manage your accounts payable processes efficiently. Our remote bookkeeping service offers skilled professionals to handle your financial records, ensuring accuracy and compliance with European standards. ​

We offer two core services:

1. Hire a Bookkeeper – You hire a dedicated finance professional who becomes a part of your team. You manage them day-to-day with our operational support.
2. Outsource Your Accounts Payable Department – gives you a managed team that handles your full accounts payable process. We assign a team lead as your main contact, and all work is double-checked using the four-eyes principle under the supervision of a Business Center Manager.

In both cases, you can choose between traditional outsourcing or Direct Hiring, where the professional is on your payroll, but we manage everything else—operations, infrastructure, compliance, and support. It all depends on how close you want the professional to be to your organization.

Direct Hiring means the finance professional is on your payroll instead of FairChain’s. This gives you full ownership of the employee while we handle infrastructure, compliance, and support. It’s ideal for companies that want their professionals even closer to their internal teams, while still benefiting from our local presence and expertise.

At FairChain Workforce, we provide comprehensive financial services tailored to your business needs. Our offerings include:​

• Bookkeeping​
• Accounts Payable (AP) Management​
• Financial Reporting & Analysis​
• Cash Flow Management​
• Budgeting and Forecasting​
• Payments & Reconciliation​
• Customer Statements​
• Annual Reporting 

Our dedicated African finance professionals work remotely, integrating seamlessly into your operations. They are supported by European managers stationed in our African business centers, ensuring alignment with European market standards and practices. This structure allows you to focus on your core business while we handle your financial tasks efficiently and ethically.

We work with companies in industries including wholesale, manufacturing, logistics, e-commerce, real estate, and professional services. Whether you need ongoing bookkeeping or want to outsource your AP department, we tailor our services to your specific operational needs.

Not at all! FairChain Workforce is for companies of all sizes. You only need to have enough of 20 hours of work a week. During the intake, we assess your needs, review your existing manuals, and establish KPIs for the worker. If you lack structure, we help you develop a scalable financial framework. With our experience, we can set up a financial system that grows with you.

The onboarding process typically takes 2-4 weeks, depending on your specific needs. Our Soft Landing Month ensures a smooth transition, with close supervision from our account managers to ensure the worker integrates effectively.

We take over your full AP function—from invoice intake to approvals, reconciliation, and payment prep.

Our team works with your ERP and workflows. You get:

• A dedicated AP team lead
• Full process mapping & onboarding
• Daily KPI reporting
• Built-in redundancy and four-eyes control
• Ongoing oversight by a Business Center Manager

​Pricing depends on the service model you choose and is always based on hours worked. Each finance professional tracks and reports their hours transparently.

Hire a bookkeeper
For this service, you hire a dedicated finance professional who works as part of your team.

• You pay a monthly rate based on the number of hours worked.
• The rate is determined by the professional’s experience level and agreed schedule.
• The professional logs their hours, and you receive a detailed monthly invoice.

Outsource Your Accounts Payable Department

In this model, you outsource your AP process to us, and we build a tailored team to execute it.

• Your team is a combination of senior, medior, and junior professionals—structured for both cost-efficiency and quality.
• You pay per hour per team member, based on their role and involvement.
• All hours are tracked, but you receive a single consolidated invoice for the entire team.

We’ll always work with you to understand your needs and provide a customized quote based on volume, complexity, and required team composition.

The 20-hour minimum applies to our "Hire a Bookkeeper" service to ensure consistency, effective onboarding, and smooth team integration. Your bookkeeper works as a true extension of your team.

This minimum doesn’t apply to our Accounts Payable outsourcing service, since it’s based on process volume rather than individual staffing.

Absolutely. Whether you need to start with a single professional or expand to a larger team, our services are designed to scale with your business. We can quickly recruit and onboard additional finance professionals as your requirements grow, ensuring seamless integration and continuity. ​

Yes, you can scale down with 1-month notice. Whether you need to reduce hours, shift from a bookkeeper to AP outsourcing, or pause the service, we’ll help you adapt while maintaining compliance and continuity.

Yes! You only need to provide a one-calendar-month notice. This allows you to try FairChain Workforce for a few months without any long-term risk. However, we’re confident you won’t want to cancel!

We always adapt to your preferred tools and work within the systems you already use. Access is managed with user right limitations, so you stay in full control of permissions and visibility. Our team is trained in leading accounting and ERP systems including Exact Online, ODOO & Peach Tree.

If you prefer that we don’t work directly in your system, we can instead provide all necessary input via structured Excel or XML files, ready for import into your environment. We’ll tailor the approach to fit your workflows and compliance preferences.

No, you don’t need to train your new team member or AP team yourself. At FairChain Workforce, all finance professionals receive comprehensive pre-placement training aligned with European market standards.

To make onboarding seamless, we offer a Soft Landing Month—our dedicated onboarding phase designed to set your team up for success:

• For bookkeeping hires, we focus on integrating the individual into your team, aligning tools and workflows, and setting clear expectations.
• For AP outsourcing, we manage full process onboarding—mapping your workflows, training the team, and ensuring a smooth handover.

During this month, your account manager is actively involved in meetings and collaborates closely with the finance professional to ensure fast, effective integration. Any challenges that arise are addressed promptly, so your team can hit the ground running.

​

The Soft Landing Month is our onboarding phase where we ensure your new team member or AP team is set up for success.

• For bookkeeping hires, we focus on integrating the individual into your team, aligning tools and workflows, and setting expectations.
• For AP outsourcing, we handle full process onboarding—mapping your workflows, training the team, and ensuring smooth handover.

Our workers track their tasks and working hours using structured reporting tools. Weekly KPI reports and regular check-ins ensure productivity and alignment with your company’s goals.

Yes! You can be involved in the selection process to ensure the best fit for your company. We shortlist candidates based on your needs and facilitate interviews if desired.

We take data security seriously. All FairChain Workers sign strict confidentiality agreements, complying with European data protection regulations (GDPR). Since each worker operates within the systems you provide, the same data policies you have implemented in your company will also apply to your FairChain Worker, ensuring seamless adherence to your security protocols.

Additionally, each worker is assigned their own password-protected laptop. They are required to lock their screens whenever they leave their workstation, a practice that is actively monitored and enforced by the Business Center Manager.

For more info read our Privacy Policy

All our finance professionals undergo rigorous training tailored to European financial regulations and standards. Our Business Center Managers, who have experience in European markets, oversee daily operations to ensure adherence to compliance requirements. Regular audits and performance evaluations are conducted to maintain high-quality service delivery.​

The Business Center Manager is a key figure in FairChain’s service delivery. They ensure high-quality performance, continuity, and alignment with your expectations—serving as both a coach and a safety net.

Here’s what they do:

• Team Oversight: Each Business Center Manager leads approximately 10 finance professionals or teams, providing daily support, feedback, and oversight.
• Quality Control: Thanks to the 4-eye principle, they regularly review work and maintain a close understanding of each client’s processes.
• Continuity Assurance: When a bookkeeper or AP team member is out sick or on holiday, the Business Center Manager can step in temporarily, ensuring business continuity.
• AP Leadership: In AP outsourcing, they supervise the entire AP team structure, including the Team Lead, ensuring the process runs smoothly and standards remain high.
• Client Alignment: They stay in close contact with European managers and are deeply involved during onboarding phases like the Soft Landing Month, making sure your needs are understood and met.

In short, the Business Center Manager plays a crucial behind-the-scenes role in making your remote finance team feel local, reliable, and seamless.

Reliability is at the core of our operations. We ensure that every worker is highly skilled, well-trained, and dedicated to their role. Our structured onboarding, continuous training, and performance monitoring guarantee consistent service quality. With a built-in redundancy plan—including substitute professionals and overcapacity—we ensure that your financial operations continue smoothly, even in cases of illness or absence.

We offer two core services, both designed for long-term dependability:

Hire a Bookkeeper

You hire a dedicated finance professional who becomes part of your team. While they work for you, we provide the infrastructure, daily operational support, and performance oversight.

Each FairChain worker reports on a KPI report, ensuring transparency and measurable performance. Our local Business Center Managers act as financial controllers, overseeing work quality, and our Dutch account managers provide proactive support to ensure accountability and resolve issues quickly.

Outsource Your Accounts Payable Department

You fully outsource your AP process to us, and we take responsibility for its execution from end to end.

We assign a dedicated team lead who acts as your main point of contact. This person ensures smooth communication, consistent process execution, and prompt responses to your needs.

To guarantee quality and internal control, we apply the four-eyes principle—meaning all critical financial work is reviewed and validated. The team lead’s work is supervised by our Business Center Manager, who ensures accuracy, compliance, and high performance. Regular KPI reporting and oversight by our Dutch support team ensure full transparency and continuous improvement.

Whether you’re hiring a bookkeeper or outsourcing your accounts payable, FairChain is built to be a reliable, professional, and performance-driven partner.

If you're not satisfied, we will work with you to find a better match. Our goal is to ensure you have a finance professional who meets your expectations and seamlessly integrates into your team. During the intake, we define success and establish how to report based on KPIs for this success. This ensures that unsuccessful employees will be quickly identified and appropriate actions can be taken to optimize performance.

Don’t worry—continuity is built into our model. While our approach is person-first, we ensure uninterrupted service through structured backup support and built-in overcapacity.

• For bookkeeping hires, if your dedicated team member is sick or on leave, the Business Center Manager steps in directly. They oversee around 10 team members or teams, and thanks to our 4-eye principle, they’re consistently involved in reviewing the work. This means they’re familiar with your processes and can easily take over when needed.
• For accounts payable outsourcing, the Business Center Manager supervises the AP team and leads the Team Lead. While they are not a day-to-day part of the AP team, they remain close to the work through oversight and quality control. This makes it easy for them to step in temporarily when a team member is absent, ensuring continuity without delays.

With FairChain, your financial operations stay on track—no matter what.

FairChain Workforce is committed to delivering financial services that meet European market standards. Our approach to compliance includes:​

• Pre-Placement Training: All finance professionals undergo rigorous training aligned with European financial regulations and best practices.​
• On-the-Ground Management: Our Business Centers in Ethiopia and Kenya are managed by experienced European professionals who oversee daily operations, ensuring adherence to compliance protocols.
• 4-Eye Principle: We implement a dual-review system where the Business Center Manager regularly reviews work, promoting accuracy and compliance.​
• Soft Landing Month: During onboarding, we focus on integrating new team members into your workflows, aligning tools, and setting clear expectations to ensure compliance from the start.​
• Regular Check-Ins: Our Account Managers conduct monthly reviews to monitor performance and address any compliance-related concerns promptly.​

By combining thorough training, experienced oversight, and structured processes, FairChain Workforce ensures that your financial operations are compliant and reliable.​

Pricing & Contract

In summer, the time difference is only 1 hour, and in winter, it is 2 hours. This allows you to incorporate the FairChain Worker smoothly into your operations. The minimal time difference provides sufficient overlap during the workday, enabling efficient collaboration and quick responses.

Each of our finance professionals holds at least a bachelor’s degree in finance, while senior professionals have a master’s degree. Additionally, our Business Center Managers assist each worker to ensure they excel in their roles. We also provide in-house training to equip each worker with the skills and expertise needed to meet European standards, ensuring they are fully prepared to integrate seamlessly into your team.

Kenya is a native English-speaking country, often with better English proficiency than many Dutch professionals. In Ethiopia, the level of English has been rising rapidly. At FairChain Workforce, we select only workers with a C1+ English level, ensuring smooth communication.

Yes, there are cultural differences between Kenya & Ethiopia and the Netherlands. Ethiopian & Kenyan professionals tend to be more reserved. We bridge these cultural differences with European managers stationed in the Business Centers in Ethiopia and regular check-ins with Account Managers in the Netherlands. This ensures effective communication and alignment.

Yes! We welcome client visits to our Business Centers in Addis Ababa and Nairobi. Meeting your team in person helps strengthen collaboration and build long-term relationships.

The FairChain Foundation has over 15 years of experience working in Ethiopia and Kenya. Our deep knowledge of the region and its workforce makes these countries ideal for our operations. Additionally, their close time zone to the Netherlands facilitates smooth collaboration. We also plan to expand to other African countries in the future.

By connecting highly skilled finance professionals in Africa with European companies remotely, we create mutually beneficial arrangements: European businesses gain access to a cost-effective, motivated workforce, while African professionals secure well-paying jobs in international markets.

By providing stable employment opportunities, we empower individuals and strengthen local economies. Our professionals can support their families, invest in education, and contribute positively to their communities. The multiplier effect of our model ensures that each euro sent to Africa boosts GDP significantly. Additionally, by working with European businesses, our professionals gain invaluable international experience, which enhances their career prospects and professional growth. This exposure helps build a globally competitive workforce in Africa, creating more opportunities for economic and social advancement.

We invest in education and fair wages, contributing to sustainable economic growth in African communities. Our model ensures that each worker is trained to European standards, promoting long-term stability and professional development.

Unlike traditional outsourcing, we ensure that our finance professionals receive fair compensation (150% more than the average salary for the corresponding job) and educational growth opportunities. By working with us, you support ethical employment practices, education and contribute to sustainable economic development in Africa.

We provide continuous training, mentorship, and networking opportunities to ensure our professionals grow in their careers. Our goal is that our finance professionals advance into leadership roles over time, creating a lasting impact on their communities.

Partnering with us supports responsible business practices by promoting ethical labor, diversity, and inclusion. Our model ensures fair wages and social responsibility, helping your business enhance its ESG credentials.