Frequently Asked Questions
What does FairChain Workforce do?
We help European accounting firms add capacity by placing qualified IFRS-trained CPA accountants from Kenya as long-term members of your team. They work inside your organization, under your direction, as a natural extension of your firm.
Every FairChain accountant comes with built-in support:
- a Business Unit Manager in Kenya for daily workplace supervision, coaching and quality support
- a dedicated Account Manager in the Netherlands for onboarding, regular check-ins and a local point of contact
You keep full ownership of client work, review and final sign-off. We take care of employment, supervision and continuity, so you are never managing an offshore team on your own.
See how the model works →How is this different from outsourcing or a recruitment agency?
Think of it as hiring a team member, with managed support behind them.
With outsourcing you hand over a task and wait for a deliverable. With a recruitment agency the relationship ends the moment a candidate is placed. FairChain sits in between, and goes further than both: you get a dedicated professional who becomes part of your daily workflow, and our involvement continues for as long as they are with you.
That ongoing support is the difference:
- daily workplace supervision in Kenya
- a local account manager in the Netherlands
- coaching, quality monitoring and continuity planning throughout the engagement
The result is the reliability of an employee with the flexibility of a managed model.
See how the model works →What roles and tasks can a FairChain accountant take on?
Our accountants are CPA-qualified and support the full range of bookkeeping, reporting and year-end work. Depending on their seniority, they can handle:
- IFRS financial statements
- general ledger accounting and reconciliations
- month-end and year-end close
- management reporting and consolidation support
- audit preparation and working papers
They work across many industries through your client portfolio, from professional services and manufacturing to retail, NGOs and international groups. Your firm sets priorities and handles final review and sign-off; we make sure the work behind it is solid.
See how the model works →What is the education and experience level of your accountants?
We work exclusively with accountants who have a strong formal foundation. Most:
- hold a bachelor's degree in accounting or finance from an accredited institution
- are CPA qualified, or in the final stages of certification
- were educated in an IFRS-based framework, since IFRS is the national reporting standard in Kenya
On top of their qualifications, every accountant receives ongoing training through FairChain to align with European accounting practices, quality standards and your firm's specific tools and workflows. That combination is what lets them contribute as long-term team members from early on.
See how the model works →Why Kenya?
Kenya offers a rare combination of factors that make it well suited to long-term collaboration with European firms:
- IFRS is the national reporting framework, so it is built into university education, CPA certification and professional training
- a deep and growing talent pool, with more than 40,000 qualified CPA accountants
- high English proficiency, as English is the language of education, business and professional examinations
- strong cultural alignment with European business practices and professional ethics
- a time zone (EAT, UTC+3) with substantial overlap with European working hours
Together these make it possible to build stable, capable teams that integrate naturally into European organizations.
See how the model works →How does supervision and quality work day to day?
Quality is supported on two levels, so nothing rests on one person alone.
In Kenya, your Business Unit Manager oversees a group of CPA accountants and handles performance monitoring, attendance, coaching, training and a first technical review of the work.
In the Netherlands, your Account Manager supports onboarding, joins regular check-ins (weekly at first, then monthly and quarterly) and steps in for any escalation.
Your firm directs the work, reviews it and provides final sign-off. The two support layers exist to make that easier and to give you a dependable local contact, something most offshore models simply do not offer.
See how the model works →Can I meet and select the accountant myself?
Yes, and the process is built to save you time. Rather than sending a stack of CVs to sift through, we work from a pre-vetted pool of IFRS-trained accountants who are already tested, trained and ready to join.
It works like this:
- we start by aligning on the role, your expectations and your working context
- we select one carefully matched candidate from our talent pool
- you meet them to confirm both technical and cultural fit
- if the match is not quite right, we propose an alternative
Because every candidate has already been assessed and trained, you get the confidence of a careful choice with the speed of someone who is ready to start.
See how the model works →How long does onboarding take?
Most engagements are up and running within 4 to 6 weeks. That covers defining the role, selecting and meeting the candidate, setting up access in your systems and aligning on the first weeks of work.
Both your Business Unit Manager in Kenya and your Dutch Account Manager are involved throughout onboarding, so the start is structured and the handover into your workflow is smooth.
See how the model works →What software and tools do they use?
Any package works, because your accountant works directly in your firm's own systems and IT environment. There is nothing for you to change about your existing setup.
Our accountants are experienced across a wide range of accounting and reporting platforms and adapt quickly to yours. Systems we regularly work with include Odoo, Exact Online, Yuki, CaseWare, Adv+ and SnelStart, alongside Excel, reporting tools and cloud-based platforms.
During onboarding we set up access within your environment, align permissions and workflows, and your two support contacts make sure the integration is seamless.
See how the model works →What language do your accountants work in?
All FairChain accountants work professionally in English. English is an official language in Kenya and the language of education, professional training and accounting examinations, so communication is fluent from day one.
See how the model works →How is pricing structured?
We work with transparent, all-inclusive hourly rates based on the accountant's experience level and the number of hours per week:
The rate covers far more than the individual: salary and employment costs, ongoing training, workplace supervision by your Business Unit Manager in Kenya, support from your Dutch Account Manager, and all infrastructure and operational support. One rate, everything included.
Explore our pricing model →Can I scale my team, and is there a minimum commitment?
Yes, you can scale, and the model is designed around long-term team building rather than short-term staffing. Our accountants are meant to function as an extension of your firm, comparable to hiring an additional employee with managed support behind them.
- scaling up is straightforward, including during peak seasons, by adding accountants in a structured way
- adjusting capacity downward is possible with notice
- continuity, knowledge retention and team integration are always the starting point
Because of this, we work with a minimum weekly commitment. Your Dutch Account Manager helps plan capacity and timing so expectations are aligned from the start, and your Business Unit Manager in Kenya ensures smooth transitions. This stability is a key advantage over traditional outsourcing.
Explore our pricing model →What happens during sickness, leave or training?
Continuity is actively managed, with clear agreements so capacity stays predictable.
Each accountant has a defined number of annual leave days, planned in advance and coordinated with you. Dedicated training days are scheduled and communicated ahead of time to keep professional quality high.
If someone falls ill, your Business Unit Manager in Kenya monitors short-term absence. If illness continues beyond five consecutive working days, we arrange a replacement or continuity solution in consultation with you. Throughout, your Dutch Account Manager keeps you informed and supports planning and coordination.
See how the model works →If performance is not what I expected, what then?
You are supported the whole way. If something is not working, your Business Unit Manager addresses it locally with coaching and a clear improvement plan, and your Dutch Account Manager supports any escalation. If needed, we arrange a replacement. The shared goal is always a strong, lasting fit with your team.
See how the model works →How are data security, confidentiality and compliance handled?
Security and confidentiality are built into the model contractually, technically and operationally.
Every accountant signs an employment contract with GDPR obligations and strict confidentiality clauses, and matching data protection agreements sit in our client contracts. They work from secure office environments and exclusively within your systems, using role-based access and client-approved permissions.
On compliance with European standards, IFRS is embedded throughout Kenyan accounting education and CPA training, so your accountants arrive already fluent in the framework. We add training and technical review on top, while your firm keeps responsibility for authorization, access rights and final oversight.
See our approach to quality →How is responsibility divided between FairChain and my firm?
A simple way to picture the partnership: we provide the people and the support around them, your firm provides the professional judgment.
FairChain employs the accountants and supplies managed team members rather than accounting services, which means your firm always holds professional judgment, client acceptance, review and final sign-off. This clear division is what keeps the model compliant and easy to work with, and it lets you add capacity with full confidence.
See how the model works →Still have a question?
We are happy to walk you through how this would work for your firm.
What does FairChain Workforce do?
We help European accounting firms add capacity by placing qualified IFRS-trained CPA accountants from Kenya as long-term members of your team. They work inside your organization, under your direction, as a natural extension of your firm.
Every FairChain accountant comes with built-in support:
- a Business Unit Manager in Kenya for daily workplace supervision, coaching and quality support
- a dedicated Account Manager in the Netherlands for onboarding, regular check-ins and a local point of contact
You keep full ownership of client work, review and final sign-off. We take care of employment, supervision and continuity, so you are never managing an offshore team on your own.
See how the model works →How is this different from outsourcing or a recruitment agency?
Think of it as hiring a team member, with managed support behind them.
With outsourcing you hand over a task and wait for a deliverable. With a recruitment agency the relationship ends the moment a candidate is placed. FairChain sits in between, and goes further than both: you get a dedicated professional who becomes part of your daily workflow, and our involvement continues for as long as they are with you.
That ongoing support is the difference:
- daily workplace supervision in Kenya
- a local account manager in the Netherlands
- coaching, quality monitoring and continuity planning throughout the engagement
The result is the reliability of an employee with the flexibility of a managed model.
See how the model works →What roles and tasks can a FairChain accountant take on?
Our accountants are CPA-qualified and support the full range of bookkeeping, reporting and year-end work. Depending on their seniority, they can handle:
- IFRS financial statements
- general ledger accounting and reconciliations
- month-end and year-end close
- management reporting and consolidation support
- audit preparation and working papers
They work across many industries through your client portfolio, from professional services and manufacturing to retail, NGOs and international groups. Your firm sets priorities and handles final review and sign-off; we make sure the work behind it is solid.
See how the model works →What is the education and experience level of your accountants?
We work exclusively with accountants who have a strong formal foundation. Most:
- hold a bachelor's degree in accounting or finance from an accredited institution
- are CPA qualified, or in the final stages of certification
- were educated in an IFRS-based framework, since IFRS is the national reporting standard in Kenya
On top of their qualifications, every accountant receives ongoing training through FairChain to align with European accounting practices, quality standards and your firm's specific tools and workflows. That combination is what lets them contribute as long-term team members from early on.
See how the model works →Why Kenya?
Kenya offers a rare combination of factors that make it well suited to long-term collaboration with European firms:
- IFRS is the national reporting framework, so it is built into university education, CPA certification and professional training
- a deep and growing talent pool, with more than 40,000 qualified CPA accountants
- high English proficiency, as English is the language of education, business and professional examinations
- strong cultural alignment with European business practices and professional ethics
- a time zone (EAT, UTC+3) with substantial overlap with European working hours
Together these make it possible to build stable, capable teams that integrate naturally into European organizations.
See how the model works →How does supervision and quality work day to day?
Quality is supported on two levels, so nothing rests on one person alone.
In Kenya, your Business Unit Manager oversees a group of CPA accountants and handles performance monitoring, attendance, coaching, training and a first technical review of the work.
In the Netherlands, your Account Manager supports onboarding, joins regular check-ins (weekly at first, then monthly and quarterly) and steps in for any escalation.
Your firm directs the work, reviews it and provides final sign-off. The two support layers exist to make that easier and to give you a dependable local contact, something most offshore models simply do not offer.
See how the model works →Can I meet and select the accountant myself?
Yes, and the process is built to save you time. Rather than sending a stack of CVs to sift through, we work from a pre-vetted pool of IFRS-trained accountants who are already tested, trained and ready to join.
It works like this:
- we start by aligning on the role, your expectations and your working context
- we select one carefully matched candidate from our talent pool
- you meet them to confirm both technical and cultural fit
- if the match is not quite right, we propose an alternative
Because every candidate has already been assessed and trained, you get the confidence of a careful choice with the speed of someone who is ready to start.
See how the model works →How long does onboarding take?
Most engagements are up and running within 4 to 6 weeks. That covers defining the role, selecting and meeting the candidate, setting up access in your systems and aligning on the first weeks of work.
Both your Business Unit Manager in Kenya and your Dutch Account Manager are involved throughout onboarding, so the start is structured and the handover into your workflow is smooth.
See how the model works →What software and tools do they use?
Any package works, because your accountant works directly in your firm's own systems and IT environment. There is nothing for you to change about your existing setup.
Our accountants are experienced across a wide range of accounting and reporting platforms and adapt quickly to yours. Systems we regularly work with include Odoo, Exact Online, Yuki, CaseWare, Adv+ and SnelStart, alongside Excel, reporting tools and cloud-based platforms.
During onboarding we set up access within your environment, align permissions and workflows, and your two support contacts make sure the integration is seamless.
See how the model works →What language do your accountants work in?
All FairChain accountants work professionally in English. English is an official language in Kenya and the language of education, professional training and accounting examinations, so communication is fluent from day one.
See how the model works →How is pricing structured?
We work with transparent, all-inclusive hourly rates based on the accountant's experience level and the number of hours per week:
The rate covers far more than the individual: salary and employment costs, ongoing training, workplace supervision by your Business Unit Manager in Kenya, support from your Dutch Account Manager, and all infrastructure and operational support. One rate, everything included.
Explore our pricing model →Can I scale my team, and is there a minimum commitment?
Yes, you can scale, and the model is designed around long-term team building rather than short-term staffing. Our accountants are meant to function as an extension of your firm, comparable to hiring an additional employee with managed support behind them.
- scaling up is straightforward, including during peak seasons, by adding accountants in a structured way
- adjusting capacity downward is possible with notice
- continuity, knowledge retention and team integration are always the starting point
Because of this, we work with a minimum weekly commitment. Your Dutch Account Manager helps plan capacity and timing so expectations are aligned from the start, and your Business Unit Manager in Kenya ensures smooth transitions. This stability is a key advantage over traditional outsourcing.
Explore our pricing model →What happens during sickness, leave or training?
Continuity is actively managed, with clear agreements so capacity stays predictable.
Each accountant has a defined number of annual leave days, planned in advance and coordinated with you. Dedicated training days are scheduled and communicated ahead of time to keep professional quality high.
If someone falls ill, your Business Unit Manager in Kenya monitors short-term absence. If illness continues beyond five consecutive working days, we arrange a replacement or continuity solution in consultation with you. Throughout, your Dutch Account Manager keeps you informed and supports planning and coordination.
See how the model works →If performance is not what I expected, what then?
You are supported the whole way. If something is not working, your Business Unit Manager addresses it locally with coaching and a clear improvement plan, and your Dutch Account Manager supports any escalation. If needed, we arrange a replacement. The shared goal is always a strong, lasting fit with your team.
See how the model works →How are data security, confidentiality and compliance handled?
Security and confidentiality are built into the model contractually, technically and operationally.
Every accountant signs an employment contract with GDPR obligations and strict confidentiality clauses, and matching data protection agreements sit in our client contracts. They work from secure office environments and exclusively within your systems, using role-based access and client-approved permissions.
On compliance with European standards, IFRS is embedded throughout Kenyan accounting education and CPA training, so your accountants arrive already fluent in the framework. We add training and technical review on top, while your firm keeps responsibility for authorization, access rights and final oversight.
See our approach to quality →How is responsibility divided between FairChain and my firm?
A simple way to picture the partnership: we provide the people and the support around them, your firm provides the professional judgment.
FairChain employs the accountants and supplies managed team members rather than accounting services, which means your firm always holds professional judgment, client acceptance, review and final sign-off. This clear division is what keeps the model compliant and easy to work with, and it lets you add capacity with full confidence.
See how the model works →Still have a question?
We are happy to walk you through how this would work for your firm.