As the leader of Aldrich’s Outsourced Accounting Services group, Eric Seifert, CPA, MAcc, frequently engages with companies about their accounting challenges. Amid growing complexity and rising costs, many business owners are turning to outsourced accounting to boost efficiency and gain valuable insights that support their strategic decision-making.Â
Q: What is it about outsourced accounting that’s been so valuable to owners of companies?
Eric: Accounting is becoming increasingly complex, and fewer and fewer accountants are entering the industry. The result is business owners having real difficulty finding and retaining key accounting personnel who have the appropriate level of skills, experience, and expertise. Technology is also becoming an increasingly integral part of the accounting process, and adopting the appropriate technologies within the accounting function is a key success factor for generating the information you need to make timely decisions. When you outsource your accounting function, you can ensure your accounting department is made up of a team of qualified individuals that can both handle your day-to-day accounting needs and provide data-driven reporting, insights, and analysis. You can also trust your accounting team will bring the appropriate technology to the table and know how to navigate it in an optimized way that will help drive results.Â
Q: One challenge for business owners is to identify and implement technology that can help their business, especially when it comes to the financial and accounting side. What recommendations do you usually give businesses when they’re trying to determine the best way to leverage technology?
Eric: When it comes to optimizing things like accounting, moving to the cloud is a great first step. Not only will that provide easier access to the company’s information, but it will allow you to link and sync data, which is key when looking to become more efficient and to use your data to make decisions. From there, many small businesses focus on how to be more productive. That can include everything from automating tasks that are currently done in a time-consuming, manual way to digitizing things like bill pay. The benefit of outsourcing accounting is the technology search, selection, and implementation has already been done for you, so you can quickly access real-time information, while also freeing up your team to focus on more value-add projects.
Q: In 2021 you founded Aldrich’s Outsourced Accounting Services group. What specifically does that mean?
Eric: Put simply, we serve as our clients’ accounting department so they can focus on running their business. We provide top-quality accounting information, insights, and analysis, delivered timely, without the risks and drawbacks of internal staffing. Our services are offered in tiers with various add-on capabilities, allowing us to match our services to our clients’ needs. Every client engagement team includes the right combination of accounting clerk, senior accountant, controller, and CFO, ensuring each client’s accounting department is staffed the way it should be. Pricing is predictable, using a customized subscription-based approach with services performed under a predetermined fee.Â
Q: You were just named one of the 40 Under 40 award winners by the Portland Business Journal. What does that award mean to you?
Eric: I am honored and humbled to receive this recognition from the Portland Business Journal, and to be among such an esteemed group of honorees. Since I joined Aldrich in 2013, my career has been shaped by the chance to grow and the encouragement to understand our clients and think about ways we can help them be successful. I see this recognition as a tribute to all the support and mentorship I’ve received, along with the opportunity to work closely with so many great Portland-area companies.
Q: The award reflects both success at work and contributions to the community. What drives your commitment to your community?
Eric: At Aldrich, we’re focused on our people, our clients, and our community, so supporting and mentoring others both personally and professionally is really a large part of my efforts. I’m especially invested in the advancement of small business in my community, and I’m currently the Treasurer of the Board of the Lake Oswego Chamber of Commerce. I also participate in the University of Oregon’s Partnering Firms Discussions to help ensure accounting education matches the needs of the evolving CPA profession.Â
To learn more about Aldrich’s Outsourced Accounting Services, click here.
Partner + Director, Outsourced Accounting (CAS)
Eric Seifert, CPA, MAcc
Aldrich CPAs + Advisors LLP
Eric Seifert joined Aldrich in 2013, shortly after completing graduate school. In 2021, Eric founded Aldrich’s Outsourced Accounting Services (CAS) group, which provides clients with internal accounting service and business strategy assistance. His expertise is in navigating complex tax and accounting issues across multiple industries, including real estate and private equity, professional services, and entertainment…. Read more Eric Seifert, CPA, MAcc
Eric's Specialization
- Process Assessment + Development
- Outsourced Accounting Services
- Business Strategy Development
- Entity Structuring
- Financial Statement Analysis
- Partnership + Multi-State Taxation
About Aldrich
The Aldrich Group of Companies provides financial, wealth, tax, and business transition strategies and services to clients. With offices across the West Coast of the U.S., Aldrich has worked closely with businesses, business owners, and individuals for more than 50 years to understand and help deliver on their growth goals. Aldrich includes one of the U.S’s Top 100 Accounting Firms, which provides tax, advisory, and consulting services to businesses and individuals, with deep expertise across an array of industries. Aldrich includes the following professional services firms:  Aldrich CPAs + Advisors LLP , Aldrich Wealth LP, and Aldrich Capital LP.
