Determining the right number of accountants for your company is essential to ensure financial accuracy, maintain compliance, and support growth. Whether you operate in a fast-paced industry like aerospace or a startups, finding the right staffing balance is crucial. Overstaffing leads to unnecessary costs, while understaffing could expose your business to compliance risks and financial inaccuracies.
By the end of this guide, you’ll know how to build an accounting team that meets your business needs and drives growth.
Having the right accountant starts before you post the job. Clarity upfront saves time and avoids a costly mis-hire.
If the role is needed fewer than 20 hours a week or requires executive-level expertise, Averro’s leadership and controller services may be faster and more cost-effective than a full-time hire- giving you senior-level financial leadership without the full-time cost.
The size of your accounting team directly affects financial accuracy, compliance, and your company’s ability to make good decisions. The risks of getting your team size wrong cut both ways:
Understaffing leads to missed deadlines and reporting errors, compliance penalties and fines, overworked staff prone to burnout, and poor financial insights that hurt decision-making.
Overstaffing creates its own problems: increased overhead costs, reduced productivity from overlapping responsibilities, and inefficient use of resources.
There’s no universal formula. The right team size depends on a few core variables in your business. A common benchmark is 1 accountant per 20–50 employees, but the factors below explain why that number looks different for every company:
Larger companies with higher revenue streams generally need more accountants, but needs vary dramatically within size brands:
Industries like aerospace have unique accounting demands driven by their specialized projects and strict regulations. Their financial operations require a higher level of precision and oversight compared to other sectors. For instance:
To meet these demands, companies in aerospace and similarly complex industries often require accountants with highly specialized expertise. Rather than generalist roles, these businesses benefit from professionals with titles tailored to their operational and regulatory landscape, such as:
These roles are critical in ensuring accuracy, audit readiness, and financial transparency across every stage of a project lifecycle. The specialized nature of aerospace work demands deep familiarity with both industry standards and evolving government regulations.
Companies with multiple locations, international transactions, or intricate financial structures require larger accounting teams to manage:
Investing in accounting software and automation can reduce the need for a large accounting team. Cloud-based tools streamline:
However, technology complements rather than replaces skilled accountants.
Building the right-sized accounting team depends on several variables, such as company scale, operational complexity, and financial needs. Below is a general guide to help you understand what typical team sizes look like based on the size of your organization:
Startups: 1-2 Accountants
Small businesses typically need:
Mid-sized companies: 3-5 accountants.
As operations grow, mid-sized businesses benefit from additional roles:
Large enterprises: 10+ accountants.
Large organizations often require specialized roles:
These two roles are often confused- and often both needed. Understanding the distinction helps you staff at the right level for your stage of growth.
Controller:
CFO:
Averros take: For mid-sized companies still scaling, a CFO paired with an in-house Controller is often the most cost-effective structure. Large enterprises typically need both roles full-time.
Having the right accounting team in place isn’t just about filling positions—it’s about creating a strong, adaptable structure that supports your company’s evolving financial needs. Here are some actionable strategies to help you build and maintain an efficient accounting team:
Recruiting professionals with specific expertise is vital:
During peak periods like tax season or audits, hiring temporary accountants can:
Hire adaptable professionals who can grow with your business. A scalable accounting team allows you to:
Upskilling your team not only ensures they stay current with evolving industry standards but also empowers them to handle increasingly complex financial tasks. By investing in continuous learning, you strengthen your team's ability to navigate regulatory shifts and adopt modern financial practices with confidence.
Below are some critical areas where continuous development can make a significant impact:
Averro specializes in staffing finance roles, offering customized solutions to businesses aiming to strengthen their accounting departments. Our deep industry expertise, particularly in sectors like aerospace, allows us to identify and place top-tier accounting professionals who possess both technical skills and a strong understanding of regulatory compliance. We focus on helping companies build resilient, scalable, and growth-oriented teams tailored to their unique financial and operational needs.
At Averro, we go beyond traditional staffing—we offer strategic business solutions designed to strengthen your accounting function at every stage of growth. Whether you're a startup looking for fractional support or an enterprise needing specialized consulting, our approach is tailored to your evolving financial landscape.
We provide:
How it works:
This model gives you the expertise of seasoned finance leaders— CFOs, Controllers, compliance specialists— on-demand and at the right cost. It avoids the fixed costs of full-time staffing while ensuring you have the support needed for milestones like fundraising, audit prep, or compliance.
Looking to elevate your financial operations? Explore our Business Solutions, or connect with our Consulting and Recruiting Teams below to learn how Averro can support your goals.
No matter what your business size, there are a few key mistakes companies often make when building or managing their accounting teams. Steering clear of these can save you time, money, and unnecessary challenges.
Avoid these common pitfalls:
Finding the right number of accountants is critical to ensuring financial stability and business growth. By assessing company size, industry needs, and business complexity, you can build a team that supports long-term success. Averro can help you assess your needs.
Contact Averro today to get started. Explore our Business Solutions, or connect with our Consulting and Recruiting Teams to learn how Averro can support your goals.
Q: How do I know if my accounting team is understaffed?
A: Common warning signs include frequent reporting errors, missed filing deadlines, and staff working overtime just to keep basic operations current. A standard benchmark is 1 accountant for every 20–50 employees — a ratio significantly higher than that suggests understaffing. IRS failure-to-file penalties start at 5% of unpaid taxes per month, up to 25% — costs that can quickly exceed the expense of adding headcount.
Q: What’s the average salary for an accountant in the aerospace industry?
A: The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $81,680 for accountants and auditors as of May 2024. Aerospace and defense roles typically command a premium above that — positions like DCAA-compliant Project Accountants and Government Compliance Accountants require specialized regulatory knowledge that generalist roles don't, which drives compensation higher. Companies hiring for these roles should budget competitively and prioritize candidates with demonstrated government contracting experience.
Q: Can businesses rely on outsourced accounting services?
A: Yes, for many businesses, outsourcing is the smarter financial decision. Providers like Averro's Finance & Accounting Solutions give you access to senior-level expertise — CPAs, Controllers, CFOs — across bookkeeping, tax compliance, and CFO services. The fully-loaded cost of a full-time accounting hire typically runs $80,000–$150,000+ annually; outsourcing delivers equivalent expertise at a fraction of that cost without locking in fixed overhead.
Q: When should I hire an in-house vs. outsourced accountant?
A: Most companies outsource accounting until they reach 30+ employees or $500K+ in revenue. At that point, volume and complexity often justify a full-time hire. If you need real-time financial oversight, multi-department support, or have compliance-heavy operations, an in-house team gives you more control.
Q: What is DCAA compliance and why does it matter?
A: Defense Contract Audit Agency compliance governs the financial recordkeeping and reporting standards required for U.S. government contracts — and failing an audit can result in disallowed costs, contract termination, or loss of future federal work eligibility. Compliance requires staff fluent in timekeeping systems, direct and indirect cost segregation, and the annual Incurred Cost Submission required under FAR 52.215-2. These aren't tasks a generalist bookkeeper can absorb — government contractors need accountants with specific DCAA and FAR experience, such as a Project Accountant (DCAA/FAR-focused) or Government Compliance Accountant.
Q: Can temporary accountants help during busy periods?
A: Yes, contract and temporary accountants are an effective solution for managing workload spikes without adding permanent headcount. For industries with specialized requirements like government contracting, staffing partners like Averro's Finance & Accounting Staffing can source contract accountants with DCAA and FAR credentials. The busiest windows include tax season (January–April), year-end close, audit preparation, and ERP migrations — and for government contractors, temporary staff must meet compliance standards; a generalist temp will not satisfy DCAA requirements.
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