We’re excited to bring you a conversation with one of our valued clients, Deborah Taylor (DT) and Andrew Taylor (AT) of DTA Accounting.

In an in-depth interview, Deborah and her husband, Andrew, share their journey of growth and adaptation, including their decision to partner with Frontline Accounting for offshore support. From initial reservations to discovering the transformative impact of offshoring on their business, Deborah and Andrew walk us through the challenges they faced and the successes they’ve achieved.

DTA, which stands for Deborah Taylor Accounting, has been in business in Falkirk for 12 years this June. The company was founded by Deborah, and her husband, Andrew, has since joined her in managing the company.

Deborah and Andrew never planned to take DTA global. They just wanted to solve a problem. It all started over ten years ago, with Deborah working from their dining room table. Business grew, as it does, but the team didn’t. They needed staff. The right people. And finding them wasn’t easy.

DT: “We were stuck. We tried advertising, but no one fit. COVID made it worse — people wanted to stay at home, and hiring became impossible.”

AT: “We couldn’t keep going like this. We needed to try something else.”

So, they turned to offshoring and found Frontline Accounting.

Finding the Right Fit

Hiring people you’ve never met, halfway across the world, might sound like a leap. For Andrew, it felt more like a cliff.

AT: “I was dead against it. I wasn’t keen on outsourcing or offshoring. The whole thing seemed risky—people in another country handling our clients’ work? It didn’t sit well with me.”

But the situation was dire. They’d tried everything locally, and nothing worked. So, Andrew and Deborah decided to give it a go.

They turned to Frontline Accounting, a firm specialising in premium offshore services from the Philippines.

AT: “It was either try offshoring in the Philippines or keep struggling. So we jumped in, and we’ve never looked back.”

Starting Off

Offshoring isn’t without its hurdles. The Taylors hired Kate as their first offshore accountant, and the initial months were not without their challenges.

Kate’s written English was excellent, but the Scottish accent can take a little getting used to for Filipinos. At the time, there were also no written procedures to guide the new team.

DT: “It was hard. We had to build everything from the ground up.”

AT: “It’s not like hiring someone down the street. You’re dealing with distance, language, and a different way of working.”

But Kate was patient, as were the whole DTA team and their clients. Kate established processes and wrote down procedures, and with every call and email, things improved. Slowly but surely, the barriers fell away.

AT: “You learn as you go. The important thing is, you stick with it. And now, we’ve got systems that make the whole firm run smoother.”

Remote Team, Real Growth

Managing a team remotely came with its own learning curve. Andrew had always believed in face-to-face interaction. He liked having people in the office. But with offshore talent, he had to learn to manage differently. Zoom calls became a daily habit. They used Slack, WhatsApp, anything to stay connected.

And it worked. Kate integrated into the team, managing her own clients and getting work done. They trusted her, just like they trusted their UK-based staff.

Then, they hired Alex, an admin assistant, who immediately lightened Deborah’s load.

DT: “She’s brilliant. She’s taken over my emails and managed the little tasks that kept me bogged down. Now, I can focus on growing the business instead of getting stuck in the day-to-day grind.”

The Results Speak for Themselves

Fast-forward two and a half years, and DTA’s team now runs like a well-oiled machine. Systems are in place. Kate manages her clients with minimal input, Alex takes care of the admin, and Deborah and Andrew finally have room to focus on the big picture.

They’ve even planned a trip to visit their team in the Philippines—a move that both strengthens relationships and shows their commitment to the offshore staff.

DT: “We’ve been working with them for years now, it’ll be great to meet them in person."

For the Taylors, offshoring wasn’t just a solution to a staffing problem. It was a catalyst for growth.

AT: “We couldn’t have scaled like this without Frontline. We’d still be spinning our wheels, trying to hire locally. Now, we have a reliable team."

Why Offshoring?

It’s not always easy. The learning curve is steep. There are hurdles, especially in the beginning. But the rewards are real.

AT: “Give it a go. It’s worth it in the end."

DT: “Don’t be afraid of the challenges. It’s not perfect from day one, but if you stick with it, the results will surprise you. It’s freed us up to focus on what matters."

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Frontline Accounting has helped firms like DTA solve capacity issues with premium offshore talent from the Philippines for over a decade.

It’s not always easy. The learning curve is steep. There are hurdles, especially in the beginning. But the rewards are real.

The process isn’t just about filling vacancies—it’s about building a team that can handle the workload and help your firm grow.

In the end, DTA took the plunge. And it paid off. Their firm grew, their team thrived, and they found the right balance between working on the business and in it. Frontline made it happen for them. We can make it happen for you.