Hire in the Philippines / bookkeeper
Hire a bookkeeper in the Philippines
A bookkeeper keeps the books current: categorizing transactions, reconciling accounts, and chasing receivables before month-end. With Rekruuto, a full-time bookkeeper in the Philippines is $1,800 a month and works your hours. A U.S. hire at the BLS median costs about $6,292 a month with employer costs. Start in 14 days, with a 1-week trial.
What does a bookkeeper in the Philippines cost compared with a U.S. hire?
The U.S. figure is the national median wage for bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks (SOC 43-3031), multiplied by what private employers spend on benefits and payroll taxes for every $1 of pay in office and administrative support occupations. Our figure is the flat monthly price you pay us.
| U.S. hire at the median | Rekruuto, full-time | |
|---|---|---|
| Base salary per year | $50,670 | Included in the monthly price |
| Employer cost multiplier | × 1.49 | None on your side |
| Per month | $6,292 | $1,800 |
| Per year | $75,498 | $21,600 |
| Difference per year | $53,898 ($4,492 a month) | |
The comparison covers compensation only. It leaves out recruiting fees, equipment, software, and the management time any new hire needs. U.S. pay also varies a lot by city and seniority.
What is the local market in the Philippines?
PSA's survey does not publish a bookkeeper rate. The national average for full-time workers is shown for scale only. The Philippine Statistics Authority's 2024 Occupational Wages Survey puts the average monthly wage rate for all full-time, time-rated workers (national) at ₱21,544 (about $376). The Metro Manila minimum wage is ₱755 a day from September 26, 2026, about $286 a month. These are survey averages and a legal floor, not what a skilled full-time bookkeeper on U.S. hours is paid. We do not publish what each hire earns. You pay one monthly price, and we handle paying your team member.
- U.S. hire, fully loaded$75,498$6,292 a month
- Full-time Rekruuto hire$21,600$1,800 a month
- Difference per year$53,898$4,492 a month
How many working hours overlap with a bookkeeper in Manila?
All of them, because our hires work in your time zone. The Philippines is on UTC+8 and does not change its clocks, so a U.S. 9-to-5 lands in the Manila evening or night. The table shows where your day falls for them.
| Your time zone | Manila time, U.S. daylight saving (March–November) | Manila time, U.S. standard time |
|---|---|---|
| Eastern (ET) | 9 p.m. – 5 a.m. | 10 p.m. – 6 a.m. |
| Central (CT) | 10 p.m. – 6 a.m. | 11 p.m. – 7 a.m. |
| Mountain (MT) | 11 p.m. – 7 a.m. | 12 a.m. – 8 a.m. |
| Pacific (PT) | 12 a.m. – 8 a.m. | 1 a.m. – 9 a.m. |
For a bookkeeper, keep these for the hours you are both online:
- A weekly review of open questions with you or your accountant
- Approving bills and payment runs on the day they are due
These can run from a written queue, so they do not need you on a call:
- Daily transaction categorization
- Bank and credit card reconciliations
- Invoice preparation and accounts receivable follow-up
- Month-end close checklist ready for your CPA
What skills should you screen a bookkeeper for?
Each skill comes with a short test you can run in the interview or a paid trial task.
| Skill | How to test it |
|---|---|
| QuickBooks Online or Xero | Ask them to walk through a bank reconciliation on screen in the software you use. |
| U.S. bookkeeping conventions | Ask how they would record a customer prepayment and a refund. Listen for accrual vs cash basis without prompting. |
| Accuracy under volume | Give 50 sample transactions to categorize. Check the error rate, not the speed. |
| Accounts receivable follow-up | Ask for a polite second-reminder email to a client 30 days late. |
| Knowing where the job stops | Ask what they would escalate to your CPA. Tax advice and filing decisions should be on that list. |
Is there a case study for this role?
Not yet for a bookkeeper. Our published case studies are admin, operations, and healthcare support seats. Ask on the call and we will walk you through how this role is scoped and screened.
How does hiring a bookkeeper through Rekruuto work?
- Tell us your needs. Share your requirements, and we'll match you with pre-vetted professionals who fit your unique needs.
- Meet your matches. We'll introduce you to carefully selected candidates. Interview and choose the perfect fit for your team.
- Start your trial. Work with your new team member for a week. Love them, or we'll find a replacement or refund your money.
- Onboard and embed. Seamlessly integrate your new hire into your team and watch your business grow.
Hiring and onboarding take 14 days. The first week is a trial: if you are not satisfied, we find a replacement or refund your money.
Frequently asked questions
Can a bookkeeper in the Philippines work on U.S. books?
Yes. The work happens in your accounting software, so the location of the bookkeeper does not change the ledger. Test on U.S. conventions during the interview.
Should an offshore bookkeeper replace my CPA?
No. A bookkeeper keeps the records current. Your CPA still owns tax filings and advice. A clean, reconciled ledger usually makes the CPA's job shorter.
How do I keep financial access secure with an offshore bookkeeper?
Give user-level access inside QuickBooks or Xero, not your bank password. Keep payment approval with you. Our professionals sign NDAs.
Is a full-time bookkeeper better than a bookkeeping service?
A service is often cheaper when you have low volume. A full-time bookkeeper makes sense when transactions, invoices, and follow-ups fill a working week.
How much does a U.S. bookkeeper cost compared with Rekruuto?
The BLS median for bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks is $50,670 a year (May 2025). With employer costs (× 1.49, BLS June 2026) that is about $75,498 a year, or $6,292 a month. A full-time Rekruuto hire is $1,800 a month.
What time is it in the Philippines when a U.S. workday starts?
The Philippines is on UTC+8 all year. 9 a.m. Eastern is 9 p.m. in Manila during U.S. daylight saving time and 10 p.m. in winter. Your bookkeeper works your hours, so the full workday overlaps.
Related pages
- Bookkeeper role page
- Every role we place in the Philippines
- Bookkeeping and finance guides
- Hire a virtual assistant in the Philippines
- Hire an executive assistant in the Philippines
- Hire a customer service virtual assistant in the Philippines
- Offshore Hiring Costs 2026 report
- Philippines vs Latin America for offshoring
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), national estimates, May 2025.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, June 2026 (USDL-26-1494), Table 5, June 2026, released September 9, 2026.
- Philippine Statistics Authority, 2024 Occupational Wages Survey, August 2024, released November 2025.
- National Wages and Productivity Commission (Philippines), NCR daily minimum wage rates, Wage Order No. NCR-28, Effective September 26, 2026.
- World Bank, Official exchange rate, local currency per US$, period average (PA.NUS.FCRF), 2024 and 2025 annual averages. Peso figures converted at the 2024 and 2025 averages.