Managed Bookkeeping
Clean, current, ZATCA-ready books — run by professionals, under your full oversight.
Managed bookkeeping (sometimes called outsourced bookkeeping) is the day-to-day recording of every transaction your business makes — sales, purchases, payroll, expenses, bank movements — done accurately, on time, and ready for tax filing, audit, and management reporting.
Managed bookkeeping (sometimes called outsourced bookkeeping) is the day-to-day recording of every transaction your business makes — sales, purchases, payroll, expenses, bank movements — done accurately, on time, and ready for tax filing, audit, and management reporting.
Axcell runs this function as a managed service. Your books live in your accounting system. Your team retains control of approvals and authorizations. Our team handles the operational work — data entry, reconciliations, ZATCA e-invoicing capture, and month-end procedures — to the standard a SOCPA-licensed firm and a Big 4 alumni team would apply.
- Daily transaction recording in your ERP or accounting system (Odoo, QuickBooks, Zoho, Xero, ERPNext, SAP)
- Bank, credit card, and e-wallet reconciliations — weekly or monthly cadence
- Accounts receivable and accounts payable processing and aging reports
- ZATCA Phase 2 e-invoicing capture and validation (Saudi Arabia)
- Payroll processing, social insurance, GOSI, and statutory deductions
- Petty cash, expense claim processing, and vendor onboarding documentation
- Month-end close package: trial balance, sub-ledger reconciliations, supporting schedules
Owners and CEOs running a business between 5 and 200 employees who do not have the volume to justify a full-time accounting team, or who have one but need an experienced layer above it.
Family businesses in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Egypt that want professional bookkeeping discipline without exposing sensitive data to a freelancer or an unvetted firm.
Founders preparing for fundraising, audit, or a transaction (sale, merger, partnership) who need books that pass external scrutiny.
- Migration: we take over from your existing accountant, freelancer, or in-house team without disrupting operations
- Setup: chart of accounts review, system configuration, integration with banks and payment processors
- Steady-state: monthly close on a fixed calendar (closing day + 5 working days for management accounts)
- Reporting: monthly management accounts package, KPI dashboard, exception report
- Compliance: VAT filing (Saudi 15%, UAE 5%, Egypt 14%), corporate tax filings, ZATCA Phase 2 integration
- Audit support: full schedules, sub-ledger reconciliations, and direct liaison with your external auditor
You retain ownership of your accounting system and your data. Our team operates inside your environment using named, vetted personnel under a signed NDA and DPA (Data Processing Agreement compliant with Saudi PDPL, UAE Personal Data Protection Law, and Egyptian Data Protection Law).
We assign one Account Manager (your single point of contact) and a delivery team of 1–3 accountants sized to your transaction volume.
Monthly close runs on a published calendar. You receive the management accounts package by an agreed working day (typically T+5 to T+10 depending on tier).
Pricing is monthly retainer based on transaction volume, system complexity, and number of legal entities. Three tiers — Essentials, Standard, Enterprise — and a custom tier for groups and multi-entity holdings.
Indicative monthly retainer: Saudi market SAR 4,500–18,000; UAE market AED 3,500–14,000; Egypt market EGP 18,000–95,000. Contracts run 12 months with quarterly review windows.
Onboarding fee covers system migration and chart of accounts review. Typically 1.5× monthly retainer, capped at one month if existing books are clean.
- Books closed by working day 5–10 of every month — not 25 days late
- Real-time visibility through a single management dashboard (your data, your system, our reporting layer)
- Zero ZATCA, FTA, or ETA filing penalties — guaranteed under the terms of the engagement
- Audit-ready trial balance and supporting schedules at any moment
- A named team that your auditor, your bank, and your investors can engage directly
Common questions about Managed Bookkeeping
What is the difference between managed bookkeeping and outsourced bookkeeping?
They describe the same service with different framing. Managed bookkeeping emphasizes that your data stays in your system and your team retains oversight — the bookkeeping function is run by an external team under your control. Outsourced bookkeeping is the older term still used widely in SEO and search. Axcell uses both interchangeably; the operating model is the same.
Is outsourced bookkeeping safe under Saudi PDPL?
Yes, when the provider operates under a signed Data Processing Agreement (DPA) compliant with the Saudi Personal Data Protection Law (PDPL, enforced by SDAIA since September 2024) and uses named, vetted personnel under NDA. Axcell maintains a PDPL-compliant DPA template, ISO 27001-aligned data handling procedures, and conducts annual third-party security review.
How much does outsourced bookkeeping cost in Saudi Arabia?
Monthly retainer typically ranges from SAR 4,500 (Essentials tier, low transaction volume, single entity) to SAR 18,000 (Enterprise tier, high volume, multi-entity, complex e-invoicing). Pricing scales with monthly transaction count, number of bank accounts, payroll headcount, and complexity of e-invoicing integration. Onboarding fee is typically 1.5× monthly retainer, capped at one month.
Do I need a SOCPA-licensed firm for my bookkeeping?
For pure transaction recording, no — SOCPA membership is mandatory only for the signing auditor of statutory financial statements. However, using a SOCPA-licensed firm for bookkeeping signals professional discipline, ensures alignment with Saudi accounting standards, and reduces friction at year-end audit. Axcell partners with SOCPA-licensed practitioners for engagements that require it.
Will outsourcing bookkeeping make my data vulnerable?
No, when proper controls are in place. Your data remains in your accounting system (we operate inside your environment, not in ours). Access is restricted to named personnel under NDA. All access is logged. Data Processing Agreement complies with PDPL, UAE PDPL, and Egyptian Data Protection Law. Saudi-owned data does not leave Saudi territory unless explicitly authorized.
How fast can you take over our existing books?
Standard takeover runs 30 days from contract signature to first full month of close. Week 1: chart of accounts review and system access. Week 2: transition meeting with your existing accountant or team. Week 3: parallel processing. Week 4: first month-end close under Axcell. Clean books accelerate this; messy books may need a separate cleanup project.
Book a free 30-minute scope call
We'll review your current setup, identify the gaps, and quote within 48 hours.
Ask the Axcell assistant
Ask anything about scope, pricing, or whether we're the right fit. It takes seconds, and Hazem reads every productive conversation.
Managed Accounting & Financial Reporting
Audit-ready financial statements, monthly management accounts, and full tax compliance — one team, one operating model.
Learn moreFinance Monitoring & Performance Oversight
An independent oversight layer above your finance team — monthly dashboards, oversight memos, quarterly business reviews.
Learn more
Is Axcell the right fit?
30-minute conversation. No commitment. We tell you honestly whether we're the right fit.