October 29, 2025 · 5 min read
Accounting outsourcing is not only about numbers and reports. It is about structure, attention to detail and the ability to understand what the client needs. In this interview we spoke with Inna Starovoit — a project manager who has worked at UHY Prostir for over 16 years and leads one of the accounting outsourcing teams.
Inna talked about how her story with the company began, what helped her grow from assistant to team leader, how partnerships with foreign clients are built and why accounting is a field where analysis has to be combined with empathy.
Inna, how did you come to UHY Prostir and the accounting outsourcing team?
I joined the company almost 17 years ago and started out in audit. But I quickly realized I was more drawn to the pace and energy of accounting outsourcing. At some point I agreed to help the outsourcing team temporarily — literally for a few days. That is when I understood how much I enjoyed the fast rhythm, the variety of tasks and the chance to be part of my clients’ businesses.
How did your journey in accounting outsourcing begin?
It began with a demanding project — an agricultural company that required everything I had. Workdays sometimes started at five in the morning; there were business trips, constant motion, communication with foreign clients. It was a real test. But that is when I understood how much it matters to have a strong team behind you through the most intense stretches. The experience hardened me and taught me not to be afraid of complex tasks.
In your view, what is the main value accounting outsourcing creates today?
For me, accounting outsourcing is not a set of services but a partnership with the client. We do more than process transactions — we help the business run more efficiently: we build processes, advise on how to avoid risks and find solutions in difficult situations.
The greatest value, I believe, is that the client feels supported and at ease — they know the financial side is under control and they can focus on growing the business.
How would you describe your approach to working with clients?
My approach is a combination of analysis and empathy. What matters to me is not simply delivering a service but sensing what exactly the client needs — support, a quick fix or better-organized processes. I see my role as making the client’s business run as efficiently as possible.
Your team works with many international companies. Are there differences between working with Ukrainian and foreign clients?
Yes, the differences are noticeable. Foreign clients usually keep to a clear structure: well-defined responsibilities, deadlines and standards. Ukrainian companies are more flexible — they lean on quick decisions and direct, personal communication. With them you have to adapt constantly, react on the spot and find solutions as you go.
I like both styles: the international one teaches precision, the Ukrainian one teaches speed and creative problem-solving.
What technologies help you in your work, especially with international clients?
Day to day we work in SAP Business One and SAP ERP — powerful systems that give a complete view of the client’s business. Everything in them is connected: documents, analytics, reporting. That helps us find answers faster, align processes between teams and hold the level of accuracy international clients expect.
How has client communication changed in recent years?
It has become much faster. Where most questions used to go through email, clients now prefer messengers — Telegram, WhatsApp. That has changed the rhythm of the work itself: decisions come faster, approvals take minutes and everything runs more efficiently.
Which trend in accounting outsourcing do you think will define the coming years?
Everything is moving toward speed and convenience — for clients and for the professionals alike. Businesses expect instant answers, so the main trend is process automation and modern software tools.
We can already see AI gradually taking over the routine, from processing source documents to generating reports, and that automation will only grow. The accountant’s role will not disappear, though — it is shifting toward analysis, advice and proposing solutions.
Which skills matter most for accountants today?
Technical accounting knowledge alone is no longer enough. Emotional intelligence is crucial — a feel for the client you are working with. Sometimes the client does not need numbers; they need support, an explanation or simply to be understood.
Knowing when to listen, when to offer advice and even when to pause the conversation — that is what builds trust.
What advice would you give young professionals starting out in this field?
Don’t be afraid to ask questions — that is how real understanding comes.
Supporting a client in outsourcing is not only about numbers; it is also about continuous learning. Even when it feels like you know everything, there is always something new that can make you a better version of yourself at work.
And finally — how would you describe the UHY Prostir accounting outsourcing team in one phrase?
We are a team of experts who love what we do, keep the balance between professionalism and humanity, and prove every day that accounting is about more than numbers — it is about trust and partnership.
Interviewed by Kateryna Bohdan
