SystemsCPA · CFO & Procurement Guide · Türkiye
How to Prepare an Accounting Services RFP in Turkey: A Guide for Foreign-Owned Companies
A practical framework for selecting an accounting provider in Türkiye — from defining in-house versus outsourced responsibilities to statutory review, tax compliance, payroll, month-end close, English reporting, systems, pricing and transition.
Quick Answer
What should an accounting services RFP in Turkey include?
An accounting services RFP for a Turkish subsidiary should define who records transactions, who reviews the statutory books, who proposes corrections, who manages the month-end and year-end close, who prepares tax filings, who handles payroll and what headquarters receives in English.
It should also define the company’s ERP and document-sharing model, service deadlines, escalation process, transaction-volume assumptions, services included in the recurring fee and activities that require separate approval or pricing.
The most important step comes before requesting a fee: decide which finance activities should remain inside the company and which should be owned by the Turkish provider.
Define who books, reviews, corrects, files and reports.
“Monthly reporting” is meaningless without a close process.
English reporting should specify actual deliverables.
Separate recurring work, annual work and special projects.
Accounting Services RFP — definition: A Request for Proposal used to describe the accounting, tax, payroll, reporting and finance-support services a company expects from an external provider and to compare competing providers using the same scope, assumptions and service requirements.
The Procurement Problem
“Please quote for accounting services” is not enough.
Accounting providers can interpret the same request very differently. One proposal may assume full bookkeeping. Another may cover only tax declarations. A third may include monthly reconciliations and reporting. The headline fees are therefore not directly comparable.
Define the operating model first. Request the price second.
Step 1 · Operating Model
Decide what stays in-house before approaching accounting firms.
Foreign-owned companies in Türkiye commonly operate under one of three broad models. The right RFP depends heavily on which model the company intends to use.
Full Accounting Outsourcing
The external provider records much or all of the local accounting, manages statutory processes and prepares recurring tax compliance. The company supplies documents, approvals and operational information.
Provider-led transaction processingCo-Sourced Accounting
The company or shared service center records transactions, while the Turkish provider performs the local statutory review, identifies adjustments, manages tax compliance and supports closing.
Often suitable for multinational groupsStatutory & Tax Review
A mature internal finance team owns most accounting processes. The external Turkish CPA team focuses on statutory, tax and selected compliance or control responsibilities.
Internal finance-ledA company that already records invoices, banks, inventory, expenses and general-ledger transactions internally may not need a second bookkeeping team. It may need a strong Turkish statutory, tax and review layer instead.
Step 2 · Scope Matrix
Turn the RFP into a responsibility matrix.
Each material activity should have a clearly identified owner. This prevents duplication, gaps and later disputes about whether an activity was included in the engagement.
| Finance Activity | Possible Internal Role | Possible Provider Role | What the RFP Should Clarify |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sales & purchase invoices | Document approval and transaction entry. | Periodic statutory / tax review. | Who records each invoice and who reviews the Turkish treatment? |
| Bank transactions | Daily posting of bank movements. | Reconciliation review and proposed corrections. | Who reconciles TL and foreign-currency accounts and at what frequency? |
| Inventory & import costs | Operational stock records and cost calculations. | Accounting and tax review. | Who reviews landed costs, stock movements and period-end accounting? |
| Fixed assets | Asset register and operational information. | Statutory and tax depreciation review. | Who maintains the register and who validates depreciation treatment? |
| Employee expenses | Expense entry and internal approval. | Supporting-document and tax review. | What supporting documents must be reviewed? |
| General ledger | ERP ownership and transaction posting. | Local statutory review and proposed journals. | Does the provider review the ledger or only prepare returns from it? |
| Month-end close | Operational cut-off and group timetable. | Local close review, reconciliations and adjustments. | What procedures must be completed before the period is released? |
| Year-end close | Group close and management information. | Turkish statutory closing entries and year-end tax work. | Is annual close included in the monthly fee? |
| Payroll | HR inputs and management approval. | Payroll calculation and local employment-related filings where agreed. | Which payroll and employee lifecycle activities are included? |
| Tax compliance | Source data and approval. | Tax computations, returns and filing process under the agreed scope. | Which declarations and calculations are specifically included? |
| Group reporting | Group chart and reporting policy. | Local mapping, explanations and agreed reporting support. | Exactly what does headquarters receive each month or quarter? |
| Technical advice | Business facts and decision-making. | Turkish accounting / tax analysis within agreed engagement limits. | What advice is recurring and what is treated as a separate project? |
Step 3 · RFP Questions
15 questions every foreign-owned company should ask.
Who records the transactions?
Explain whether invoices, banks, expenses, inventory, fixed assets and general-ledger entries are processed by the company, a shared service center or the local provider.
What does “accounting review” mean?
Ask the provider to explain whether review means a substantive account-level control or simply checking enough information to prepare tax filings.
How are corrections identified and posted?
Define whether the provider sends a written adjustment list, prepares proposed journal entries or posts directly into the ERP.
What happens at month-end?
Ask for the proposed close calendar, reconciliations, review procedures and reporting deadline rather than accepting a vague promise of “monthly reporting.”
Which balance-sheet accounts are reconciled?
Material balances may include banks, AR, AP, inventory, fixed assets, payroll, tax, intercompany, accruals, advances and other relevant accounts.
Which tax filings are included?
Ask for a specific filing and compliance matrix. “Tax compliance included” is too broad for a comparable proposal.
Is payroll part of the scope?
Clarify payroll calculation, employee onboarding and termination processes, recurring filings, special calculations and whether pricing changes with headcount.
What exactly does headquarters receive?
Specify reports, language, currency, format, account mapping, reconciliations and management commentary rather than requesting only “English reporting.”
How does the provider work with your systems?
State the ERP and local accounting environment and ask whether the provider works through direct access, controlled exports, reporting files or another agreed workflow.
Who will actually service the account?
Request the proposed day-to-day contact, reviewer, responsible licensed professional and technical escalation route.
What are the response times?
Establish expected response times for routine questions, urgent filing issues, tax-authority correspondence and headquarters requests.
Which services are outside the monthly fee?
Require a specific answer for transfer pricing, e-ledger/e-invoicing projects, tax audits, independent audit support, restructuring and special advisory work.
What volume assumptions support the fee?
Identify assumptions around documents, bank activity, employees, legal entities, reporting packages and other relevant volume drivers.
How is a provider transition managed?
Request a documented approach for opening balances, prior filings, electronic records, authorizations, outstanding issues and the first month-end close.
How are material issues escalated?
The provider should explain how accounting or tax problems are documented, communicated, assigned and closed rather than remaining indefinitely in email correspondence.
Step 4 · Financial Control
Put the month-end close into the RFP.
A monthly accounting service becomes considerably more useful when the provider is required to work to a defined close process rather than merely process statutory deadlines.
Read the full guide: Month-End Close & Financial Control in Turkey →
Step 5 · Headquarters Reporting
Do not write only “English reporting required.”
Language is only one component of reporting. The RFP should tell providers what headquarters needs to receive, when it needs it, and whether the local numbers need to be mapped or explained before they are usable by group finance.
Financial Output
Trial balance, P&L, balance sheet, ageing, cash information, tax balances or other defined schedules.
Group Mapping
Local-to-group chart mapping, reporting currency and agreed alignment with group reporting requirements.
Management Explanation
Concise English commentary on unusual movements, local issues, reconciliations and actions required.
Example Reporting Package
What can a foreign parent request each month?
Step 6 · ERP & Shared Services
Tell providers how your finance architecture already works.
An international group may already process accounting through its own local team, regional shared service center or global ERP. The objective should usually be to connect Turkish compliance to that architecture — not create an unnecessary parallel process.
Request local statutory review, tax compliance, adjustments and closing support rather than duplicate bookkeeping.
Define the Turkish provider as the local accounting, statutory, tax and control interface.
Define data access, local account mapping, adjustment ownership and the relationship with Turkish statutory records.
Define which system is authoritative for each process and how differences will be reconciled.
Read: Finance Support for Shared Service Centers in Turkey →
Step 7 · Commercial Terms
Make the proposals financially comparable.
A lower monthly price does not necessarily mean a lower total cost. The RFP should require each provider to show what sits inside and outside the recurring fee.
| Commercial Item | What the RFP Should Ask |
|---|---|
| Monthly recurring fee | Which exact services are included? |
| Transaction-volume assumption | What invoice, employee or activity level supports the quoted fee? |
| Additional employee pricing | How does payroll pricing change as headcount changes? |
| Year-end closing | Is statutory year-end work included or separately charged? |
| Annual corporate tax work | Is it part of the recurring package or separately priced? |
| Onboarding / transition | Is there a one-off fee for opening balances and provider transition? |
| Special projects | What hourly or fixed rates apply outside recurring scope? |
| Annual fee update | How and when can the fee be revised? |
| Taxes / VAT | Is the quoted price inclusive or exclusive of applicable VAT? |
| Official charges | Which government, registry, notary or third-party costs remain separate? |
Step 8 · Scope Boundaries
Ask specifically about services that often sit outside recurring accounting.
These services should not be assumed to be included merely because the proposal refers broadly to “accounting and tax compliance.”
Step 9 · Vendor Selection
A practical accounting-provider scorecard.
Finance and procurement teams can use a weighted scorecard to prevent headline price from overwhelming operational and technical considerations.
| Evaluation Area | Illustrative Weight | What to Evaluate |
|---|---|---|
| Turkish accounting & tax capability | 20% | Technical depth, statutory review and ability to identify material issues. |
| International reporting capability | 15% | English communication, HQ reporting and group-accounting interface. |
| Operating-model fit | 15% | Ability to work effectively with the existing finance team or SSC. |
| Month-end controls | 15% | Close process, reconciliations and issue management. |
| Team & senior oversight | 10% | Named team, experience, accessibility and escalation. |
| Systems capability | 10% | Ability to work within the company’s ERP and information flow. |
| Transition approach | 5% | Opening balances, prior records and first-close controls. |
| Commercial proposal | 10% | Price, assumptions, exclusions and transparency. |
The weights above are illustrative only. The appropriate weighting depends on the company’s internal finance capability, transaction volume, complexity and reporting requirements.
Before Appointment
Seven warning signs in an accounting proposal.
Responsibility for review, reconciliations, corrections and closing remains undefined.
Reporting may become a data export rather than a controlled finance process.
The people presenting the proposal may not be the people operating the account.
HQ may still have to rebuild the financial information itself.
This may increase cost without improving control.
Material issues can remain unresolved without a clear owner.
Compare the total scope before comparing the total fee.
Step 10 · Transition
Changing provider is a finance-control project, not only a handover.
When the RFP is being issued because the company intends to replace its existing accounting firm, the incoming provider should explain how the opening position will be validated.
Opening Balances
Confirm which balances are supported, reconciled and ready to carry forward.
Compliance History
Transfer relevant filings, electronic records, authorizations and unresolved correspondence.
First Close
Establish the new responsibility matrix, timetable, reconciliations and reporting output.
Copy-Paste Template
Accounting Services RFP Template for a Turkish Subsidiary
The following short-form template can be adapted by a CFO, controller or procurement team before approaching Turkish providers.
1. Company Background
[Company Name] is the Turkish subsidiary of [Group Name], operating in [industry]. The company currently employs approximately [number] employees and operates through [brief operational description].
2. Current Finance Operating Model
Day-to-day accounting is currently performed by [local finance team / regional shared service center / external provider]. Our accounting environment currently includes [ERP / accounting systems].
Activities currently performed internally include, as applicable:
- sales and purchase invoice recording;
- bank transaction recording;
- accounts receivable and payable;
- inventory and import-cost accounting;
- employee expense accounting;
- fixed-asset accounting;
- general-ledger entries; and
- internal management reporting.
3. Services Requested
We request a proposal covering the following activities, with each item clearly identified as included, excluded or separately chargeable:
- periodic review of accounting records maintained by the company;
- identification and written communication of required accounting corrections;
- Turkish statutory accounting review;
- month-end and year-end closing support;
- tax calculations and agreed tax filings;
- payroll and related services;
- reconciliation of material statutory, tax and payroll balances;
- English-language reporting to headquarters;
- support with accounting and tax questions;
- regulatory update support; and
- other services specifically identified in your proposal.
4. Month-End Close
Our target reporting deadline is [Day X]. Please explain your proposed monthly timetable, information requirements, review procedures, adjustment process, reconciliations and expected delivery date.
5. Reporting Requirements
Please explain whether the following can be included:
- reviewed Turkish trial balance;
- English-language P&L and balance sheet;
- local-to-group account mapping;
- tax and payroll liability summary;
- balance-sheet reconciliation status;
- intercompany reconciliation status;
- open accounting / tax issues report; and
- monthly commentary for headquarters.
6. Payroll
Please describe your payroll scope, employee-count assumptions, employee onboarding / termination support, special calculation services and additional employee pricing.
7. Systems & Information Exchange
Our current systems are [systems]. Please explain your proposed method of system access, data exchange, supporting-document transfer and posting / approval of accounting corrections.
8. Service Team
Please identify the proposed day-to-day team, responsible licensed professional, senior reviewer and escalation contact.
9. Language
Day-to-day communication with group finance and recurring reporting must be available in English. Please specify any additional language capabilities.
10. Transition
Please explain your proposed onboarding process, including review of opening balances, prior filings, statutory records, relevant electronic authorizations, outstanding accounting issues and the first monthly close.
11. Commercial Proposal
Please separately state:
- monthly recurring service fee;
- applicable VAT treatment;
- transaction-volume assumptions;
- included payroll headcount and additional employee fee;
- year-end closing fees, if separate;
- annual corporate tax work, if separate;
- one-off transition / onboarding fee;
- hourly or fixed fees for out-of-scope work;
- annual price-adjustment mechanism; and
- invoice and payment terms.
12. Services Requiring Specific Confirmation
Please confirm whether the following are included, excluded or separately priced:
- transfer pricing;
- e-Fatura / e-Arşiv / e-Defter support;
- independent audit support;
- tax examinations and authority correspondence;
- historical accounting corrections;
- special tax or accounting advisory;
- company formation / corporate changes; and
- official, registry, notary or third-party charges.
13. Proposal Submission
Please provide your proposal by [date]. Shortlisted providers may be invited to an online meeting with local management and group finance before appointment.
Which Model Fits Your Company?
A simple decision framework.
Consider a broader outsourced accounting and finance scope.
Consider statutory review, tax compliance and close support rather than duplicate transaction processing.
Consider a local Turkish finance and compliance interface connected to the SSC.
The project may require finance clean-up and stronger close controls in addition to recurring compliance.
Include transition, opening-balance review and first-close procedures in the RFP.
SystemsCPA CFO Library
Related guides for designing the Turkish finance model.
Frequently Asked Questions
Accounting Services RFPs in Turkey
What should an accounting services RFP in Turkey include?
The RFP should define transaction-processing responsibilities, statutory accounting review, tax compliance, payroll, month-end and year-end closing, headquarters reporting, systems, service deadlines, provider team, transition, pricing assumptions and services outside the recurring scope.
Can a Turkish company keep bookkeeping in-house and outsource only statutory review and tax compliance?
Yes. A co-sourced model can allow the internal finance team or shared service center to continue processing day-to-day transactions while a Turkish provider manages agreed statutory, tax, review and closing responsibilities.
What is co-sourced accounting in Turkey?
Co-sourced accounting is an operating model in which finance responsibilities are divided between the company’s internal team and an external Turkish accounting provider. The division of responsibilities is documented in a defined scope or responsibility matrix.
Should month-end close be included in an accounting RFP?
For companies that rely on monthly financial information, yes. The RFP should define the close deadline, required reconciliations, adjustment process, review procedures and reporting deliverables.
What should “English reporting” mean in an accounting RFP?
The RFP should identify the actual English-language outputs required, such as a reviewed trial balance, P&L, balance sheet, group-chart mapping, tax summary, reconciliation status and commentary on material open issues.
How should foreign companies compare accounting firms in Turkey?
Providers should be evaluated against the same scope. Relevant factors can include Turkish accounting and tax capability, reporting quality, operating-model fit, month-end controls, systems capability, team quality, transition methodology, responsiveness and total commercial terms.
Should payroll be part of the accounting RFP?
If the same procurement process covers payroll, the RFP should define payroll calculation, employee onboarding and termination processes, headcount assumptions, special calculations, recurring filings and additional employee pricing.
Should transfer pricing and e-Defter be assumed to be included?
No. The RFP should specifically ask whether transfer-pricing work, e-Fatura, e-Arşiv, e-Defter, tax examinations, audit support and special advisory services are included, excluded or separately priced.
What should be included when changing accounting providers in Turkey?
The transition scope should address opening balances, previous tax filings, statutory and electronic records, relevant authorizations, outstanding issues, reconciliations and the first close under the new provider.
Can SystemsCPA review an existing RFP?
Yes. Foreign-owned companies can send SystemsCPA their existing RFP, scope of services or finance operating model. We can assess the requested responsibilities and prepare a proposal around the Turkish entity’s accounting, tax, payroll, reporting and finance-support requirements.
Already Have an RFP?
Send us the scope you are currently evaluating.
If your group is reviewing accounting, tax compliance, payroll or finance-support services for a Turkish subsidiary, send us your existing RFP or scope of work. We can review the operating model and prepare a proposal around the responsibilities your internal finance team actually needs.
This guide provides general information for finance and procurement teams. It does not constitute a tax, legal, audit or other professional opinion. The appropriate accounting and compliance scope depends on the company’s specific operations, systems, transaction volume and circumstances.
Turn Turkey compliance into certainty
SYSTEMS CPA supports foreign-owned companies with company formation, accounting, tax compliance and payroll in Turkey — one accountable local partner. Reviewed by Evren Özmen, SMMM (Certified Public Accountant), TÜRMOB Reg. No. 35675.
