A missed GST return or a late Estimated Chargeable Income (ECI) filing often traces back to one cause. The person who knew the calendar left, and nobody had written it down. Many companies choose to outsource an accounts executive in Singapore to fix that.
Others outsource because finance work comes in waves: too little for a full-time hire in some months and too much in others. This guide covers what an outsourced accounts executive can take on, which rules changed recently, and what to keep in-house.
What an outsourced accounts executive handles
The typical brief is the routine middle of finance. It includes supplier invoices and payments, customer invoicing and follow-up, and bank reconciliations. GST workings and the month-end schedules your accountant or auditor asks for come next. Some companies add payroll inputs. The judgement calls stay with you, so keep payment approvals, bank authority and sign-off on tax filings with a director or finance manager, however good the outsourced person is.
ProSkill Workforce lists the accounts executive role under its administrative and operation staff services. You can build a small back office from one supplier if that helps. Start there to see the role alongside the other back-office positions we supply.
A clear split between what to hand over and what to keep makes an outsourced role safer. This is the split we suggest.
| Task | Outsourced accounts executive | Keep with a director or finance manager |
|---|---|---|
| Supplier invoices and payments | Prepare, match to records and queue for payment | Approve payments |
| Customer invoicing | Issue invoices and chase overdue accounts | Approve credit terms and write-offs |
| Bank reconciliation | Prepare | Review |
| GST workings | Prepare the workings | Sign off the return |
| Month-end schedules | Prepare for the accountant or auditor | Review |
| Tax filings | Supply the data | Sign off |
GST and InvoiceNow: what changed for accounts executives
InvoiceNow is Singapore’s Peppol-based e-invoicing network. The Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) is phasing in a requirement for GST-registered businesses to send invoice data to it through InvoiceNow-Ready solutions. Which phase applies depends on the business.
The requirement applied from 1 November 2025 to companies that register for GST voluntarily within six months of incorporation. From 1 April 2026, it applied to businesses applying for voluntary GST registration, whatever their incorporation date. Existing GST-registered businesses follow by size of total annual supplies.
Those up to S$200,000 start in 2028, up to S$1 million from 1 April 2029, and up to S$4 million from 1 April 2030. Above S$4 million, the date is 1 April 2031. IRAS has told businesses registered before 2026 their own start date since mid-2026. Check which phase your client or employer sits in.
The table below lists the phases in one place. Find your client’s or employer’s size band to see the start date.
| Start date | Who it applies to |
|---|---|
| 1 November 2025 | Companies that register for GST voluntarily within six months of incorporation |
| 1 April 2026 | Businesses applying for voluntary GST registration, whatever their incorporation date or structure |
| 1 April 2028 | Existing GST-registered businesses with total annual supplies up to S$200,000 |
| 1 April 2029 | Existing GST-registered businesses with total annual supplies up to S$1 million |
| 1 April 2030 | Existing GST-registered businesses with total annual supplies up to S$4 million |
| 1 April 2031 | Existing GST-registered businesses with total annual supplies above S$4 million |
The original April 2024 IRAS and IMDA announcement, as summarised by law firm Rajah & Tann, covers standard-rated supplies, zero-rated supplies and standard-rated purchases with input tax claimed. Overseas entities and businesses under the reverse charge regime are exempt.
IRAS also noted that newly incorporated businesses get free access to InvoiceNow for one year through IMDA’s InvoiceNow Accelerate programme. When you interview candidates, ask which InvoiceNow-ready accounting software they have used.
ECI filing and the three-month window
Companies must file their Estimated Chargeable Income within three months of the financial year end, according to GoBusiness. A company with a 31 December year end, for example, files by 31 March. Companies with annual revenue of S$5 million or less and a nil ECI can claim a waiver. GoBusiness notes that the waiver is self-assessed.
Put the date in the handover pack, because it moves with each company’s year end and is easy to lose. Add a note on the waiver check next to it.
In-house hire or accounting staff outsourcing?
A full-time hire pays off when the workload is steady and the role needs deep knowledge of your business. It works best if you can keep the person busy and interested for years. Outsourcing suits a growing company that isn’t there yet, a business with seasonal peaks, or a period of cover while you recruit.
The weak point is continuity. If the outsourced person changes every quarter, your finance process resets each time. Ask for a named person and a named backup.
For a wider comparison, see our posts on outsourcing services companies and how to choose a recruitment agency in Singapore. They show how other arrangements work.
A handover checklist for an outsourced accounts executive
Give the person what they need on day one, in writing. An hour spent on this now saves weeks of small questions later.
- The finance calendar: GST filing dates, ECI date, payroll dates and audit timetable.
- Access to accounting software, with permissions set to the level you intend.
- Approval rules: who signs off invoices, payments and journals.
- Supplier and customer lists, with payment terms.
- The last three month-end packs, so they can see what “done” looks like.
How ProSkill Workforce supplies accounts executives
ProSkill Workforce supplies accounts executives on contract or outsourced terms. If your back office also needs a receptionist or an operation executive, we can supply those roles together. Our manpower outsourcing services and manpower outsourcing company pages explain how we set up engagements.
This post is general information, not tax advice. Confirm filing obligations with IRAS or your tax agent.
Outsource an accounts executive: frequently asked questions
What does an outsourced accounts executive do? The usual brief covers supplier invoices and payments, customer invoicing and follow-up, and bank reconciliations. It also covers GST workings and month-end schedules for your accountant or auditor. Some companies add payroll inputs. Approval and sign-off stay with you.
Is InvoiceNow mandatory for GST-registered businesses? Yes, IRAS says it is mandatory, and it is phasing the rollout in stages. IRAS has told businesses registered before 2026 their own start dates since mid-2026. The last phase, for businesses with supplies above S$4 million, starts on 1 April 2031.
When is ECI due? Within three months of the financial year end, according to GoBusiness. A company with a 31 December year end, for example, files by 31 March. Put the date in the handover pack because it moves with each company’s year end.
Is there a waiver for ECI filing? A waiver applies if annual revenue is S$5 million or less and the ECI is nil. GoBusiness notes that the waiver is self-assessed, so keep the workings that show you qualified.
Can an outsourced accounts executive approve payments? We advise against it. Keep payment approval and bank authority with a director or finance manager, and let the outsourced person prepare and queue payments for review.
Looking to outsource accounts executive support?
Tell us the software you use, the volume of invoices per month and the start date. Call +65-90900468 or +65-88338400, or email inquiry@proskillworkforce.com. You can also send the brief through our contact page. We’ll reply with candidates who know your software. ProSkill Global Recruitment Pte Ltd, EA Licence No. 26C3677 (Comprehensive Licence), provides recruitment and placement; see our recruitment services page.
Sources
- IRAS, GST InvoiceNow Requirement (phases and announcement of start dates): https://www.iras.gov.sg/taxes/goods-services-tax-%28gst%29/gst-invoicenow-requirement
- IRAS, “Implementation of InvoiceNow for GST-registered businesses and free InvoiceNow services for newly incorporated businesses”: https://www.iras.gov.sg/news-events/newsroom/implementation-of-invoicenow-for-gst-registered-businesses-and-free-invoicenow-services-for-newly-incorporated-businesses
- Rajah & Tann Asia, “GST-registered businesses required to transmit invoice data to IRAS via InvoiceNow from November 2025”: https://www.rajahtannasia.com/viewpoints/gst-registered-businesses-required-to-transmit-invoice-data-to-iras-via-invoicenow-from-november-2025/
- GoBusiness Singapore, “Corporate tax filing: all you need to know”: https://gobusiness.gov.sg/gobusiness-blog/corporate-tax-filing-singapore
