Breaking the Growth Ceiling: How Leading Firms Scale Beyond Local Talent Constraints

Across Europe, accounting and advisory firms are facing a structural challenge that goes far beyond recruitment alone. Demand for audit, advisory, and compliance services continues to grow, while experienced finance professionals are becoming increasingly scarce in local markets. Marnix van Kruijsdijk, Co-Founder & Director, iSprout Finance and Edwin van Haare, Partner Accountancy & Assurance at Newtone, speaking at IAFA 2026 on 25 June will highlight the shift changes not only that impact how firms operate, but also the type of talent they require

In the Netherlands alone, nearly 40% of audit firms report being unable to deliver all contracted work due to staffing shortages, while contractor costs have risen significantly in recent years. At the same time, regulatory complexity, sustainability reporting requirements, and growing client expectations continue to increase pressure on firms.

However, the profession itself is also changing fundamentally.

Where traditional audit models were historically built around repetitive compliance execution, the market is rapidly moving towards AI-driven compliance and AI-enabled audit environments. Manual testing, file preparation, and repetitive control work are increasingly being automated through dynamic workflows, AI-supported audit tooling, and integrated digital ecosystems.

The future of audit and advisory, driven by AI, global teams and scalable delivery, is shaping not only now firms operate, but also the talent and capabilities they require.

At IAFA 2026, iSprout x Newtone will share how firms can move beyond traditional outsourcing models towards sustainable, integrated, and technology-enabled international collaboration.

Through the iSprout x Newtone Joint Venture, highly skilled South African finance professionals are embedded directly into existing audit and advisory teams, fully aligned with client systems, workflows, governance structures, and ways of working. The model combines international talent sourcing, structured onboarding, operational integration, and continuous development to create scalable global teams without compromising quality, continuity, or culture.

A key differentiator within the model is that our professionals within the Cape Town office already work extensively with modern audit and compliance technologies and increasingly operate in AI-supported environments. Teams have knowledge of internationally recognised platforms such as Caseware, Inflo, RobotX, AFAS, Xero, Silverfin and other client-specific finance systems commonly used across the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, and the UK. This enables seamless operational integration and accelerates collaboration across borders.

In addition, multilingual capabilities are becoming increasingly valuable in international delivery environments.

The presentation will explore:

• how firms can scale beyond local talent constraints;
• how AI is reshaping the future of audit, compliance and advisory;
• why integrated co-sourcing models outperform traditional outsourcing structures;
• and how firms can build scalable international delivery platforms while maintaining governance, quality, and culture.

The session will also provide practical insights from the iSprout x Newtone collaboration, including how the Joint Venture scaled from concept to a 50+ professional delivery office in Cape Town supporting multiple European markets.

The Structural Shifts Redefining the Profession

Over the next 24 months, we expect several structural developments to continue reshaping the accounting and advisory profession across Europe and other mature markets.

The first and most visible trend remains the growing shortage of experienced finance professionals. Ageing workforces, declining enrolment in accounting programmes and increasing competition for talent across technology companies, scale-ups, and other fast-growing sectors continue to reduce the available talent pool.

At the same time, the role of the accountant is changing rapidly.

The profession is moving away from labour-intensive compliance execution towards more technology-enabled and advisory-driven service models. AI-supported audit workflows, dynamic audit files, automated testing, and integrated compliance tooling are fundamentally changing how work is performed.

As a result, firms increasingly require professionals who combine accounting expertise with digital adaptability, systems understanding, and the ability to operate in technology-driven environments.

Another important trend is the growing importance of scalable international collaboration. Firms are recognising that local hiring alone will no longer solve structural delivery challenges. Instead, successful firms will increasingly operate through globally integrated teams where international professionals work directly within existing systems, governance frameworks, and client environments.

We also expect cultural integration, employee experience, and long-term retention to become increasingly important competitive differentiators. International workforce models only succeed when highly qualified professionals are fully integrated into teams, and organisations invest in sustainable relationships, onboarding, and development.

In addition, regulatory developments around sustainability assurance, IT audit, cybersecurity, and data governance will continue driving demand for increasingly specialised expertise.

For iSprout x Newtone, these developments reinforce the importance of building future-proof workforce models that combine technology, international collaboration, and sustainable talent development.

From Concept to Scalable Delivery

What started as a response to local talent shortages has rapidly evolved into a scalable international delivery platform.

Since launching the iSprout x Newtone Joint Venture in 2024, the Cape Town office has grown to more than 50 finance professionals supporting audit, pre-audit, it-audit, payroll, ESG and advisory activities across the Netherlands, Belgium and the UK, with further expansion into Germany already underway.

Today, teams operate directly within international client environments and commonly used audit and accounting systems, supporting seamless collaboration across borders. The model combines strong governance, structured onboarding, AI-enabled workflows and long-term talent integration.

The collaboration delivers an average cost reduction of 35–55% compared to traditional delivery models, while strengthening continuity, scalability and access to highly motivated professionals fully embedded into existing teams and ways of working.

As the profession continues shifting towards technology-enabled and globally integrated delivery models, the collaboration between iSprout and Newtone demonstrates that international scaling can strengthen quality, culture and long-term growth when built intentionally.

Contributing to the Future of the Profession

For both iSprout and Newtone, IAFA 2026 represents an important opportunity to contribute to the broader conversation around the future of the accounting profession.

We highly value the platform that IAB and The Accountant create by bringing together firms, leaders, and innovators from across the international accounting ecosystem. In a market facing structural transformation, these conversations around growth, talent, technology, and collaboration are becoming increasingly important.

Our objective this year is not only to share the story behind the iSprout x Newtone Joint Venture, but also to contribute practical insights into how firms can sustainably scale beyond local talent constraints while preparing for a more technology-driven future.

The discussions during recent international industry gatherings confirmed that topics such as AI-enabled audit, scalable global teams, operational integration, and sustainable workforce models are rapidly moving higher on the strategic agenda for firms across Europe.

At IAFA 2026, we aim to exchange perspectives with firms navigating similar challenges and to demonstrate how international collaboration, when structured correctly, can become a strategic growth enabler rather than simply a staffing solution.

Ultimately, we believe the future of the profession will belong to firms that successfully combine technology, talent, and international collaboration into scalable, high-performing delivery models built for long-term growth.