Working with US Accounting Firms from the Philippines: What to Know About Working Hours

Working remotely with a U.S. accounting firm can open up great opportunities for Filipino professionals, but one of the first questions candidates often have is:

Will I need to work night shift?

The answer is: not always.

"U.S. hours" can mean very different things depending on the firm, the role, the client's time zone, and how much real-time collaboration is needed.

Some firms require their team members to work fully alongside U.S. business hours. Others only need a few hours of overlap each day. Some may offer a more flexible schedule, provided you are available for agreed meetings and deadlines.

Before moving forward with an opportunity, the most important thing is to understand the actual schedule and decide whether it is something you can realistically commit to long-term.

US hours do not always mean a full night shift

When you hear that a role supports a U.S. client, don't automatically assume that you will need to work overnight from start to finish.

You may encounter arrangements such as:

Full U.S. business hours

Some firms want their offshore team members working at the same time as their U.S.-based team.

Depending on the client's location, this may mean working overnight in the Philippines.

This setup is more common in roles where there is a high level of real-time collaboration, client communication, training, or team interaction.

Partial overlap

Many firms only require a few hours where both the Philippines-based professional and the U.S. team are online at the same time.

For example, you might work part of your day independently, then overlap with the client for meetings, questions, updates, or collaborative work.

At TeamUp, we often see roles where the client may only need around three to five hours of overlap, rather than requiring the entire U.S. workday.

Flexible hours with scheduled meetings

Some firms care more about deadlines and output than a fixed schedule.

You may have flexibility around when you complete your work, while still being expected to attend certain meetings or be available during agreed hours.

The important thing is not to assume. Always confirm the specific expectations for the role.

Understand which US time zone you'll be working with

The United States spans multiple time zones, so "U.S. hours" is not one fixed schedule.

A client based on the East Coast will generally start and finish their day earlier than someone on the West Coast.

That means the corresponding Philippine working hours can be very different.

It is also worth asking whether the schedule changes when the U.S. enters or leaves Daylight Saving Time, as this can shift your Philippine working hours by an hour.

Before accepting a role, make sure you know:

• The client's time zone
• Your expected working hours in Philippine time
• How many hours of overlap are required
• Whether the schedule is fixed or flexible
• Whether the hours change during Daylight Saving Time

Why does overlap matter?

There is a reason some firms ask for shared working hours.

Having part of your day overlap with the client can make remote work much easier.

It allows you to:

• Ask questions and receive answers quickly
• Attend team meetings and training
• Collaborate with colleagues in real time
• Discuss client issues while everyone is online
• Receive feedback more quickly
• Build stronger relationships with the team
• Feel more connected rather than working completely independently

The amount of overlap needed depends on the role.

Someone doing highly independent bookkeeping work may need less real-time interaction than someone responsible for client communication, reviewing work, supervising team members, or participating heavily in meetings.

Think about what actually works for your life

A schedule can look manageable on paper and still be difficult to maintain every day.

Before saying yes to a particular working arrangement, think beyond:

"Can I do this schedule?"

Ask yourself:

"Can I realistically sustain this schedule?"

Consider things like:

• Your normal sleeping pattern
• Family or childcare responsibilities
• Your home environment during working and sleeping hours
• Whether you have a quiet place to sleep during the day if needed
• Your partner or family's schedule
• Your health and energy levels
• Activities or responsibilities that are important to you
• How the schedule might affect your routine over time

There is nothing wrong with being open to a night-shift role.

There is also nothing wrong with deciding that a full overnight schedule does not suit you.

The important thing is to be honest with yourself and your recruiter from the beginning.

Consider the trade-offs

Different working arrangements can come with different advantages and compromises.

Someone may choose a role with more U.S. overlap because it offers strong career exposure, more direct interaction with the client, greater responsibility, or compensation that supports a particular financial goal.

Another candidate may value flexibility or Philippine daytime hours more highly.

Neither choice is automatically better.

What matters is finding an arrangement that matches your current priorities and what you can realistically maintain.

And while some night-shift opportunities may offer higher compensation, this varies by role and firm. You should always review the actual offer rather than assuming that working U.S. hours automatically means higher pay.

Be especially clear during onboarding and training

One important question to ask is whether your working hours will stay the same after onboarding.

Sometimes a firm may require more overlap during your first few weeks while you are learning systems, processes, clients, and team workflows.

After training, the schedule may become more flexible.

In other roles, the same working hours continue permanently.

Before accepting an opportunity, ask:

• Are these the permanent working hours?
• Will I need more overlap during onboarding?
• Will my schedule become more flexible once I'm fully trained?
• Are there regular meetings outside my normal hours?
• Are there busy-season periods when additional overlap may be needed?

Getting clear answers upfront helps avoid misunderstandings later.

Be honest about your availability during recruitment

It can be tempting to agree to a schedule because you really want the opportunity.

But if you already know that the hours will be difficult for you to maintain, it is better to be honest during the recruitment process.

Saying that you prefer a certain schedule does not automatically make you a weaker candidate.

It simply helps your recruiter understand which opportunities are more likely to work for you.

For example:

"I'm comfortable with three to four hours of U.S. overlap, but I'm looking for a role where the rest of the schedule is flexible."

or:

"I'm open to working full U.S. hours and have previous night-shift experience."

or:

"I'm currently looking for a mid-shift or flexible schedule because of family commitments."

Clear communication helps everyone find a better match.

Questions to ask before accepting a role

Before making a decision, make sure you understand:

• What are the exact working hours in Philippine time?
• Which U.S. time zone does the firm follow?
• How much daily overlap is required?
• Is the schedule fixed or flexible?
• Does the schedule change during Daylight Saving Time?
• Are there regular meetings outside the stated working hours?
• Will the schedule be different during onboarding or training?
• Are there busy-season expectations I should know about?

These are completely reasonable questions to ask.

TeamUp Tip 💡

When interviewing through TeamUp, don't assume the schedule based only on the client's location.

Check the job description and speak with your recruiter about the exact arrangement.

We work with different firms, and their expectations can vary significantly. Some require full U.S. business hours, while others only need several hours of overlap or offer greater flexibility.

Our goal is to make sure both you and the client understand the working arrangement before you accept the opportunity.

The most important takeaway

There is no single "best" schedule for everyone.

Some professionals enjoy working nights. Others prefer partial U.S. overlap. Some are specifically looking for flexible arrangements.

What matters is choosing a role with hours that you can realistically commit to, not simply agreeing to a schedule because you want to secure the opportunity.

Understand the working hours. Think about your lifestyle and goals. Ask questions. And be honest about what works for you.

The right opportunity should make sense not just for your experience, but for your life too.