Answers to Your Most Common Questions —
Frequently Asked Questions
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Tell me more about price revisions and escalations. +
Our fiscal year runs from July through June. Annual compensation revisions for our team, including promotions and salary adjustments, take effect on July 1 each year. Accordingly, billing rates are subject to change effective July 1. Any price revisions will be communicated well in advance to ensure complete transparency and allow for planning and alignment.
What are your invoicing and payment terms +
We invoice on a monthly basis in arrears, typically by the 7th of the following month. All invoices are payable within 14 days from the date of issuance.
What kind of training do you provide to your offshore professionals? +
At Windy Street, we recognize that one of the key challenges in offshoring is the limited upskilling of offshore teams. To address this, we place a strong emphasis on continuous learning and professional development, an approach that has enabled us to attract, engage, and retain high-quality talent.
We have developed robust, in-house training programs that blend theoretical instruction with mock exercises and real-world simulations to build practical, job-ready skills.
Here’s a snapshot of our Learning & Development (L&D) performance for FY25 (July 2024 – June 2025, estimated through June):
Annual L&D target: 84 hours per employee
Employees trained: 162
Total training hours delivered: 10,000+
Average attendance: 87%
Internal technical trainers: 25 (primarily Managers and Senior Managers)
External trainers engaged: 3
L&D tracked through: Custom in-house tools and processes
Employee satisfaction: 96% rated the L&D program’s implementation and coverage as Excellent
Our commitment to training ensures that our professionals remain current, competent, and aligned with the evolving needs of our clients.
Do your offshore teams have experience with PCAOB standards? +
While Windy Street primarily serves the mid-market segment and does not have direct PCAOB engagements, the majority of our experienced team members have previously worked at Big Four firms, where they gained extensive exposure to PCAOB standards through engagements with PCAOB-audited clients.
Do you offer seasonal ramp-up support during busy audit and tax periods? +
Yes, we provide dedicated support during peak audit and tax seasons. The level of resources and pricing structure vary based on the scope, complexity, and duration of the engagement. We would be happy to discuss these details further to tailor our support to your specific requirements.
Do you have experience working with PE-backed companies and their reporting needs? +
Yes, we have extensive experience supporting PE-backed companies with a range of services, including financial modelling and client accounting solutions such as bookkeeping and MIS reporting. For example:
1. We assisted a large U.S.-based franchise operator in preparing a financial model to support debt refinancing efforts.
2. We provide ongoing bookkeeping and reporting services to a PE-backed company in the U.S. with over 300 locations.
These examples illustrate our capability to address the complex financial and reporting requirements typical of private equity-backed businesses.
Can you support both cash and accrual basis accounting? +
Yes, we offer tailored support for both cash and accrual basis accounting methods, ensuring alignment with the specific needs and preferences of each client.
Can we scale the team quickly during high-deal volume periods? +
We recognize the inherent volatility of the M&A market and offer an on-demand engagement model that allows clients to scale resources flexibly without long-term commitments. To support this approach, we maintain a pool of experienced deal professionals specializing in Financial Due Diligence, Valuations, and Modelling who are not assigned to any specific client. During peak deal periods, we can rapidly expand your team by leveraging this on-demand resource pool. Additional considerations related to this model can be discussed in detail to tailor the solution to your needs.
How does Windy Street support startups and small businesses with bookkeeping? +
At Windy Street, we offer customized bookkeeping solutions designed to help startups and small businesses maintain precise financial records, ensure regulatory compliance, and enable informed decision-making to support their growth trajectory.
Do you support accounting software like QuickBooks or Xero? +
Yes, our team is proficient in all widely used accounting software across the industry, including QuickBooks, Xero, and others. We support these platforms extensively across outsourced accounting, accounting advisory, transaction advisory, and valuation services. While new software platforms may occasionally arise, our team’s agility and commitment to continuous learning ensure seamless adaptation without impacting service quality.
Can you assist with due diligence and financial modelling for acquisitions? +
Absolutely. Our transaction advisory team comprises over 50 professionals specializing in Financial Due Diligence, Valuations, and Financial Modelling. More than 90% of our team members have Big-4 backgrounds, with an average of over five years of relevant experience in the U.S. market. We offer comprehensive, end-to-end financial due diligence and modelling support delivered seamlessly from India.
Is there a timesheet process for tracking hours and deliverables? +
Yes, we track time using our Human Resource Management System (HRMS) and provide a weekly time summary every Friday in Excel format. Daily timesheets can also be shared upon request for more detailed tracking.
Additionally, if preferred, our team members can submit their timesheets directly through the client’s timesheet software, provided access is granted.
How do you ensure quality control and review of client deliverables? +
We recommend structuring the offshore team with a clearly defined hierarchical pyramid. This framework facilitates multiple levels of internal review within the offshore team, ensuring that all work products undergo thorough vetting before being delivered to the U.S. client team. This approach helps maintain high-quality standards and accuracy in all client deliverables.
How does Windy Street structure its pricing for offshoring services? +
Windy Street offers flexible pricing models to accommodate the unique needs of each client. Common pricing structures include:
Fixed Price per FTE: A predetermined monthly fee per full-time professional, providing cost predictability and ease of budgeting.
Time & Material (Hourly): Billing based on the actual hours worked, offering flexibility for variable workloads or short-term needs.
Project-Based Pricing: Fees are estimated based on the scope of a specific project and billed upon completion, ideal for one-time or well-defined assignments.
We work closely with clients to determine the most appropriate pricing model based on their goals, scope, and engagement type.
Can we start with a pilot project before committing to a long-term engagement? +
Yes, at Windy Street, we offer the flexibility to begin with a pilot project prior to entering a long-term engagement. This allows you to evaluate our capabilities, working style, and results firsthand, ensuring alignment and minimizing risk before making a larger commitment.
Are there any additional costs we should be aware of? +
No, our pricing is all-inclusive, with no hidden or additional charges beyond the agreed-upon rates. The pricing structure covers all key components, including:
Employee salaries
Performance bonuses
Recruitment and sign-on bonuses
Payroll taxes and statutory benefits
Office infrastructure and administrative overheads
Team engagement activities (e.g., busy-season events, celebrations)
Reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses (e.g., late nights, weekend work)
Overtime compensation, where applicable
This transparent pricing model allows clients to plan with confidence, without the concern of unexpected costs.
What’s your process for background checks and professional credential verification? +
We engage a third-party company to perform background check for all our employees - this process is initiated before the employee is onboarded. The following checks are included as part of our background check process:
National Identity check
Address verification
Education verification
Professional Reference check
Indian Court record database
What happens if an offshore team member leaves or is replaced? +
While we place strong emphasis on employee engagement and culture to maintain low attrition, in the event that an offshore team member resigns, we will ensure a seamless replacement within 1 to 3 months.
All our employees are contractually required to serve a 3-month notice period, which provides us with adequate time to identify a suitable replacement and facilitate smooth knowledge transfer to ensure minimal disruption to your operations.
What does your hiring process look like? +
Our hiring process is designed to ensure we select the most qualified and well-suited candidates for each role. It includes multiple interview rounds, a case study assessment, and, where applicable, client interviews to ensure alignment with client expectations.
We have a dedicated in-house sourcing team that manages end-to-end recruitment. For highly specialized or critical positions, we may also engage with select external recruitment partners to expand our reach and identify top-tier talent.
How long does it take to hire and onboard new team members? +
The typical hiring and onboarding timeline ranges from 1 to 3 months, primarily due to standard notice period requirements in India. Most professionals are contractually obligated to serve a notice period of up to 90 days with their current employers before transitioning to a new role.
We proactively manage this timeline by maintaining a strong talent pipeline and, where possible, identifying candidates in advance to minimize delays.
How do you handle onboarding of new clients? +
Our client onboarding process is designed to be collaborative and tailored to each firm's unique needs. We work closely with your team to define and implement best practices that support a smooth and effective transition. Key elements of our onboarding process include:
Designating relationship managers on both sides
Aligning on IT protocols and access requirements
Finalizing the timesheet and reporting process
Establishing a structured feedback mechanism
Setting a call cadence for monthly leadership check-ins (including service-line leads and overall account leadership)
Sharing the annual calendar of public holidays and planned PTOs
Drawing on our experience supporting large offshore teams for U.S. firms, we recognize that a successful offshoring relationship is often influenced by the onshore team's openness to embracing global talent and adapting existing workflows. As such, we view onboarding as a critical foundation for long-term success.
Do you offer a pilot or demo engagement before full onboarding? +
Yes, we offer pilot or trial engagements to help clients evaluate our capabilities before full-scale onboarding. The duration and scope of the pilot may vary based on the nature of the services, specific work expectations, and the availability of Windy Street team members.
Can we visit your India office or meet the team in person? +
Absolutely. We actively encourage both inbound and outbound rotations as they play a valuable role in training, knowledge transfer, and relationship building.
When planning such visits, a few practical considerations include visa requirements (as both India and the U.S. require visas for foreign nationals), travel costs, and identifying the optimal time for the visit.
We welcome opportunities to strengthen our partnership through face-to-face interactions and are happy to coordinate the logistics in collaboration with your team.
Can we interview or approve offshore staff before onboarding? +
Yes. As part of our hiring and onboarding process, clients have the opportunity to interview and approve offshore team members before they are assigned to their engagement. This ensures alignment with your expectations in terms of skills, experience, and team fit.
What is your policy on paid time off (PTO) and holidays for offshore team members? +
Offshore team members are entitled to up to 24 days of paid time off (PTO) annually. In addition to PTO, they observe 7 to 8 public holidays each year, in accordance with the Indian holiday calendar.
All time off is planned and communicated well in advance, except in cases of emergency. Clients are actively informed and involved in the planning process to ensure minimal disruption to workflows and continuity of service.
Who is responsible for providing software licenses and audit tools used by the offshore team? +
Clients are responsible for providing all software licenses required for their engagements, including access to audit and accounting tools, as well as to their Microsoft or Google domains, email accounts, and internal communication platforms. This approach ensures operational efficiency, for example, offshore team members often need access to the client’s email or OneDrive accounts to collaborate seamlessly with the onshore team and share files securely.
In parallel, Windy Street provides Microsoft licenses to all employees for use under the Windy Street domain.
As a result, our team members typically operate with two email accounts: one under the Windy Street domain and another under the client’s domain, ensuring secure and streamlined communication across both organizations.
Who is responsible for providing laptops and hardware? +
Windy Street provides company-issued laptops to all offshore team members. Clients are not required to supply any hardware for our teams.
We currently deploy Windows-based laptops (Dell and Lenovo) with the following standard configuration:
Intel Core i5, 11th Generation or higher
Windows 11 Pro
512GB SSD
16GB RAM (DDR4, 3200MHz)
If a specific engagement requires enhanced hardware specifications, we’re happy to accommodate those needs at no additional cost, subject to a mutual discussion of the project requirements.
What kind of IT environment do your offshore teams operate in? +
Our offshore teams are equipped to operate within a variety of IT environments, based on each client’s specific security protocols and preferences. Some clients prefer a remote desktop or virtual environment, where all access and data sharing are controlled through their internal systems. Others opt to collaborate via email, Microsoft Teams, OneDrive, or other secure cloud-based platforms.
Both approaches have their advantages, and we are fully flexible in adapting to your organization’s IT policies and requirements. Our goal is to integrate seamlessly with your existing infrastructure while upholding high standards of data security and compliance.
How do you manage access controls and data security across clients? +
Our IT infrastructure was designed and implemented by EY’s technology team, providing a secure and scalable foundation tailored to the needs of professional services. We have established comprehensive security and governance policies to ensure data protection, controlled access, and high system availability.
Key components of our security framework include:
Microsoft 365 enterprise licensing
Microsoft Intune for device management
Data Loss Prevention (DLP) policies
Mobile Device Management (MDM)
Advanced Exchange security rules
Windy Street is proud to be SOC 2 Type II certified, with our most recent audit conducted by Deloitte, underscoring our commitment to rigorous security and compliance standards.
Our in-house IT function is led by a seasoned Chief Technology Officer with over 25 years of industry experience. We are happy to provide further details on our IT and security protocols upon request.
How do you ensure confidentiality and compliance with NDAs and security protocols? +
Windy Street adheres to strict confidentiality and data protection standards. No client information is shared with third parties without a fully executed Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA), in accordance with our internal data security protocols.
Under the terms of our client agreements, the client retains exclusive ownership of all work product globally. Windy Street is also contractually bound by multiple confidentiality provisions within these agreements.
All client work is performed exclusively by Windy Street employees—not contractors—each of whom has passed a third-party background check and is subject to rigorous confidentiality obligations, including restrictions related to the purchase or sale of securities.
We are happy to provide additional details to support your security evaluation upon request.
What is the typical call cadence or communication rhythm with client teams? +
At Windy Street, we recommend daily communication between client teams and our offshore team members to ensure alignment and responsiveness. While email remains a key channel, we strongly encourage the use of Microsoft Teams or Zoom for more effective collaboration, enabling real-time discussions, screen sharing, and stronger relationship-building.
Our standard communication rhythm includes:
Daily Touchpoints: Regular communication between individual team members to address ongoing tasks, questions, and deliverables.
Weekly Check-ins: Scheduled calls between team leads (Managers or Senior Managers) and onshore client teams to review project progress, upcoming priorities, team availability, and operational updates.
Monthly Leadership Meetings: Strategic discussions between Windy Street and client leadership, typically covering key metrics through a Management Information System (MIS) report. Topics include team performance, utilization, hiring plans, feedback, and the broader offshoring strategy.
This structured cadence ensures transparency, accountability, and a high level of engagement across all levels of the team.
What are the working hours of your offshore teams, and do they align with U.S. time zones? +
Our offshore team members typically operate during standard business hours in India, from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM IST. To support effective collaboration with U.S.-based teams, availability is extended until approximately 10:00 PM IST, which aligns with midday in the Eastern and Central U.S. time zones.
This working model ensures 3–4 hours of overlap with U.S. teams in Eastern and Central time zones, enabling smooth communication and coordination. For teams in Mountain and Pacific time zones, we are happy to accommodate early morning or late evening IST meetings based on mutual availability and team preferences.
Please note that we do not offer coverage for full U.S. business hours (i.e., overnight shifts in India), as we prioritize sustainable working conditions, employee well-being, and long-term retention.
How can we provide feedback or escalate concerns? +
At Windy Street, we value open communication and actively encourage direct feedback to our offshore team members, this is both welcomed and standard practice. In addition, we have a structured feedback and escalation process in place to ensure continuous improvement and client satisfaction:
Engagement-Level Feedback: After each engagement, we request input from the U.S. team through a structured feedback form. This is followed by a discussion call to review the feedback and agree on any necessary remediation steps.
Monthly Leadership Connect: We host monthly check-ins with client leadership to review the overall outsourcing strategy, gather broader feedback, and address any ongoing matters.
Annual Client Survey: Each December, we distribute a comprehensive survey to all clients, capturing feedback on our service quality and overall performance.
Escalation Matrix: During client onboarding, we share a formal escalation matrix to ensure timely and effective issue resolution. A typical escalation path includes:
Level 1: Assigned Team Manager or Senior Manager
Level 2: Senior Manager or Director (who serves as the client's Relationship Manager)
These structured touchpoints help us maintain high standards of service and address concerns proactively.