In 2026, the construction industry is facing a quiet but dangerous crisis. While most headlines focus on the mass exodus of retiring tradespeople, a similar wave is hitting the back office. Contractors across North America are finding it nearly impossible to hire qualified accountants who truly understand the complexities of the construction industry. Without a clear financial map, even the busiest construction firm can find itself in “financial vertigo.”
We spoke with Bryce Wisan, Founder in Chief of Levvigo and a construction CPA with more than 15 years of experience. After seeing contractors struggle to find qualified accounting talent, Wisan began advocating for a new approach that expands hiring beyond local markets.
The numbers behind the “accounting cliff”
The accounting shortage is a structural shift in the American workforce. Recent data paints a stark picture of why your firm might be struggling to hire:
- Over 300,000 accountants and auditors left their jobs between 2020 and 2022—a staggering 17% contraction of the entire workforce in just two years.
- Approximately 75% of current CPAs reached retirement age by 2020; they took their institutional knowledge with them.
- The number of U.S. students completing accounting degrees has fallen to its lowest level in 20 years. In the 2023-2024 academic year alone, degree completions dropped another 6.6%.
For construction companies, this shortage can lead to delayed closeouts, compliance risks, inaccurate bidding, and difficulty scaling operations.
The “impossible math” of local hiring
Contractors aren’t just looking for someone who can balance a checkbook—they need a professional who understands the unique financial language of the jobsite. According to Wisan, contractors look for four specific criteria when hiring:
- Accounting expertise
- Construction knowledge
- A realistic salary range
- Local availability
This last requirement is where the strategy usually falls apart. Wisan explains that when you overlap those four needs, the statistical gap becomes clear. “When you do the math and look at the cross-section of those needs or those characteristics, it’s a very small candidate pool, even in major metropolitan areas,” he says. “And sometimes that candidate pool is zero.”
Wisan notes that this was the most common issue he heard throughout his career. “I was a construction CPA in public practice for almost 15 years and got one common question again and again,” he says. “The question was, ‘Help me find an accountant for my business. Help with the day-to-day.'” Because the local talent pool is so thin, many firms end up stuck in a cycle of hiring the wrong people or overpaying for local staff who still lack the specific construction knowledge required to keep the business healthy.
Addressing common concerns with global talent
This realization led him to “break the radius” and look at offshore options to fill the gap. “I hated the idea when I first pitched it,” he says, recalling his early doubts about offshore hiring. “I thought of all the things that could go wrong. It took me a little bit to come around, but six to eight months later, I’d hired someone from my own team, and it was fantastic.”
Moving an essential part of your business thousands of miles away can feel like a leap of faith for any owner. While the benefits are clear, most contractors find themselves circling the same few questions before they are ready to move forward.
Data security
Wisan notes that modern security depends more on systems than geography. Role-based access and secure cloud platforms allow companies to maintain strict control over sensitive financial data.
Communication
Effective communication in construction accounting goes far beyond just speaking the same language. “English and not just English speaking, but effective English communication is table stakes,” Wisan says. Strong English communication and the ability to translate financial data into job-site insights are essential for effective collaboration.
Competency
The construction industry often finds itself stuck in a cycle of “half-right hires.” True competency requires both accounting expertise and construction-specific knowledge—especially around retainage, job costing, and revenue recognition.
How Levvigo connects contractors with global accounting talent
Levvigo focuses on hiring full-time professionals from Latin America to work remotely as a dedicated extension of a contractor’s local team. Instead of relying strictly on local talent, Levvigo helps contractors expand their search by tapping into a global network of elite professionals.
Candidates are vetted for communication skills (English proficiency) and construction expertise, and are trained in industry tools such as Sage, Procore, and QuickBooks.
Unlike typical freelance platforms or temporary staffing services, Levvigo focuses on dedicated talent. They are assigned a full-time, dedicated professional who integrates into existing workflows and provides real-time financial visibility. “We actually hire people full-time to work remotely for our clients,” Wisan says.
By combining specialized construction knowledge with the latest software, Levvigo ensures that the back office moves at the same speed as the field.
Is global talent right for every contractor?
Global hiring is one solution to address the construction accounting shortage, but it requires preparation. Wisan notes that companies reap maximum benefits when they have:
- Digital-first processes: If your system still involves stacks of paper on a desk and physical folders, a remote accountant, no matter how talented, will struggle to help you.
- Strong leadership: Remote talent requires clear direction. If an owner lacks the time or technology to communicate effectively, the relationship will likely fail.
- Specialized needs: In his post Why Specialized Construction Accounting Matters, Wisan emphasizes that if your business is small enough that you only need basic scorekeeping, a local generalist might suffice. But once you reach the level of needing WIP reports, job costing, and complex revenue recognition, the local talent pool often disappears.
Expanding your perspective
Whether hiring locally or globally, construction companies need accounting professionals who understand construction operations and provide sound financial insight. The right expertise ensures stronger decision-making and more profitable projects.
If you’re curious about whether your firm is ready to move beyond the local radius, Wisan’s blog offers deep dives into the differences between bookkeepers and controllers and why construction-specific payroll is a non-negotiable for growth.
Levvigo resources
- Official website: Levvigo.com
- The blog: Levvigo blog
- Connect with Bryce Wisan: LinkedIn
Want to see our full conversation with Bryce? Check it out on our YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/TyUAVWxW7r4
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