AI agents for business finance: what they can and can't do
What AI agents can do in bookkeeping, close, collections and compliance today, where a person must stay in charge, and how to judge a product.
The short answer
A US-based accountant can do bookkeeping, management accounts, payroll preparation and advisory work for Nigerian SMEs remotely, but work that Nigerian law reserves for locally qualified professionals, such as signing statutory audits or acting as a client's registered tax practitioner, needs the relevant Nigerian qualification or a Nigerian partner firm. Check the professional body rules before offering those services. Get paid on a monthly retainer, invoiced in naira or dollars, and expect 10% Nigerian withholding tax on professional fees paid to a non-resident.
What clients in Nigeria want from you
Nigerian SMEs hire diaspora accountants because they want someone they trust, with international standards, at a price below a large Lagos firm. The work tends to fall into four groups: keeping the books in a cloud system, preparing monthly management accounts, handling payroll and tax calculations, and advising on cash flow, pricing or investor reporting. Most of that is work you can do from Houston or Maryland with a good internet connection and the client's bank feeds.
Licensing: what your US credential does and does not cover
In the US, the IRS notes that tax return preparers include CPAs, enrolled agents, attorneys and many people with no credentials, and that anyone with a PTIN can prepare US returns for pay. That is a US federal position about US returns. It says nothing about Nigerian work.
In Nigeria, the accounting and tax professions have their own statutory bodies and rules about who may sign audits and act as a tax practitioner. We did not open those bodies' rules for this article, so we cannot state exactly which services are reserved. Before you market audit, statutory accounts sign-off or tax representation to a Nigerian client, check the rules of the relevant Nigerian professional bodies, or work with a Nigerian firm that signs while you prepare.
| Service | Can usually be done remotely? | Licensing to check |
|---|---|---|
| Bookkeeping and reconciliations | Yes | Generally none beyond contract |
| Monthly management accounts | Yes | None for internal use |
| Payroll calculations | Yes | Accuracy under Nigerian PAYE rules |
| Statutory financial statements | Preparation yes; sign-off needs local rules | Nigerian professional body rules |
| Statutory audit | Not by you alone | Nigerian audit licensing |
| Filing tax returns for the client | Mechanically yes; representation needs checking | Nigerian tax practitioner rules |
| US-facing work (a US subsidiary, US investor reporting) | Yes | Your US credential and state rules |
The Nigerian compliance calendar you will be working to
If you are running a client's tax calendar, know the deadlines. PwC's summary of the 2024 withholding regulations says WHT deducted is remitted to the federal revenue service by the 21st of the following month and to state revenue services by the 30th. For individuals, PwC's tax administration summary says returns are due within 90 days after the end of the year, with state revenue services collecting most individuals' tax. Since the reforms, the federal service is the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), and its Rev360 system is replacing TaxPro Max; filing WHT returns on Rev360 walks through it from the client's side.
Data and access
You will handle salary data, BVNs, customer lists and bank statements. The Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023 applies to processing personal data of people in Nigeria; a Mondaq summary notes that the controller bears the burden of proving consent and that silence is not consent. Put a short data processing clause in your engagement letter, use the client's own logins with your own user access rather than shared passwords, and keep files in a system you can lock down. See handling Nigerian client data.
Payment set-ups that work
- Monthly retainer: a fixed fee for a defined scope, invoiced in advance. Easiest for both sides to budget.
- Currency: many SMEs prefer naira; dollar pricing protects you but some clients cannot source dollars easily. A naira fee reviewed every quarter is a common compromise; see indexing naira contracts to the dollar.
- Withholding tax: PwC lists 10% on professional fees paid to non-residents, and for non-resident companies it is a final tax. Price on the basis that you receive 90% unless the contract says the fee is net.
- Scope creep: clients will ask for "one quick thing" weekly. List what the retainer covers and price extras.
| Worked example: monthly retainer | Naira (illustrative) |
|---|---|
| Retainer invoiced | ₦600,000 |
| WHT at 10% (non-resident professional fee) | ₦60,000 |
| Received | ₦540,000 |
| Annual received (12 months) | ₦6,480,000 |
What to check first
- Which of your planned services, if any, Nigerian professional rules reserve for locally qualified members.
- A Nigerian partner firm for audit sign-off or tax representation if you need one.
- An engagement letter with scope, fee, currency, WHT position, data protection and termination terms.
- Your own access to the client's accounting system and bank feeds, not shared passwords.
- The client's filing calendar: WHT by the 21st or 30th, annual returns, PAYE.
- Professional indemnity cover that extends to work for clients outside the US.
US tax on the fees
If you are taxed as a US resident, Nigerian fees are part of your worldwide income and, for a self-employed accountant, subject to self-employment tax once net earnings reach $400. Nigerian WHT may support a foreign tax credit within the IRS formula.
Where Pryme fits
A Pryme Business Account opened from the US takes naira retainers into local naira details and dollar fees into dollar details. The Finance and Compliance agents prepare reconciliations and filing reminders for you to approve, and every action is recorded.
Questions people ask
Can a US CPA audit a Nigerian company?
Statutory audits in Nigeria are subject to Nigerian licensing rules. Check the relevant Nigerian professional body's rules or work with a Nigerian firm that signs.
Do Nigerian clients deduct tax from my accounting fees?
Usually. PwC lists 10% WHT on professional fees paid to non-residents, a final tax for non-resident companies.
Can I file Nigerian tax returns for clients from the US?
The filing is online, but whether you can act as the client's representative depends on Nigerian practitioner rules. Check before you offer it.
Should I charge Nigerian SMEs in naira or dollars?
Either can work. Many SMEs prefer naira; a quarterly review clause protects you if the naira moves.
Sources
- IRS: Choosing a tax professional, reviewed Aug 2026 · accessed Oct 2026
- PwC Nigeria: Highlights of the Deduction of Tax at Source (Withholding) Regulations 2024 · accessed Oct 2026
- PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries: Nigeria, corporate withholding taxes (reviewed 29 May 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
- PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries: Nigeria, individual tax administration (reviewed 29 May 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
- Mondaq: The Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023, a look at key provisions (18 Sep 2023) · accessed Oct 2026
- IRS: Self-employment tax (Social Security and Medicare taxes), updated 27 Jun 2026 · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.