Insourcing, outsourcing and co-sourcing: Which is right for you?
ARTICLE | February 01, 2024
Authored by RSM US LLP
There’s no question that funds are being scrutinized more than ever in today’s challenging fundraising environment. Investment advisors of all types find themselves at the mercy of demands from regulators and prospective investors alike, and these demands have not shown signs of slowing.
One timely example is the stringent standards issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) requiring more detailed limited partner (LP) reporting and due diligence performed on service providers including auditors and fund administrators. These increased demands have put more pressure on funds to not only create an effective operating model but also assess that model on a regular basis.
As a fund chief financial officer (CFO), chief operating officer or managing partner, you likely face a barrage of questions from LPs regarding middle- and back-office functions. When you can show that those operations are running at peak performance, it instills peace of mind for investors both at the time of initial investment and as part of their ongoing operational due diligence.
What is co-sourcing?
Co-sourcing is a hybrid fund administration model where the people are outsourced but the technology is insourced. In simple terms, it means your fund administrator can log in and utilize your firm’s instance of fund administration technology.
Private equity chief financial officers (CFOs) too often are putting out fires or bogged down in their daily work to consider strategic changes to their operating model. The goal of this article is to provide you with an unbiased primer on co-sourcing, including some pros, cons and questions to consider when deciding the right model for your firm.
Unfortunately, there is no universally correct answer to the question: “Should I insource, co-source or outsource?” Each organization is distinctive and has unique growth trajectories; with differing strategic priorities, you will need to weigh the pros and cons of each model to determine what is right for your firm today and tomorrow.
Co-sourcing vs. insourcing
Advantages of co-sourcing vs. insourcing
Operational independence
As we witnessed on the back of the Madoff scandal and the passing of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, regulators and investors have a growing desire to see the administration of funds being conducted by third-party providers.
Cost to management company
Traditionally, insourced operations teams are expensed as overhead to the management company where outsourcing administration can, in most cases, be passed through as a fund expense. When combined with the desire of limited partners (LPs) to have a level of independent oversight, it can be a win-win for both general partners (GPs) and LPs.
Scalability
Is trying to run a lean back office amid fear of your staff leaving keeping you up at night? While turnover happens at every organization, it can be more effectively absorbed and the disruption minimized at a larger fund administration organization.
Disadvantages of co-sourcing vs. insourcing
Perceived quality of resources
As a self-administered firm, you thoughtfully hand picked each engagement team member based on experience, education and intangibles (i.e., cultural fit). By outsourcing the people aspect of the team, you are relying on your administrator to hire and allocate the right team to your engagement.
Administrator dependency
Any time you gain independence by outsourcing (see above), you end up lessening your control over processes and timing and increasing your reliance on that independent provider. While LPs and regulators find comfort in this, you as the CFO may find the need to amend how you manage your own expectations.
Process transparency
Just as you have added reliance on your administrator, with co-sourcing you also lessen the visibility you have into detailed processes.
Co-sourcing vs. outsourcing
Advantages of co-sourcing vs. outsourcing
Transparency to information and activity
Co-sourcing ensures you have 24/7 access to your data for reporting and/or review. It also allows for greater ability to monitor your administrator’s work. This is even more important with the proposed new Security and Exchange Commission rules, including but not limited to the requirement to regularly assess the performance of material service providers.
Your choice of technology
When co-sourcing, you can make sure that your administrator is utilizing the technology you feel is the right fit for your organization.
Impact on administrators
Having your administrator work within your technology instance allows you to take an easier stance on transitioning to new fund administrators and the disruption this can cause. This should also have a positive impact on the performance and potential cost of administrators as your reliance on them decreases.
Disadvantages of co-sourcing vs. outsourcing
Technology cost
Typically, funds will pay a premium for their own instance of any technology while administrators offer clients a license on their instance at a cheaper price point.
Need for internal IT resources
Administrators have retained staff who are responsible for ensuring all their technology products are working as efficiently as possible. With your own instance, the cost of that resource falls to you.
Technology disruption
Administrators are incentivized to always maintain the most updated version of their technology and have advanced training on any new features. Funds typically do not pay for upgrades as often as they should, and may not have the time to remain current on optimizing upgraded features. Furthermore, administrators have invested many years and countless hours honing their knowledge of their respective tech platforms; they have built libraries of customized industry reporting and have the vantage point of understanding the complexity of reporting provided to investors by leading asset managers.
Takeaway
There is no universally correct answer to which operating model you should choose, but some questions you should consider when deciding include:
- Growth: Is your firm growing in complexity?
- Resources: Do you have sufficient resources to meet this growth?
- Regulations: Do you have the right resources to keep up with the role regulators are asking CFOs to play?
- Key person risk: Will even slight turnover cause major disruption?
- Cost: Do your fund documents allow you to allocate co-source and outsourced administration as a fund expense? Is your firm large enough to rationalize the additional cost of a direct technology license?
- LPs: How would your LPs feel about back-office independence?
- Scalability: Would your firm benefit from having unrestricted access to the functionality of a fund administration platform?
- Technology integration: Do you foresee the need to integrate additional technologies with your fund administration platform, and does your firm want an elevated level of control and flexibility in pursuing these initiatives down the road?
- Transition: Do you want to ensure the most efficient migration from one third-party fund administrator to another, in the event you are not happy with the performance of a provider?
With the proper awareness, due diligence and resources there will certainly be a right path for your firm. Knowing your firm and your options are the first steps in making that right decision.
Let's Talk!
Contact us at one of our locations or fill out the form below and we'll contact you to discuss your specific situation.
Source: RSM US LLP.
Reprinted with permission from RSM US LLP.
© 2024 RSM US LLP. All rights reserved. https://rsmus.com/insights/industries/private-equity/cosource-fund-administration.html
RSM US LLP is a limited liability partnership and the U.S. member firm of RSM International, a global network of independent assurance, tax and consulting firms. The member firms of RSM International collaborate to provide services to global clients, but are separate and distinct legal entities that cannot obligate each other. Each member firm is responsible only for its own acts and omissions, and not those of any other party. Visit rsmus.com/about for more information regarding RSM US LLP and RSM International.

At Johnson & Sheldon, PLLC, we’re transforming the meaning of financial consulting by helping our clients achieve results-driven financial solutions.
Based in Amarillo, TX, and with additional locations in Hereford and Pampa, TX, we’re a leading accounting firm in the Texas Panhandle that combines over 30 years of industry experience. Our staff is affiliated with AICPA, the Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants, and we’re up to date with industry standards.
Whether you need help at tax time or year-round, we’re the firm that’s dedicated to helping you achieve financial security, stability, and long-term success.
For more information on how Johnson & Sheldon, PLLC can assist you, please contact us:
Amarillo | Pampa | Hereford