Outsource Partners International, Inc. (OPI), a leading professional services firm dedicated solely to finance and accounting outsourcing, announced today the expansion of its business with the opening of a European service center in Sofia, Bulgaria. The Sofia operation offers capacity for 125 people delivering finance and accounting services in a number of languages, including English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, Polish, and Bulgarian.
After considering a number of locations, OPI decided to open its newest facility in Bulgaria largely due to the country's abundance of highly skilled multi-lingual professionals. Nearly 80% of the university educated population speaks at least one foreign language, while nearly 25% speak two or more foreign languages. At the same time, the country is politically and economically stable with plans underway to join the European Union in January 2007. These attributes make the new OPI facility an ideal nearshore alternative for European-based companies looking to cut costs and improve efficiency through finance and accounting outsourcing.
Bruce Thew, European President of Outsource Partners International, said, "Bulgaria has emerged an ideal location for the outsourcing of more complex business processes. While Bulgaria boasts an advanced education system and encourages the study of multiple languages at the university level, the cost of doing business and employing talented people is still relatively low. Given this unique situation, our clients are able to realize costs savings and efficiencies without sacrificing quality."
Clarence T. Schmitz, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of OPI, said, "When considering potential locations for our new service center, Bulgaria seemed the natural choice for OPI. In addition to their advanced education system and multi-lingual capabilities, the country itself has displayed financial and political health and a solid infrastructure. This stable environment offers our clients a very comfortable alternative in nearshore outsourcing."