Payroll, bookkeeping, etc can mostly be done remotely.Here is a great list of questions to ask a potential accountant:http://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/51/topics/70447-questions-to-ask-a-cpaAlso check out the www.NAEA.org page in your search.

What have you been paying, for what services; personal return, corporate return, bookkeeping, tax advice, segregated capital calculations, etc.I have been using a firm for corperate and personal returns.

My think tank in smart living company name Forward Investments: is my internal group; no lets use you: Real Estate Investment office for example: accountant, bookkeeper, researcher, negotiator.

I can also see us hiring a PT bookkeeper, a FT rehab manager and eventually a FT acquisitions manager (but I just have too much fun doing that now I hate to give it up yet :) ).So to answer that questions, a comfortable goal would be to have 250 units in 3 years, a lofty goal would be to have 400 units.  

All the details of rent collection, leasing, maintenance, repairs and bookkeeping are handled by national class, professional property managers.

Also, if you are going to be consistent in the flipping you also might want to consider a professional bookkeeping service as well to assure tight paperwork being presented to your CPA Advisor.

Or do they just handle the day to day property management (collecting rents, maintenance requests, etc) and leave the accounting/bookkeeping up to the owner/client?

This is where the practice likely came about is that it was easier to keep the SD and call it even rather than go through the bookkeeping to come to the same answer.

Quickbooks is a software that helps you bookkeep.  

I know they mentioned they offer CPA services, tax-strategy and filing, and business formation consulting, but forgot to ask about bookkeeping.