Attorney Dexter Destajo is the owner of Livesync Accounting in Dubai. JONATHAN YBERA/EXPAT MEDIA

Attorney Dexter Destajo never imagined he would become the founder of one of Dubai’s most innovative accounting firms. In fact, he never even planned on being an accountant. Yet today, the Filipino is at the helm of Livesync Accounting, a thriving enterprise that has served over 300 clients and helped dozens of small businesses scale into success stories—all through an online model that was years ahead of its time. In this Expat Media exclusive, Dexter takes us through his humble beginnings, how his mother’s playful challenge nudged him into law school, and how his unique combination of skills in law and accountancy has shaped a visionary firm that’s future-ready. Growing up in Surigao City in the Philippines, Dexter never pictured himself crunching numbers. “During high school, my parents thought I could be a lawyer or a doctor,” he recalls. But when it came time to pick a college course, the path to law wasn’t clear. “My cousin suggested I take Accountancy as a pre-law course. It had taxation and some law subjects, so I said yes—mostly because I wasn’t great in English, so I didn’t want to take AB English,” he says with a laugh. To his surprise, he completed the course in just less than four years and became a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in 2000. He went on to earn his law degree in 2006 and passed the bar the following year, thanks in part to his mother’s light-hearted challenge: “She said she’d enroll in law school herself because I wasn’t doing it. That struck me.” Armed with two professional licenses, Dexter began working as a junior litigation lawyer in Cebu. But a visit to his brother in Dubai—amid the 2009 global financial crisis—would change everything. “I told my brother, ‘I just want to visit before I open my public practice back home,’” he says. “But within weeks, I fell in love with Dubai and started applying for jobs.” He didn’t find work in law, but an accountant position at a trading company came through. “It was a good offer. I calculated that I could reach my financial goals faster in Dubai than by opening a practice in the Philippines. So I said yes.”

How Livesync was born

As the group accounting manager, Dexter began to see gaps in the traditional accounting setup. “We had offices in China and Malaysia, and I had to physically travel to finalize accounting reports. I thought—what if I could access all of this online?” He discovered Xero, a cloud-based accounting platform, and tested it. It worked. By 2014, Dexter and his wife—who had also resigned from her job in accounting—founded Livesync Accounting. “We started as a 100% online accounting outsourcing firm, which was rare at the time. People were skeptical. Clients wanted us to physically be in their offices. So in the early years, I had to balance doing traditional on-site work while slowly educating clients about the value of cloud-based systems.” His wife was the first to believe in the vision. “She was my student when I was teaching business law at a CPA review center in Dubai. Eventually we got married, and she encouraged me to start the business,” Dexter says. “Only after she resigned did we find out she was pregnant!” Those early years weren’t easy. “I had to pay my employees before myself. There was a time I had just Dh20 in my wallet. We had to borrow money from my brother when my son was born. But I held on to my mantra: Pay the team first, always.” The turning point came in 2017. “I found myself part of the Catholic Charismatic community in Dubai. I learned to tithe—to give time, talent, and treasure to God—and the blessings came. I got out of debt. Clients started coming in without us even advertising.” He credits his faith with helping Livesync weather every storm—including Covid-19. “When the pandemic hit, we didn’t lay off a single employee. We were fully ready because of our online setup. And now, we’re looking toward becoming a technology-first accounting company powered by AI.”

What makes Livesync different

Livesync isn’t just about bookkeeping. Dexter brings a unique combination of legal and accounting expertise to every client interaction. “When clients come to us, they’re not just looking for someone to balance their books. They ask about contracts, licensing, even business models. I’m not just their accountant—I’m their trusted advisor.” With a team of 45 and growing, Livesync supports clients across industries and geographies. “Some clients started solo, and we’ve seen them grow big. Sometimes we have to let them go when they build their own in-house teams, and that’s okay. It means we did our job well.” Livesync has also worked with international clients, including a French company that exited their UAE business successfully. “That’s the most rewarding part—seeing our clients win.” Now in its second decade, Livesync is embracing its next big shift: a technology-first, AI-powered evolution. “We’re already using AI in data capture and financial reporting. Eventually, clients can upload their data and get real-time financial analysis. That’s our goal—to make accounting live and synchronized, just like our name.” And while AI continues to evolve, Dexter is focused on adding value. “We’re helping businesses turn their data into actionable insights. Not just numbers, but decisions.” Despite the accolades, Dexter remains grounded. He still serves in the FilCom at St. Mary’s Church and is the coordinator for The Lord’s Flock, a Catholic Charismatic group. “It’s how I give back to God. My biggest prayer? For my family’s health and for Livesync to grow beyond me.” He envisions a day when the company is fully self-sustaining, giving him time to pursue new dreams—maybe even launch other ventures. But for now, he remains all in. “I didn’t imagine being a founder. But I believe in starting young and building something with purpose. Livesync is not just a business—it’s a mission.” WDL/Expat Media

Quick fire questions

Most lawyer thing you still do every day Checking contracts. Describe accounting in three words. Relationship. People. Value. Legal phrase you love saying. “Res ipsa loquitur," a Latin phrase meaning "the thing speaks for itself". Business expense you’d defend in court. Minimum wage. Which is tougher to explain to relatives: Tax laws or your job? Tax laws. Client comment that made you laugh. You are over communicating. App you can’t survive without. WhatsApp. Best work habit. Working late in the evening. Like 2am late. Favourite legal drama. Suits. CEO superpower that no one sees. We wear a lot of hats. What would be Livesync’s mascot if you had one? A person that looks like a cloud. Accounting pet peeve. No internet. We’re so dependent on the internet so when it is down it depresses me. Guilty pleasure after work. I like to eat mutton biryani. Filipino trait that you bring to the office. Hospitality and respect for elders. Courtroom, boardroom or behind the computer: Where do you shine more? Being alone. With my computer. One word that you would use to describe you. Overworked! Unlimited vision. This story also appears in the Expat Media Special Edition Magazine. Want to know more about how Livesync can help your business? Visit livesyncaccounting.com or contact info@livesync.com, +97142976888 or +971561019411
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