How is this different from a bookkeeper?
A bookkeeper records transactions. We run the full monthly accounting cycle and add controller-level oversight on top of it: reconciliations are reviewed, accruals and cut-off are applied, and the financial statements are examined by Michael Belote before they reach you. You get numbers that have been interrogated, plus the context to act on them — not just a categorized ledger.
Do you replace my CPA or tax preparer?
No. We are not a tax practice and we do not file returns or provide tax advice. We keep the books, close the month, and produce clean, reconciled financials — which typically makes your CPA's work faster and cheaper. We coordinate directly with your tax preparer at year end and hand over the support they need.
What size company is this for?
U.S.-based founder-led companies with roughly $1M to $20M in annual revenue. That is the range where transaction volume has outgrown a part-time bookkeeper but a full-time controller or CFO is still hard to justify. Below $1M the work is usually lighter than our engagement model; well above $20M you generally want in-house finance staff we can support.
How do you scope an engagement?
We start with the Financial Operations Diagnostic: a review of your current books, close process, systems, and reporting needs. From there we recommend one of four packages — Monthly Accounting Essentials, Accounting and Controller, Outsourced Finance Department, or Controller Review Only — based on transaction volume, entity count, and reporting complexity.
How long does onboarding take?
Most engagements are producing a normal monthly close within 30 to 60 days. The first weeks cover access to systems and banks, a review of the existing books, chart of accounts clean-up, and agreeing the close calendar and reporting package. If prior periods need catch-up or correction, we scope that separately so it does not delay current-month reporting.
Is my data secure with your team?
Our accounting team works inside your systems under named, permissioned accounts — not shared logins — with access limited to what each task requires. Nothing is delivered to you without Michael Belote's final review. Documents stay in your accounting and document platforms rather than being copied to local machines.