Financial Operations Assessment
An in-depth review of your accounting records and back-office operations, with a clear written plan for what to fix first. Flat fee, credited toward your first month of support or your project if you continue with us. Completed within one week of receiving your documents.
It starts with a free conversation
Before any fee, we talk. After a free 30-minute discovery call, we review what you told us. Then we send you a short written summary of your needs and our recommended next step. There’s no cost and no obligation.
If the right next step is a closer look at your books, that’s the Financial Operations Assessment.
Is this you?
- You know something isn’t working, but you’re not sure where to start.
- You’ve had turnover in finance, and nobody has a full picture.
- Your board or auditor has raised concerns.
- You’re considering outside finance help and want to know what you actually need.
What the assessment covers
- Accounting and close: chart of accounts, reconciliations, close timing and accuracy
- Reporting: what leadership and the board receive, and whether it answers their questions
- Grants and restricted funds: how funds are tracked and reported
- Audit readiness: prior audit findings, schedules and documentation
- Compliance: state charitable registrations and other recurring filings
- Payroll and HR administration: processes, records and controls
- Spending and controls: approvals, cards, bill pay, segregation of duties, and whether your accounting policies and procedures are written down
- Systems: your finance tools, how they connect and where work is still manual
- Operations: vendor contracts, insurance and key policies
What you receive
- Written findings. What’s working, what isn’t and why it matters, in plain language.
- A 90-day roadmap. Prioritized steps, with who should own each one.
- A leadership walkthrough. We review the findings with you and answer questions.
The roadmap is yours to keep, whether or not you work with us afterward.
How it runs
- Before: we confirm the scope and the flat fee in writing. Then we send a short document request list and schedule interviews.
- During: we review your accounting records and talk with key staff, working remotely.
- Within one week of receiving your documents: we deliver the written findings and roadmap, and walk you through them.
Common questions
What’s free, and what has a fee?
The discovery call and the written needs summary are free. The Financial Operations Assessment, our in-depth review of your accounting records, has a flat fee.
How much does the assessment cost?
It’s a flat fee. We confirm it in writing before we start, so there are no surprises. If you continue with us, we credit the assessment fee toward your first month of ongoing support or toward your scoped project.
Why does every new engagement start with an assessment?
Because the right plan depends on what’s actually in your records. The assessment means our proposal fits your organization, not a template. It’s required before every project or ongoing engagement.
Do we have to sign up for ongoing support afterward?
No. Many organizations use the roadmap to decide their next step. If you want our help, we’ll propose it in writing.
Is this an audit?
No. It’s a practical look at how your accounting and operations work. It is not an audit, review, compilation or any other attest engagement, and it doesn’t give an opinion on your financial statements.