Client Success Methodology

Updated 2026-05-29. Applies to all monthly engagements signed on or after 2026-01-01.

Why we publish our methodology

Most accounting firms do not document how they work. The result is unpredictable engagements, surprise charges, missed deadlines, and clients who cannot tell whether they are getting senior or junior work. Our methodology exists to remove that ambiguity. Every client gets the same disciplined process. Every engagement is staffed by named senior practitioners. Every deliverable arrives on a documented cadence.

Phase 1, Discovery (1 to 2 weeks)

Every potential engagement begins with a structured discovery call. We learn your business, evaluate your existing financial systems, identify the work that needs to happen, and produce a scope document. We do not start work without a signed engagement letter and a written scope. If we discover the engagement is not a fit (industry, complexity, timing, fit with our practice boundaries), we say so on the discovery call and refer you elsewhere.

Phase 2, Onboarding (2 to 6 weeks)

The onboarding phase rebuilds your books to a clean, defensible baseline. Specifically, we: (1) audit your chart of accounts and rebuild as needed for your industry, (2) connect your bank, credit card, payroll, and merchant accounts to the accounting system, (3) reconcile every balance sheet account back to a clean opening balance, (4) rebuild or import historical periods as agreed in scope, (5) document your accounting policies (revenue recognition, capitalization threshold, depreciation method, accrual conventions), and (6) introduce your named account team and your onboarding milestones.

Phase 3, Monthly operations (ongoing)

Once onboarded, every month follows the same rhythm. By the 5th business day, your bank, credit card, and merchant statements are downloaded and reconciled. By the 7th, AR and AP aging are reviewed and adjusted. By the 8th, payroll and tax accruals are booked. By the 10th business day, your monthly financial package is delivered: P&L (current period, year-to-date, and comparative), balance sheet, cash flow statement, and a one-page management summary covering anything material your account lead wants you to see.

Phase 4, Quarterly business review (every 3 months)

Once per calendar quarter, your account lead and (for Advisory clients) the assigned strategist meet with you for a 60- to 90-minute business review. Standard agenda: trend analysis on your KPIs, variance to budget if a budget exists, cash position and a forward 13-week forecast, tax planning updates given current-year performance, and one strategic question pulled from current operations. These sessions are recorded (with your consent) and a written summary is delivered within 48 hours.

Phase 5, Annual strategy (Q4 each year)

In October or November, we run an annual strategy session: full-year tax projection, year-end planning moves (Section 179, retirement contributions, entity reviews, charitable giving), next-year budgeting, and (for owners thinking about it) succession or exit considerations. We deliver written recommendations no later than the first week of December so any year-end moves have time to execute.

Year-end and tax filing

Tax preparation runs in parallel with January operations. Draft federal and state returns are delivered for client review at least ten business days before each applicable deadline, provided complete source data is received at least 30 days before. Extensions are filed at no additional charge when mutually agreed.

What you can expect from our team

• One named account lead, present on every monthly close and every quarterly review
• A senior accountant assigned to your books, named in your engagement letter
• A tax specialist when tax services are in scope
• An advisory partner when advisory services are in scope
• Direct email access during business hours, response within one business day
• Same-week response on time-sensitive matters (deadlines within 5 days)
• Four-business-hour response on urgent matters (active IRS notice, fraud indication, payroll error)

What we expect from our clients

• Timely access to source data and a designated primary contact
• Review of monthly financials within 10 business days of delivery
• Honest disclosure of material changes (acquisitions, new entities, new states of operation, ownership changes)
• Maintenance of your own internal controls; we advise but do not own client cash

How we measure success

We track four metrics across the practice and publish anonymized aggregates with each annual report: (1) percentage of monthly closes delivered by the 10th business day, (2) client retention beyond year one, (3) response-time SLA achievement, and (4) Net Promoter Score from the quarterly review feedback. We publish targets and actuals so our clients can see whether we are meeting our own standards.