Company Controller Services
Our controller services will take your business to the next level – and beyond.
Let us take your books to the next level and bridge the gap between reporting and vital insight. With a dedicated controller, we’ll make sure you’re ready for investors, scaling up, and everything in between.
The best part? Your controller is flexible to meet as much or as little as necessary, with no minimum requirement. It’s just one more way we’re making it easier for you to get back to business.
When’s the right time for controller services?
Video Transcript
Speaker 1:
Okay. We are rolling.
Kenji:
We are rolling? Rolling? Check, check.
Kenji:
Same pretty much position so you can move them…
Speaker 1:
Not really.
Kenji:
I was going to this.
Kenji:
Hi, I’m Kenji with Acuity.
Kenji:
Hi, I’m Kenji and I am the founder and CEO of Acuity and just wanted to talk a little bit about the controller function and when your business might need a controller. Typically, we see that small businesses, as they’re growing and things are becoming more complex in their accounting function, may be a good time to think about bringing in a controller. Most people know about CFOs, they’re the top-level tier on the accounting function. People probably also understand how bookkeepers work, the more day to day transactional. So that controller role kind of sits in the middle of them, which is nice because what it actually is, it makes them a very, very flexible resource. They can really handle a lot in your business. We tend to think about them being kind of the glue that holds the accounting function together.
Kenji:
All of our controllers at Acuity come from accounting backgrounds, have worked in public accounting, have accounting degrees. So this is definitely a resource that has a much more technical skillset than your typical bookkeeper would. Think about them as someone who can really help bring strong processes to your business, some more advanced financial reporting that either you, your board of directors, or maybe your investors might need. So if you think you may be ready to utilize a controller or just have a few more questions, we’d love it if you’d reach out to us and we’d be happy to kind of talk you through these services and how they may benefit you.
Not sure what you need?
Here’s what controller services can do for you.
Meet our team of controllers.
Each dedicated controller averages more than 15 years of experience. See someone you may want to work with? Get in touch — we are excited to talk.
When you work with businesses, the mantra that “there’s no such thing as a bad question” is one of the best ones to have. Meredith Norman has put this concept into practice for more than 25 years, working in both accounting and asset management at commercial real estate investment advisory firms and in accounting and finance roles in the software industry. That’s where her skills at time management, organization, and big picture thinking have helped small businesses manage their finances, and where she also gained extensive tax, treasury, and human resource-related experience. When not at work, Meredith is a big UGA football fan, and you can always find her spending time outdoors with her family, planning trips, and getting pumped about Atlanta United’s seriously impressive winning streak.
Kyndal is a University of Colorado graduate with over 25 years of accounting experience. She got her start managing the books at RE/MAX International and went on to work a vast array of businesses including a law firm, golf courses, Arabian horses, race tracks, and the Wildlife Art Museum, a non-profit. With her fantastic attention to detail, Kyndal loves looking at the big picture and breaking it into pieces. When she's not cleaning up a company's books or learning new types of businesses, you can find her spending time with her family, including her daughter and twin sons, enjoying the Colorado outdoors.
A proud mother of two, Stephanie fell in love with accounting and finance after taking a few business classes in college. She got her start working on the leadership development program at Lockheed Martin Skunk Works and brings over 20 years of experience to Acuity. A driven and passionate hard worker, she performs best when faced with a challenge and the opportunity to figure things out, which explains her love for forensic accounting. She strongly believes in doing things right the first time and treating everyone the way she’d like to be treated. When she’s not busy handling reconciliations or financial statements, you can find her outdoors: running and working out, reading, or spending quality time with her family.
A career finance and accounting specialist, Mary Rountree excels at small and medium sized companies where she can make significant contributions to a team’s overall success. With experience in full-cycle accounting and finance, as well as time spent working with a multitude of industries, she finds herself most valuable when building the foundations for a capable and successful management team. After many years on the road as a military brat — Izmir, Turkey is her favorite place to date — she now lives in Georgia with her husband and daughter, who is a competitive swimmer.
Based in the beautiful mountains of Asheville, NC, Lou is a graduate of Georgia State University with a BBA in Finance with experience as a professional consultant for both public and private companies. Her extensive knowledge in the healthcare, technology, and financial services sectors have armed her with a unique and diverse set of skills and qualifications, and she prides herself on her dedication and attention to detail. In her free time, she enjoys music and dancing, antiquing, spending time with friends and family, and traveling. A firm believer in being grateful and projecting a positive attitude in the office and out, she loves collaborating and providing useful, efficient solutions for her clients and their companies.
Starting as a junior accountant at a Portuguese bank in NYC, Nita loves technology — both using it and learning about it — and excels when she’s challenged to work through a client’s financial concerns to discover a solution that makes the company goals possible. She’s best at managing priorities and is most valuable when her clients rely on her skills of thinking ahead, whether that’s scheduling and planning out budgets or finding new ways to reduce time spent and increase quality. Living by the words “change is constant,” Nita loves to help out, get her clients organized, and find resourceful ways to improve their business. When she’s not at work, she loves to eat Thai food, travel to California, New York City, or the beach, and spend time with her husband and three boys.
Brooke Donato has over 15 years of experience in managing finance & accounting functions at various corporate, non-profit, and governmental organizations, including Level 3 Communications, TruEffect, CapitalSource, Fannie Mae, the World Bank, and Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Brooke also spent several years in public accounting at KPMG, where she planned, staffed, and managed the audits of banks & mutual fund clients. She has extensive experience consolidating, analyzing, and reporting financial results and especially enjoys working with high-growth companies, helping them to improve operational analysis and profitability. Brooke is a licensed CPA & graduated from Lehigh University.
Getting her start in corporate tax right after graduation, Tanya thrives in an environment where she can put her skills for organization to good use. With a knack for saving her clients money by implementing best practices, she is most valuable when she gets to lend a helping hand and work through tough challenges to save her clients time and money. With experience ranging from school planning to financial advice, she loves the human aspect of her job and likes communicating with her clients face-to-face as often as possible. When she’s not crunching the numbers at Acuity, she loves being a mom to her two kids, reading mystery novels, and reminiscing about her time playing the flute in her high school and college marching band.
You’ll love having
a controller.
You have a finite amount of time and money, and our dedicated controllers are equipped to help you best manage it. More than delivering accurate monthly reports, a controller is an expert in accounting functions and acts as a watchdog for your finances, challenging your processes to be more efficient and in-tune with the core business.
At Acuity, our company controllers go even further to be the best financial analysts and strategy drivers in your business. They’ll be your essential advocates — helping you guide your company towards the best outcome.
What do controllers do?
Great question — and don’t feel dumb because we get that question every day. Controllers do a lot and often more than you realize. Here are just a few of the things an Acuity controller can do for you:
- Accrual accounting
- Budgeting and audit support
- Complex financial reporting
- Accounting system migrations
- Implementation of financial processes
- GAAP-based accounting
- Oversight of staff accountants
- Interface with your tax advisor
Accounting Resources
A Bookkeeping, Accounting, & CFO Services Buyer's Guide
There comes a time in every small business’s life when accounting services become necessary. Is that time now? In the Acuity Buyer’s Guide, we’ll help you determine whether or not your business is ready for accounting, bookkeeping, or even CFO services. You’ll also learn all about what we offer, the different systems and technologies we’re experts in, and how our credibility can help give you peace of mind. After all, when your accounting is taken care of, you have more time to focus on successfully growing and maintaining your business.
Small Business Accounting - Your Complete Guide
Have you ever taken accounting 101? If not, it’s time for your crash course! In this guide to small business accounting, we cover everything you need to know about the field of accounting and why it’s integral to the success of your business. From covering the differences between bookkeeping and accounting to addressing the differing roles of CFOs and CPAs, we’re offering up the best small business accounting tips in the biz. Ready to learn more? Check out our free, informative guide for a deeper look into Acuity’s accounting offerings.
When Do You Need a Financial Controller?
How do you know if your small business requires the services of a financial controller? In our experience, it boils down to two scenarios: First, another party, such as a venture capital firm or bank, requires you to have one, or second, you need more in-depth services than your current bookkeeper can provide. Find out more about these instances that require a financial controller and how Acuity’s solutions can help fit the unique needs of your business.
Bookkeeping vs. Accounting: What Does Your Business Need?
If you need help with managing your books and financials, you’ve come to the right place. But before we can move on to the next step, you need to be able to answer this key question: Does my small business need a bookkeeper or an accountant? These two vastly different roles each serve an important purpose in managing your money, which is why we’ve put together this quick-and-easy summary to help you determine whether accounting or bookkeeping is the right Acuity service for you.
Cash vs. Accrual Accounting: What Your Small Business Needs to Know
Cash basis accounting vs. accrual accounting: Which method is right for your small business? Cash is simple, straightforward, and simply tracks cash in and cash out. Accrual, on the other hand, is more complex, but it can paint a clearer picture of your business’s future success. Read on to find out more about how they work, which accounting method will work best for you, and when it might be time to bring in the experts.
Automation in Accounting
A.I. learning and automation are taking over every industry — including accounting. Fear not, accountants and bookkeepers: Your jobs are safe, and for the most part, this a good thing. Automation can mean more streamlined processes, faster data entry, and better customer service. Despite the benefits, there are challenges, too, like integrating the new technologies with existing accounting software. Find out how automation is changing the field of accounting, and what’s next for the future of our industry.
Bookkeeper vs. Accountant: What is the Difference? Here's What You Need to Know
Are your books in order? If the answer is no, it might be time to consider bookkeeping or accounting services. A bookkeeper can help with recording and reconciling your books, while an accountant is responsible for handling the big-picture business practices. Which one is right for your company? Read on to find out more about each service, the differences between them, and how Acuity can help point you in the right direction to get (and keep!) your books in order.
Common Small Business Accounting Problems & How to Solve Them
Accounting problems? We’re here to solve them! Accounting isn’t easy, especially for small businesses that are just trying to stay organized while navigating best practices. From scalability challenges and missed payroll to miscategorization and even complete chaos (yes, it happens sometimes), we’re ready to tackle these 11 common pain points when it comes to your accounting needs. If you’re ready, too, give this a quick read and then contact Acuity to get started on tackling your biggest accounting problems.
