Engagements

Deliberate in commitment, exact in delivery.

Every engagement proceeds through the same four phases. The structure exists to protect the client: the plan is reviewed before the build is purchased, and the build proves itself before it replaces anything.

1.0 Diagnostic

A fixed-scope assessment of your month-end process.

Engagements open with a diagnostic, typically one to two weeks. We interview the people who perform the work and trace each recurring process end to end, recording where the hours are spent. The deliverable is a written assessment of your month-end and back-office workflows, with automation candidates ranked by expected return and implementation difficulty.

The diagnostic is priced independently and the assessment is yours to keep. Taking it to another firm, or executing it internally, is a legitimate outcome.

2.0 Build

Scoped deliverables, existing tools, defined controls.

Each build is scoped from the diagnostic with a fixed deliverable list approved before work begins. We build around the systems you already operate, your general ledger, payroll, spreadsheets, and reporting templates, rather than introducing new software. Every automated step carries a control point: a review queue or a sign-off before anything posts or sends.

3.0 Parallel run

Agreement precedes adoption.

New systems earn adoption by matching the processes they replace. The new process runs alongside the existing one for at least one complete monthly cycle, the two outputs are reconciled, and discrepancies are resolved until they agree. Nothing is cut over on assurance alone.

4.0 Transition

Ownership or retainer, documented either way.

At the end of a build, the client elects either full ownership, with documentation written for internal maintenance, or a monthly retainer covering maintenance and ongoing analysis. Documentation is produced in both cases. A system that functions only while we are engaged fails our own standard.

Terms

Pricing and structure

Builds are quoted after the diagnostic on a fixed-fee basis, so pricing reflects actual scope rather than a rate card. Diagnostics are priced flat and quoted at inquiry.

Founding-client terms, a substantial reduction in exchange for a testimonial and an anonymized case study, are available for our first three engagements.

  • Fixed scope, fixed fee. No hourly billing. The deliverable list is approved before the build begins.
  • Automation with oversight. Systems handle the mechanical steps. Judgment remains with people, whether the client's or ours.
  • Existing tools first. We build around current systems and recommend new software only where the current systems genuinely cannot perform.
  • Documented exit. Every engagement concludes with documentation. No client is dependent on us by design.

The diagnostic is the lowest-risk way to establish what your month-end process actually costs.

Inquire about a diagnostic