What We Do
Our Services
Two practices under one fixed fee: CFO & accounting on a flat monthly retainer, and business tax quoted as a fixed fee per engagement. No hourly billing — ever.
Know What You're Buying
Bookkeeping vs. Controller vs. CFO
These aren't three versions of the same thing. Each answers a different question — and serves a different moment in your business.
| Bookkeeping Commodity baseline | Controller Protea operates here | Fractional CFO Protea's CFO practice | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Focus | Recording the past | Controlling the present | Steering the future |
| Answers | "Are the transactions recorded?" | "Can I trust these numbers — and are they on time?" | "Where are we headed, and how do we fund it?" |
| Scope | Transaction entry & categorization, bank/card reconciliation, AP/AR data entry, payroll processing | Month-end close, GAAP-basis financials, internal controls, reporting package, cash management, systems & process design | Forecasting & FP&A, budget vs. actuals, KPIs & unit economics, capital / banking & surety strategy, pricing, board- and lender-ready reporting, M&A readiness |
| You get | Clean, categorized books | Timely, reliable financials by Business Day 10 | Decisions, direction, and access to capital |
| Analogy | Keeps the score | Enforces the rules | Calls the plays |
Bookkeeping
Commodity baseline
Focus
Recording the past
Answers
"Are the transactions recorded?"
Scope
Transaction entry & categorization, bank/card reconciliation, AP/AR data entry, payroll processing
You get
Clean, categorized books
Analogy
Keeps the score
Controller
Protea operates here
Focus
Controlling the present
Answers
"Can I trust these numbers — and are they on time?"
Scope
Month-end close, GAAP-basis financials, internal controls, reporting package, cash management, systems & process design
You get
Timely, reliable financials by Business Day 10
Analogy
Enforces the rules
Fractional CFO
Protea's CFO practice
Focus
Steering the future
Answers
"Where are we headed, and how do we fund it?"
Scope
Forecasting & FP&A, budget vs. actuals, KPIs & unit economics, capital / banking & surety strategy, pricing, board- and lender-ready reporting, M&A readiness
You get
Decisions, direction, and access to capital
Analogy
Calls the plays
How the Two Halves Connect
The close feeds the return. The return shapes next year.
Clean monthly books make the return accurate and on time. The return, in turn, surfaces the decisions that matter for next year — entity structure, owner compensation, timing, and where you owe across state lines. When the same CPA sits on both sides, tax planning starts in June instead of March, and your CFO-level decisions are made with the tax consequences already in view.
Fixed Fee · Monthly
CFO & Accounting
The reliable close, and the forward-looking work built on top of it — one practice, one fixed monthly fee.
Fixed Fee · Monthly
Controller Services
The financial operations layer your business depends on. Accurate books, timely close, and a CPA who knows your business — delivered every month without fail.
Month-End Close by Business Day 10
Full close with reconciled financials delivered by the 10th business day, every month. No surprises, no delays.
Weekly Reconciliations
Bank, credit card, and revenue accounts reconciled weekly against live bank feeds, so nothing slips and your books stay current between closes.
Financial Statement Preparation
Accurate P&L, balance sheet, and cash flow statement prepared monthly. The foundation for every financial decision you make.
AP/AR Management
Invoice processing, vendor payments, and customer follow-up on receivables — clean, tight, and on time.
Dedicated CPA Access
Your CPA knows your chart of accounts, your vendors, and your business. Not a rotating help desk — the same CPA every month.
Year-End Close & Tax Prep Support
Clean year-end financials and organized workpapers so your tax return is a formality, not a scramble.
Fixed Fee · Monthly
CFO Services
Strategic financial leadership for growing businesses. We act as your outsourced CFO — thinking about the future of your business, not just recording the past.
13-Week Cash Flow Forecasting
A rolling 13-week cash forecast updated weekly so you always know exactly where you stand — and where you're headed.
Strategic Financial Advisory
A senior financial partner who understands your business model, your margins, and your goals — available when you need guidance, not just at year-end.
Board-Ready Financial Packages
Investor-grade reporting packages prepared for board meetings, lender reviews, or investor updates — accurate, timely, and professionally formatted.
Budget vs. Actuals Reporting
Monthly variance analysis so you can see exactly where you're tracking against plan and make adjustments before small variances become big problems.
KPI Dashboard & Reporting
Custom dashboards built around the metrics that matter to your business — revenue per client, gross margin by product line, burn rate, or whatever drives your decisions.
Quarterly Strategic Reviews
Deep-dive sessions to review performance, assess risks, and identify opportunities. Not just reporting — thinking alongside you as a financial partner.
Fixed Fee · Per Engagement
Business Tax
Business and owner individual returns prepared by the same CPA who manages your books — no handoff, no re-explaining. Entity returns, multi-state filing, proactive planning, and nonprofit 990s, all fixed fee and quoted upfront.
The Framework
The Protea Method
Five stages of financial maturity. Where you sit tells you exactly what you need next.
Shoebox
Survival
"Everything's in a shoebox somewhere — literally."
Tax: whatever you can find each April.
Compliant but Blind
Looking back
"My books are done — but they tell me nothing."
Outsourced Controller
Tax: filed on time, but reactive.
In Control
Clear picture
"I finally know my numbers — monthly, and on time."
Outsourced Controller
Tax: accurate, on schedule, no surprises.
Steering
Looking forward
"I make the call before the fact, not after."
Fractional CFO
Tax: planned before year-end, not after.
Built to Value
Enterprise value
"My finance function is an asset buyers pay for."
CFO-led engagement
Exit & Transaction Advisory →
Tax: structured for the deal, not just the return.
Shoebox
Survival
"Everything's in a shoebox somewhere — literally."
Tax: whatever you can find each April.
Compliant but Blind
Looking back
"My books are done — but they tell me nothing."
Outsourced Controller
Tax: filed on time, but reactive.
In Control
Clear picture
"I finally know my numbers — monthly, and on time."
Outsourced Controller
Tax: accurate, on schedule, no surprises.
Steering
Looking forward
"I make the call before the fact, not after."
Fractional CFO
Tax: planned before year-end, not after.
Project-Based
Additional Services
Some needs don't fit a monthly retainer. These are scoped and quoted as fixed-fee projects.
Financial Cleanup & Catch-Up
Behind on your books? Messy handoff from a previous provider? We'll reconstruct, reconcile, and get you current — then keep you there.
System Setup & Migration
Moving to QuickBooks Online, Xero, or a new ERP? We'll handle the migration, chart of accounts design, and integrations so your new system works from day one.
Project-Based Advisory
Due diligence support, financial modeling, lender packages, or process redesign — scoped, quoted, and delivered as a fixed-fee project.
Ready to get started?
Book a free 20-minute consultation to discuss which services fit your business.