Hire a Dedicated Controller for Your CPA Firm

Finsmart dedicated controller services start at $3,200/month or $28/hour. A comparable US in-house controller costs $90,000 to $120,000 per year in salary alone, plus benefits, payroll taxes, and recruiting fees. Finsmart gives you the same US GAAP-trained, CPA-supervised capability at a fraction of the cost.

A bookkeeper records and categorizes daily transactions. A controller manages the entire financial close process - reconciliations, journal entries, financial statement preparation, variance analysis, and audit workpapers. Controllers operate at a senior level, with responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of financial reporting rather than just data entry.

From signed agreement to first close cycle in 5 business days. Finsmart handles all controller matching, access provisioning, and onboarding documentation. Month one includes a supervised parallel close reviewed by a senior CPA to ensure quality before you see the first deliverable.

Finsmart controllers are certified on NetSuite, QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Desktop, Sage Intacct, Xero, FreshBooks, Wave, Zoho Books, and 12+ additional platforms. We match you with a controller pre-certified on the exact software your clients use - no migration or retraining required.

Yes. Finsmart assigns one dedicated controller to your firm. The same professional handles your client accounts every month, learning your clients chart of accounts, close preferences, and reporting standards over time. We do not rotate staff or use shared teams.

Yes. Every deliverable - close package, financial statements, variance report, workpapers - is reviewed by a Finsmart senior CPA before it reaches your firm. This CPA oversight layer is what separates Finsmart from offshore freelancers and ensures partner-ready quality on every engagement.

Every Finsmart controller signs a comprehensive NDA covering your firm and all client data. All work is performed in secured, encrypted environments with SOC-2 aligned data handling practices. Client data never leaves your accounting platform - no local storage on personal devices.

Finsmart offshore controllers deliver the same US GAAP-trained, CPA-supervised output as a domestic hire at 65-75% lower cost. The key differences are time zone coordination (manageable for close cycles) and no in-person meetings. For firms focused on deliverable quality rather than physical presence, offshore controllers are increasingly the preferred model.

Yes. Finsmart controllers prepare audit-ready workpapers as part of their standard monthly deliverable. Organized reconciliations, supporting schedules, and clean journal entry documentation are included. Many Finsmart clients report faster year-end audits with fewer auditor queries after switching to a dedicated controller.

Standard monthly deliverables include: bank and account reconciliations, journal entries and adjustments, P&L and balance sheet, cash flow statement, budget vs. actual variance commentary, and management reporting pack. Additional deliverables (KPI dashboards, departmental reports, board packs) can be scoped based on your client requirements.

Yes. Many Finsmart clients are solo CPAs or small 2-5 person firms. A dedicated controller lets you offer controller-level services without hiring full-time staff, bill higher advisory fees, and free yourself from the close process so you can focus on client relationships and firm growth.

Finsmart operates on month-to-month contracts with 30 days notice to adjust or exit. There are no 12-month minimums, no setup fees, and no termination penalties. You can scale from one controller to multiple controllers as your client book grows, or pause during slow seasons.

Standard close deliverables are completed within your agreed close calendar, typically 7-10 business days after month end. For firms with earlier close requirements, Finsmart can accommodate 5-business-day close cycles. Ad hoc reports and variance analyses are typically turned around within 48 hours of request.

Yes. All Finsmart controllers are trained to US GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) and familiar with US GAAS as they apply to workpaper preparation and audit support. This is a required certification, not optional - every controller must pass US GAAP certification before being assigned to a US CPA firm client.