Controller Lite Package

For businesses with an accounting foundation that already works

Maintain clarity through an outsourced controller and a steady close

Controller Lite Package by Brett J. Federer Accounting, APC

The Controller Lite Package supports growth-stage businesses that need an outsourced controller providing oversight oversight in Ventura County, Santa Barbara County, Orange County, and throughout California, delivering clearer, more reliable financial reporting without rebuilding their accounting systems. It focuses on stabilizing close discipline, improving consistency, reducing financial risk, and increasing visibility within the structure already in place. Because the system is preserved rather than redesigned, many companies continue operating within Controller Lite long term, using it to maintain a steady close and dependable internal reporting unless structural issues later require a rebuild.

Unlike the Financial Clarity Package, Controller Lite operates within an existing accounting setup rather than redesigning it. Because the system is not being rebuilt, the service is platform flexible and can be delivered across a wide range of accounting software platforms, including QuickBooks.

The goal is simple: an outsourced controller adds a consistent oversight layer that supports reliable financials within their current structure, so decisions are based on checked numbers rather than assumptions. Issues are surfaced as part of the normal close process, without rebuilding the accounting system.

Operating assumption: A dedicated bookkeeper is required and may be full-time, part-time, fractional, outsourced, or contract-based.

What You Have

What You Gain

Irregular Close Rythem

Reactive Monthly Closes

Implicit Assumptions

Inconsistent Numbers

Consistent Treatment

Steady Cadence

Calm Close

+

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Explicit Assumptions

Internally Reliable Numbers

Controller Lite

Package

Judgment applied

How Stability Is Maintained

Controller Lite preserves the existing accounting structure by applying consistent close discipline, documented assumptions, and structured issue escalation, with an outsourced controller providing that oversight layer. Known limitations are tracked, recurring risks are surfaced as they arise, and material issues are communicated without rebuilding systems or redesigning workflows.

You’ve built a foundation that supports the business.

With a steady close, I'll keep the numbers steady.

Operating within a consistent close and clearly understood assumptions that keep the month-to-month predictable.

Controller Lite Package Structure

Existing Accounting Foundation
(Inherited Structure)

The Controller Lite Package assumes an existing accounting environment that is already structurally sound.

This package does not include rebuilding systems, rewriting policies, redesigning workflows, or remediating historical accounting. Instead, it operates within the current accounting structure to preserve consistency and reliability.

Typical conditions include:

An established chart of accounts and reporting structure
A defined monthly close process and cadence
A bookkeeper or internal resource performing transactional work
No requirement for structural accounting changes or historical rebuilds
- (Though, can be scoped separately).

This foundation is maintained, not altered.

Recurring Services

Monthly Accounting
Oversight (Preservation)

Monthly Close Discipline (Soft Close)

Each month, the books move through normal close procedures to maintain a dependable, internally reliable view of financial performance without prematurely locking the period, preserving flexibility while ensuring numbers remain internally consistent, comparable across periods, and reliable for ongoing decisions.

Cash Visibility Graphs

Each month, standardized graphs track total cash balance, cash in, and cash out. These views are presented consistently month over month so changes in burn, inflows, or pressure surface early rather than after issues compound. Historical and current-state visibility only, not forward projections.

Bookkeeper Coordination

Accounting standards are applied through normal close procedures, with issues communicated to the bookkeeper for correction or visibility. All company staff report to internal management. Brett J. Federer Accounting does not manage or supervise client personnel. Responsibility for implementation, compliance, and enforcement of these standards remains with client management.

Material Variance & Accounting Risk Review

Material variances, unusual entries, or compliance risks are flagged directly as they surface, so they don’t get lost in the numbers. Not a standing deliverable, but a safeguard to ensure important issues are surfaced clearly when they arise.

Quarterly Close &
Internal Financial Package (Validation)

Close Finalization (Hard Close)

At quarter-end, a hard close is performed with key accounts reconciled, adjustments finalized, and the period locked, producing the definitive internal financial package used for leadership review, internal governance, and informed decision-making.

Financial Validation

Each quarter, a structured internal validation is performed to confirm periods are fully closed, reconciliations are complete, material variances are identified and understood from an accounting perspective, and reporting remains structurally consistent. The objective is to confirm the financial system continues to operate as designed and produces reliable internal-use financials.

Quarterly Financial Package (Internal Use Only)

Prepared from client-provided records; not an audit or review or fraud detection.

All financials are prepared for internal management use only.
If unusual items are identified, they will be communicated promptly.
Scope includes:
- Balance Sheet (2x): Year-to-date as of quarter close; Year-to-date with monthly splits
- Profit & Loss (2x): Year-to-date as of quarter close; Year-to-date with monthly splits
- Cash Flow (optional): Provided upon request
Upon request, segmented reporting (e.g., by site, project, or service line) may be provided where such structure already exists; this phase does not include the design or rebuilding of reporting structures.
Quarterly or quarter-over-quarter comparative views, where they derive directly from existing monthly data, may be generated upon request.

Scope (Applies to All Recurring Services):

The Controller Lite Package operates within a structured month-end close cadence rather than real-time or on-call interaction. Work is completed asynchronously within client-owned systems and validated through the monthly and quarterly close process. This service is designed to preserve and validate an already functional accounting environment, keeping reporting consistent, reliable, and aligned as the business operates and grows.

Communication occurs through email, scheduled meetings, and documented requests, rather than real-time messaging platforms such as Slack or Teams. Requests are handled in alignment with the close cycle and reporting priorities.

Services do not include a comprehensive examination or review of all transactions and do not constitute an audit, review, or assurance engagement. Adjustments are performed based on issues identified through normal close procedures and information made available during service delivery. The service is designed to surface material issues as encountered but does not guarantee identification of all errors. Work is performed using professional judgment and sampling inherent in a normal month-end close process, rather than exhaustive verification of all activity.

If onboarding begins late in a quarter, a built-in grace period allows time to stabilize systems and reconciliations. In these cases, the first full quarterly close begins the following quarter. From there, reporting cadence aligns naturally so leadership receives consistent first-half and second-half visibility each year.

Onboarding Schedule

System Requirements

Controller Lite is platform-flexible and operates within the company’s existing accounting system, including QuickBooks. Because the system is already in place, the focus is on improving reporting discipline and close consistency inside the current platform rather than redesigning the underlying structure.

Where the Controller Lite Package Sits

Strategic planning
Business decisions
Board meetings / preparation

Management / Leadership

Staff management and payroll
Forecast creation & ownership
KPI calculation and interpretation

Controller Level Support

Issues surfaced, as appropriate
Close structure and cadence
Consistent month-end execution

Financial reporting integrity
Monthly cash graphs (3 views)
Ongoing system stability

* Bookkeeper may be full-time, part-time, fractional, outsourced, or contract-based.

Transactional Support
(Bookkeeper)

Transaction entry
Vendor record maintenance
Bank & credit card reconciliations

Customer invoicing
Vendor bill processing
Weekly cash visibility snapshots

Statutory & Regulatory Compliance (Third-Party or Client-Managed)

Sales Tax Filings
Use Tax Filings
Property Tax Filings

Income Tax Filings
City or Local Tax Filings
Annual Filings

Nexus Analysis
State Registrations
Business Licenses

Change Guidelines:
Process, Policy, Procedures,

The Controller Lite Package is designed to maintain a stable, controller-level accounting environment through a consistent month-end close. The focus is on preserving alignment, validating reporting integrity, and keeping financials reliable as the business operates and grows.

Existing processes, policies, and workflows are maintained. If questions arise that affect the accuracy or consistency of the close, general industry practices may be discussed for management consideration, and records can be aligned once an approach is confirmed.

The Controller Lite Package does not include redesigning processes, drafting new accounting policies, or implementing structural accounting changes. Any broader changes are identified, documented, and scoped separately at the client’s discretion.

Capitalization Policy Exception

Where a basic capitalization threshold is required to maintain consistent fixed asset treatment, a standard capitalization approach may be defined and applied.

Questions About Close Consistency and Outsourced Controller Support

If your close is running but the numbers are harder to trust than they should be, start here.

A consistent close comes from structure, not effort. When timing, review sequencing, and assumptions are applied the same way every period, the close stops depending on who is available or how complex the month was. The Controller Lite package builds that cadence into your existing accounting environment so the close runs reliably without restarting each cycle.

Differences in reporting usually trace back to inconsistent classification, timing, or review standards rather than changes in the business itself. When those standards are not applied uniformly, results become hard to compare. The Controller Lite package stabilizes how the numbers are produced so reports are consistent across periods.

If your accounting system functions but results require extra effort to trust or explain, the gap is usually not the system itself but the consistency of the close. The Controller Lite package adds structured oversight to an already working system so results stay reliable as the business grows.

If your accounting is generally functional but results feel inconsistent or require repeated review, the issue is usually ongoing structure rather than historical errors. A cleanup addresses past problems, while deeper structural issues may require a full rebuild of the accounting system. The Controller Lite package focuses on keeping the system stable going forward so issues do not continue to resurface.

Outsourced controller services are structured as a monthly retainer and cost significantly less than hiring a full-time controller. The Controller Lite package starts at $2,400 per month and is designed for growth-stage businesses that need consistent close oversight without the cost of building an internal accounting team.

Most growth-stage businesses handle this through an outsourced controller, a monthly engagement that delivers close oversight and reporting consistency without the cost of a full-time hire. Controller Lite is structured this way, operating within your existing accounting system on a consistent monthly cadence so the close runs reliably without adding internal headcount, or shifting into an hourly engagement when a retainer is not the right fit.

The signal is usually not a single breaking point but a gradual increase in effort. The close takes longer, reports require more explanation, and confidence in the numbers starts to slip even when nothing is obviously wrong. That pattern typically means the accounting system needs consistent oversight to hold at the current level of activity rather than a full rebuild.

Pricing & Terms

I believe in clean numbers — and clean pricing.

Recurring Services

Retainer

Starting at

$2,400 / Month

Overage

+ $150 / Hour

The not-so-‘Fine Print’

This section exists to remove surprises, not to bury terms.

Additional terms may be outlined in your Engagement Agreement, which governs in the event of any conflict.

Read This

What this is
- Hourly overages apply when work extends beyond the steady monthly cadence within the existing package scope.
  - Requests that extend beyond straightforward clarification and require additional analysis or investigation
  - Additional time required to complete month-end close due to complexity or other factors that extend the close
How it works
- Overage time is tracked in 30-minute increments, rounded up, summarized, and billed the following month
- Requests are handled within normal business capacity and prioritized alongside recurring client commitments
- Work outside the existing scope is addressed separately
Not included
- State or federal compliance, including sales tax, property tax, annual filings, or income tax work
- CFO-level services such as forecasting, budgeting, scenario modeling, or investor reporting
- Bank access beyond view-only or execution preparation
- Staff management, supervision, training, or enforcement

How communication works
- Communication is integrated into each retainer engagement as part of the structured workflow.
  - This includes clarification of work performed and communication necessary to support the close process and maintain consistency within the scope of the package.
What’s included
- Questions or discussion points addressed within the existing workflow are incorporated into the engagement.
  - This includes straightforward clarification and context related to work already being performed.
Communication channels
- Communication occurs via email and scheduled meetings.
- Slack, Microsoft Teams, text messaging, and other real-time platforms are not used for ongoing support.
Response timing
- Responses are provided in a timely manner based on complexity and current execution demands.
When overages apply
- Requests that require additional analysis, research, or work beyond the structured workflow are addressed as hourly overages. See Hourly Overages section above for details.

If your bookkeeper leaves, changes, or performance drops and your books become unreliable, your monthly package temporarily adjusts to 150%.
This adjustment applies during disruption and ends once workflows are stable.
Clients will be notified when triggered.
Short-Term Accounting Support may be elected instead when no accounting staff is in place.
- See details under Short-Term Accounting Support here →

Reference Only

Invoicing & Timing
- Payment is due within fifteen (15) days. Services may be paused for non-payment.
- Fixed-scope monthly packages are billed in advance at the start of each calendar month for the month ahead.
- If services begin mid-month, the initial invoice is prorated based on the calendar start date. All subsequent months are billed at the full monthly rate.
- Overage Hours incurred are billed on the following month’s invoice.
Service Scope
- Controller Lite covers ongoing professional accounting support within the defined monthly scope. Services are structured to support an existing accounting environment and do not include system rebuilds, historical cleanup, policy design, or separately scoped project work unless explicitly agreed.
Third-Party Costs & Access
- Service fees cover professional services only and do not include third-party software subscriptions. Client-facing accounting platforms are licensed and paid for directly by the client, with access provided through advisor roles or client-created credentials.

Rates increase 5% every 12 months to account for inflation and ongoing system upkeep.
The sign-up month is treated as Month 0, regardless of sign-on date.
The 12-month cycle begins with the first full calendar month of service.
Rate adjustments are automatic and predictable. Services may be canceled at any time if no longer a fit.

Clients are expected to provide timely cooperation and access to records.
If information is withheld or access is restricted, services may be paused.
Persistent delays or unresponsiveness may result in paused service or early termination.

Either Party
- Either party may cancel services at any time.
First 30 Days of the Engagement (Initial Fit Period)
- The full monthly rate is billed for the month in which cancellation occurs, regardless of cancellation date, and is not prorated, with any previously applied promotional reductions remaining in effect.
- Hourly overages incurred prior to the effective date of cancellation are billed on the final invoice.
- The final invoice is issued immediately upon written notice of termination and is due under standard payment terms.
Post 30 Days After Engagement
- The full monthly rate is billed for the month in which cancellation occurs, regardless of cancellation date, and is not prorated, with any previously applied promotional reductions remaining in effect.
- A termination fee equal to one additional month of service is charged, separate from the final month’s billing.
- Hourly overages incurred prior to the effective date of cancellation are billed on the final invoice.
- The final invoice is issued immediately upon written notice of termination and is due under standard payment terms.