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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
The Controller Lite Package is designed for businesses where the accounting foundation already works but the close has started becoming inconsistent, delayed, or harder to rely on as the business grows. The focus is maintaining a steady close, dependable reporting, and ongoing financial clarity without rebuilding the accounting system. A dedicated bookkeeper is required and may be internal, fractional, outsourced, or contract-based.
What You Have
What You Gain
Irregular Close Rhythm
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
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 Foundation
Existing Foundation
It’s already built. It needs to hold.
The Controller Lite Package assumes an existing accounting environment that is already structurally sound. The focus is not on rebuilding or redesigning the system, but on operating within the current structure to preserve consistency and reliability.
What happens in this phase:
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The existing chart of accounts and reporting structure are used as-is
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The current close cadence and workflows remain intact
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Transaction processing continues through the client’s existing bookkeeper or internal team
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Financial outputs are produced from the established system without structural changes
What this phase is not:
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Not a system rebuild or cleanup
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Not policy creation or redesign
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Not restructuring workflows or correcting historical accounting
This foundation is inherited, not created.
Onboarding
Monthly Execution
Quarterly Validation & Financials
Existing Foundation
Onboarding
Onboarding
Orientation before anything moves.
Before work begins, access is established, expectations are aligned, and the engagement is structured so the first close runs cleanly.
What happens in this phase:
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Accounting system access is established
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Banking and financial accounts are connected
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Historical activity is surfaced and organized
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Revenue structure, billing, and contractor relationships are clarified
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Communication cadence and response expectations are defined
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If onboarding begins late in a quarter, the first full quarterly close begins the following quarter so the reporting cadence starts cleanly.
What this phase is not:
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No restructuring or corrective work takes place yet.
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This phase exists to ensure the system is stable before changes begin.
Monthly Execution
Quarterly Validation & Financials
Existing Foundation
Onboarding
Monthly Execution
Monthly Execution
It runs.
With the system stable, the monthly close operates as a disciplined, repeatable process. Each month produces a consistent, internally reliable view of performance without intervention or correction.
What happens in this phase:
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The books move through a structured monthly soft close
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Material items and risks are surfaced as they appear
What this phase is not:
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Not rebuilding, corrective work, or major system changes
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Not a deliverable phase, no financial statements are issued
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The period is not locked, preserving flexibility until quarterly validation
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No comprehensive cleanup, policy redesign, or retrospective review of all prior activity
Consistent. Predictable. No surprises.
Quarterly Validation & Financials
Existing Foundation
Onboarding
Monthly Execution
Quarterly Validation & Financials
Quarterly Validation & Financials
Confirm it holds. Produce Financials.
At quarter-end, the system is validated, financials are finalized, and numbers move from internally reliable to usable for leadership and governance.
What happens in this phase:
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Key accounts are reconciled and adjustments are finalized
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A structured validation confirms the period is fully closed
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Material variances are identified, understood, and documented
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The quarterly financial package is produced for internal use, including:
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Balance Sheet (year-to-date; year-to-date by month)
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Profit & Loss (year-to-date; year-to-date by month)
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Cash Flow, segment reporting, and year-to-date by quarter (available on request)
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What this phase is not:
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Not an audit, review, or assurance engagement
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Not real-time or on-call involvement
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Not forward-looking advisory work
The numbers hold. The period is closed.
Ongoing Communication
Communication is handled through structured updates and scheduled touchpoints, not real-time messaging platforms such as Slack or Teams. Requests are handled within the established cadence and priorities of the close.
Supported Software
The Controller Lite Package operates within the Client’s existing accounting and banking systems rather than replacing them. Existing platforms and workflows remain in place while recurring execution and close activity stabilize around them.
The Firm does not assume control over cash movement, banking authority, or operational management, and any bank access is limited to read-only and download access.
Supported accounting systems include:
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QuickBooks
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Xero
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Odoo
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Sage
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and similar accounting systems
Where the Controller Lite Package Sits
Brett J. Federer Accounting, APC
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Monthly Soft Close
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Material Exceptions Flagged
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Quarterly Hard Close
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Quarterly Financials Issued
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Reporting Integrity Maintained
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Existing Structure Maintained
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Strategic planning
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Business decisions
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Board meetings / preparation
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Staff management and payroll
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Forecast creation & ownership
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KPI calculation and interpretation
Capitalization Policy Included
Every Controller Lite client receives a basic capitalization policy if one is not already in place. This gives fixed asset treatment a clear threshold, so capitalization decisions are handled consistently during the close instead of being decided differently from month to month.
The policy is designed for practical internal use within the existing accounting structure. Broader accounting policy creation, workflow redesign, historical cleanup, or system stabilization are handled through a different package or available add-on when needed.
Questions About Close Consistency and Outsourced Controller Support
🔹How do I get my monthly close to run consistently?
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.
🔹Why do my financial reports change every month?
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.
🔹Do I need a controller if my accounting already works?
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.
🔹How do I know if I need ongoing oversight instead of a one-time cleanup?
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.
🔹How much does an outsourced controller cost?
The Controller Lite Package is structured as a monthly retainer and costs significantly less than hiring a full-time controller. The Controller Lite package starts at $1,300 per month and is designed for growth-stage businesses that need consistent close oversight without the cost of building an internal accounting team.
🔹How do small businesses manage accounting without a full-time controller?
Most growth-stage businesses handle this through an outsourced controller rather than hiring the role full-time. Controller Lite provides close oversight and reporting consistency through a fixed-scope monthly retainer, operating within the existing accounting system and alongside the client’s bookkeeper so the close runs reliably without adding a full-time controller.
🔹When does a business outgrow its current accounting setup?
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
$1,300 / 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
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What They Are
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Overage hours provide a simple way to handle work that goes beyond the monthly package scope but still relates to the package already in place. They keep the engagement flexible when a month requires more time than the standard package is designed to cover
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How They Are Billed
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Overage time is tracked in 30-minute increments, rounded up, summarized, and billed the following month at $150/hour. Requests are handled within normal business capacity and prioritized alongside recurring client commitments.
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Retainer
If it is about work already being performed, it is usually included.
Routine questions, clarification, and meetings about work already being performed in the package are included. You should not feel like every normal question starts a timer.
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Overage Hours
If it adds time to the existing package work, it may be overage time.
Applies when a request extends beyond the normal close cadence but still relates to work already being performed. This may include analysis, research, deeper review, extended reconciliation work, meetings that require preparation or additional work, or other close-related support beyond the normal monthly scope.
They may also apply when the close itself requires unusual time due to abnormal complexity, higher-than-normal activity, or issues that surface during review and require additional work before the records can be closed properly.
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Add-Ons
If it needs its own scope, it is treated separately.
Applies when the request is a separate service area, larger project, or defined deliverable that needs its own scope before work begins.
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How communication works
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Communication is integrated into each retainer engagement as part of the structured workflow.
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This includes clarification of work performed and communication necessary to support the close process and maintain consistency within the scope of the package.
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What’s included
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Questions or discussion points addressed within the existing workflow are incorporated into the engagement.
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This includes straightforward clarification and context related to work already being performed.
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Communication channels
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Communication occurs via email and scheduled meetings.
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Slack, Microsoft Teams, text messaging, and other real-time platforms are not used for ongoing support.
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Response timing
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Responses are provided in a timely manner based on complexity and current execution demands.
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When overages apply
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Requests that require additional analysis, research, or work beyond the structured workflow are addressed as hourly overages. See Hourly Overages section above for details.
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If your bookkeeper leaves, changes, or performance drops and your books become unreliable, your monthly package temporarily adjusts to 150%.
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This adjustment applies during disruption and ends once workflows are stable.
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Clients will be notified when triggered.
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Short-Term Accounting Support may be elected instead when no accounting staff is in place.
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See details under Special Projects & Custom Support.
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Reference Only
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Invoicing & Timing
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Payment is due within fifteen (15) days. Services may be paused for non-payment.
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Fixed-scope monthly packages are billed in advance at the start of each calendar month for the month ahead.
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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.
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Overage Hours incurred are billed on the following month’s invoice.
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Service Scope
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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.
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Third-Party Costs & Access
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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.
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Pricing Alignment
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Pricing reflects the structure and complexity of your accounting environment at the time of onboarding. If that structure evolves over time, pricing may adjust to remain aligned with the level of support required.
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Retainer rates increase by 5% each January to account for inflation and continued system upkeep.
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Clients who begin or convert into this package during Q3 or Q4 are excluded from the immediately following January adjustment. Their first increase occurs the next January, with annual January adjustments applying thereafter.
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Rate adjustments are automatic and apply only to future billing periods. Services may be canceled under the terms above if the engagement is no longer a fit.
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Clients are expected to provide timely cooperation and access to records.
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If information is withheld or access is restricted, services may be paused.
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Persistent delays or unresponsiveness may result in paused service or early termination.
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Initial 30-Day Fit Period
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Leave anytime. Either party may terminate the engagement immediately by providing written notice.
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Services conclude immediately. Services end when written notice is received unless both parties agree in writing that specific open work will continue.
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No termination fees. Any invoice already issued for the current billing period remains due as billed, but no termination fee applies.
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Transition support included. Reasonable transition and disengagement services directly related to the engagement are included at no additional charge.
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Additional work is billed separately. Work requested beyond the included package scope continues to be billed at the applicable hourly overage rate.
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After the Initial Fit Period
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30 days' notice. Either party may terminate the engagement by providing 30 calendar days' written notice.
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Fees are fixed for the notice period. If you request that active work conclude earlier, the full 30-day notice period remains billable.
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Transition support included. Reasonable transition and disengagement services directly related to the engagement are included at no additional charge.
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Additional work is billed separately. Work requested beyond the included package scope during the notice period, or after active work has concluded, will be billed at the applicable hourly rate.
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Proration is straightforward. Any portion of the notice period extending into the following month is prorated using a standardized 30-day month.
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Financial Clarity,
One Post at a Time
Build Structure That Frees You.
Designed for founders who want clean, consistent financials and the confidence to make decisions without second-guessing. If that’s what you’re building toward, I’m here.