North Carolina CFO and Controller Services

At Robert J. Rickert CPA, PC, our service packages are customized to meet the specific needs of our clients. Choose any of the following services for your business:

CFO Services
The Chief Financial Office of a company provides overall financial management and guidance. The CFO is a vital part of the management team, using financial data to help the company plan strategy and grow. However, many smaller companies cannot afford a full time CFO. Here are some of the services our CFO on demand package offers:

• Strategic planning activities
• Financial statement analysis
• Custom financial performance reports
• Budgets and projections
• Establish and maintain financing
• Manage risk

Controller Services
It is the Controller’s responsibility to provide timely,  accurate and relevant financial information to the management team. All of the reports and projections in the world won’t help your business if they do not contain credible information. Our controller package provides the following services:

• Produce timely, accurate and relevant financial information and reports
• Help to select, install and maintain accounting software and systems
• Help to hire, train and measure accounting staff members
• Interface with other stakeholders/vendors (customers, auditors, vendors, etc.)
• Tax compliance services, including filing all federal and state income, sales, and property taxes

Crisis Management
Is your business facing pressure from banks or other lenders? Is the IRS or state taxing authority sending notices of delinquent tax bills? Have you recently lost a critical member of your accounting or financial staff? When your business is facing a financial crisis, you need experienced talent to help guide you. Some of our crisis management services include:

• Managing relationships with banks or other lenders
• Negotiating with key suppliers to keep your business operating
• Representing your company before the IRS or state to resolve delinquent/disputed tax filings
• Providing emergency cash management
• Working with the management team to identify potential cost-saving initiatives

Interim Financial Management
If your business is in transition and you need short term full service financial management, we can help. Whether you need someone to fill a specific role in your organization or need to outsource your entire accounting department, we have the tools to provide:

• Full CFO and controller services as described above
• Full service cash management, including receivables and payables support
• Bookkeeping and reconciliations
• Tax compliance support, including income, property and sales taxes
• Stake holder interface support, including lenders, investors and customers

Acquisitions & Buying A Business
Are you an entrepreneur thinking of buying your first business? Looking to expand your current operation through acquisitions? It has been our experience that without a seasoned professional to steer the transaction along many potential transactions can get bogged down in minutiae. We have the expertise to help you navigate the process, from selecting a target, through negotiations and right up to closing. Our acquisition services include:

• Help to determine the criteria of potential acquisitions
• Perform a targeted acquisition search
• Evaluate and assess potential targets
• Perform due diligence on potential targets to ensure you know what you are getting into
• Work closely with your attorney to draft offers and purchase agreements
• Assist in negotiations with seller
• Facilitate the transaction close
• Provide post closing consulting to help ensure a smooth transition

Divestitures & Selling A Business
Are you considering selling your business but don’t know where to start? Does the whole process seem confusing and a bit intimidating? We have the experience it requires to help take the stress out of a potential divestiture. Let us show you how we can help maximize your return on the business you built. Our divestiture services include:

• “The Clean Up” – making sure your business is in the best possible shape to command the highest possible price
• Help you determine an initial estimate of what your business is worth
• Develop a comprehensive prospectus to highlight your business’s strengths
• Identify and qualify potential buyers
• Assist in negotiations to ensure optimal price
• Perform due dilligence on potential buyers
• Work closely with your attorney to review any agreements and closing documents

Litigation Support
Disputes often arise in the course of business. Unfortunately when they do they can quickly turn into a legal matter. If you are an attorney or a business owner looking for support in a business dispute, turn to us. We can help with the following:

• Forensic accounting – we can make sense of jumbled financial records and help you “follow the cash”
• Interim Financial Management – many disputes require an independent and unbiased third-party to handle financial and accounting transactions while the dispute is settled. Our Interim Financial Management service is perfect for these situations
• Overall financial guidance – some disputes arise simply because a partner or owner does not understand a transaction or series of transactions. We can consult with both parties and make sure all involved understand exactly what happened and where things stand in order to facilitate a settlement.

Business Tax Services
Let’s face it, filing tax returns are a necessary evil. No business owner enjoys having to do it. That’s why we make the process as painless and efficient as possible. As part of our CFO  and Controller services we also offer full-service tax preparation. Think of us as a one-stop shop for all of your finance and accounting needs. Not only do we provide tax preparation services, but we also offer innovative tax planning in order to minimize your tax impact. After all, what good is earning more if you don’t get to keep it?

Individual Services
Do your individual taxes require professional attention? Robert J.Rickert CPA, PC is equipped to handle your personal taxation needs, ensuring that you are not paying more than your fair share of taxes. Specific services include:

• Tax return preparation, including personal income, gift, estate and fiduciary tax returns
• Strategic tax planning

Tax Dispute Assistance
Are you receiving notices from the IRS or a state taxing authority? Do you have unfiled tax returns from previous years? We can help you understand your situation and how to resolve it as quickly and painlessly as possible. Tax dispute assistance services include:

• Review returns in question to determine actual liabilities or refund
• Represent taxpayers in front of taxing authorities
• Negotiate settlement of any amounts due
• Assist in establishing payment plans for any amounts due