Our Services

Accounting and Finance Support Tailored to Your Needs

We provide excellent nonprofit accounting services and work exclusively with nonprofits so that we fully understand the unique, nuanced, and often complicated accounting that is required. Words like "donations with restrictions, net assets without restrictions, conditional grants, cost allocations, Form 990" have meaning to us, and we know just how to account for them.

We understand the accounting framework needed, i.e., the coding required on each financial transaction to best make entries in your accounting system so that necessary information and reports can be pulled directly from your accounting system. And we know how to best develop accounting workflows that provide the necessary information so that the transactions can be fully and properly recorded.

Best thing is, we work with you, your people, and your workflows and make them better. We have proven our effectiveness in delivering your accounting services remotely, almost as if our team were located at your premises.

Financial Staffing Support

Interim CFO, Director of Finance or Controller

  • Assess your financial information, team, and workflows

  • Provide financial direction pending permanent hire

  • Backfill permanent positions while your organization is in transition

  • Deliver on-going high level nonprofit accounting expertise on a part-time basis

  • Assist with special financial projects, such as due diligence reviews or system implementations

  • Help select or manage outside professionals (CPA's, insurance agents/brokers, financial advisers)Develop supporting documents such as cost allocations, restricted net asset schedules, fixed asset and right to use asset schedules

  • Help to improve accounting workflows and processes

  • Implement latest accounting apps to improve the accounting

Nonprofit Accounting Managers

  • Oversee monthly close cycle

  • Perform monthly close duties including cost allocations, balance sheet reconciliations, prepaid expenses, vacation accruals and depreciation

  • Create basic financial statements

  • Record restricted donations and release from restriction entries

 

Nonprofit Bookkeeping

  • Accurately and quickly enter transactions into your accounting system

    • A/P, bill payments, credit card transactions

    • A/R invoices and deposits

    • Ensure cash entries have been recorded to facilitate the monthly bank reconciliations

Accounting Operations

  • Review and establish a consistent monthly journal close

  • Implement use of 3rd party accounting apps that integrate with your accounting system

  • Set up your accounting software that meets your needs for your organization's size

  • Create an effective Chart of Accounts

  • Improve your Accounts Payable and Receivable processes

  • Train your staff

 

Accounting & Reporting

Financial Reporting and Analysis

  • Develop a "Dashboard" of results for fast and effective communication

  • Prepare and present financial reports to your Board of Directors

  • Prepare grant reports for government and foundation funders

  • Create organization budgets that work for you

  • Develop and prepare government award budgets and reporting

  • Customize your internal financial reporting

  • Prepare cash projections that help you manage your cash flow

  • Develop effective reporting processes

  • Create financial forecasting and scenario analysis models

Audit Prep and Evaluation of Internal Controls

  • Provide additional expert help in preparing for an audit

  • Proven record of success working with multiple auditors and auditing firms

  • Perform an assessment of your internal controls

* We do not conduct audits and related attest functions.

Grants Management

Manage Grants Systems

  • Review current practices and identify areas for development or improvement

  • Create and help manage reporting calendar

  • Develop systems for tracking grants and grant financials

  • Work with accounting team to record data, identify revenue and set up coding

  • Ensure compliance with funder requirements

  • Streamline workflows and processes

  • Support budgeting processes

  • Maintain consistency (staff training)

  • Recommend grants management tools/software

 
 

Nonprofit Accounting Apps

Nonprofit Accounting System Conversions
Work with you to select and implement an accounting system that's right for you. We can also help with the integration of 3rd-Party Apps such as bill payment processes, expense reimbursement and credit card transactions, time and expense reporting, and more.

Work with you to select and implement an accounting system that's right for you.

Help you integrate accounting apps:

  • Bill.com

  • Divvy

  • Expensify

  • Tallie

  • Transaction Pro Importer

  • Concur

Accounting systems that we know:

  • QuickBooks Online

  • QuickBooks Desktop

  • Fund E-Z

  • Intacct

  • Sage MIP

Implement and integrate payroll apps:

  • Intuit Payroll and QuickBooks Time

  • Gusto

  • ADP

  • PayChex

Nonprofit Filings

IRS Form 990 and Related State Filings
All services related to filing your 990. We file your 990 electronically!

IRS Form 1023 and Nonprofit Incorporation
We will advise and provide support in setting up your nonprofit organization.

Annual Form 1099 Filings

Help you set up employer accounts in various states

 

Human Resources - Referral

Castlerock Consulting
While we are unable to provide HR and recruiting support for our clients, it is a common need that we see in the nonprofit organizations we work with. We are a proud partner of Castlerock Consulting and highly recommend their services. They provide Shining Star with HR and Recruiting support that is customized to our needs. Here is a little about what they do.

With Castlerock, you get the best of both worlds: cost-effective HR expertise that is tightly embedded in your culture.

Step 1: We get to know your organization’s culture and priorities, and we provide a complete foundation of HR tools, workflows and policies customized for you.

Step 2: We partner you with an expert HR Advisor who is there for ongoing guidance and proactive support to ensure you are highly effective with routine processes (like onboarding), seasonal events (like performance reviews), and exceptional situations (like complaints/investigations). We make it easy for you to have great HR.

Step 3: We help you reduce expenses, build a strong workforce, and address issues before they become big headaches.

"Monte has played an instrumental role in elevating DRA's finance function as the organization grows in size and scope. He and his staff helped us examine our finance function and develop policies and procedures for smooth operations moving forward. I highly recommend Monte and Shining Star Consulting for their thoughtful, capable approach to ensuring nonprofits build the operational systems they need to succeed and thrive."

~ Kate Hamilton, Managing Director, Disability Rights Advocates