Accounting automation services · what we do
How Ledger Summit delivers this engagement
Each engagement runs the same Ledger Summit transition model: discover the current workflow, prove value with a controlled pilot, design controls and evidence packs, integrate with your stack, and stand up managed support so the gains compound.
Who this is for
Mid-market accounting teams with multi-entity, project, or inventory complexity that haven't been solved by a single piece of software. We work alongside the controller — not in place of them — to design a close that completes in the same window every month with full audit trail.
- Controllers running 8–15 day closes that miss board cadence
- Accounting managers losing review time to manual reconciliations
- PE-backed CFOs aligning portcos to a 5-day close
- Multi-entity teams with intercompany matching pain
- Companies preparing for first audit, debt refinance, or M&A diligence
- Teams that have outgrown a checklist tool but aren't ready for a full BlackLine implementation
What we implement
We design and stand up the workflows, controls, and evidence packs that turn a manual close into a repeatable, audit-ready process. Tooling stays in your existing systems wherever possible.
- Close orchestration board with dependency rules and owner routing
- Bank, AR/AP sub-ledger, and intercompany reconciliation automation
- Journal entry validation, approval routing, and exception queues
- Recurring entry templates: accruals, prepaids, depreciation, payroll
- Fixed-asset roll-forward and depreciation schedule maintenance
- Variance / flux analysis and management reporting packs
- Close dashboards for controller, CFO, and lender views
- Integrations with QuickBooks, NetSuite, Sage Intacct, Bill, Ramp, Stripe, and bank feeds
- PBC list assembly tied to the audit cycle
What can — and can't — be automated
| Workflow | Automation reach | What stays manual |
|---|
| Bank reconciliations | ~95% — auto-match, exception queue | Disputed items, fraud review |
| AP sub-ledger reconciliation | ~90% — three-way match where applicable | Vendor disputes, timing differences |
| AR sub-ledger reconciliation | ~85% — invoice-to-payment match | Customer disputes, partial payments |
| Intercompany matching | ~85% — entity-pair-level match | Cross-currency timing, judgment items |
| Recurring journal entries | ~95% — accruals, prepaids, depreciation | Significant or non-recurring estimates |
| Fixed-asset roll-forward | ~90% — depreciation, additions, disposals | Impairment assessment, classification judgment |
| Variance / flux analysis | ~70% — automated calc, threshold flags | Commentary, root-cause assessment |
| Reporting pack generation | ~95% — assembly from approved data | Management commentary, board narrative |
| Significant judgments | 0% — controller's domain | Going-concern, impairment, complex revenue |
| Audit responses | ~60% — evidence retrieval automated | Position memos, representation letters |
Implementation phases
| Phase | Weeks | What ships |
|---|
| Discovery | 1 | Current SOP map, owner matrix, controls register, gap list |
| Pilot | 2–3 | One workflow live with parallel run and before/after metrics |
| Controls & integration | 3–4 | Approvals, evidence pack templates, ERP/system sync |
| Production cutover | 1 | Go-live with rollback plan and KPI tracking |
| Managed support | Ongoing | Monthly close support, exception resolution, optimization |
Reconciliation automation patterns we deploy
Most close-cycle time goes to reconciliations. Each pattern below has its own automation playbook with worked examples and exception logic.
- Bank reconciliation — direct bank-feed pull, auto-match against GL postings by date and amount, exception queue for unmatched items, daily reconciliation discipline
- Credit-card / corporate-card reconciliation — Ramp / Brex / Concur feed integration, GL coding rules with reviewer sign-off, exception queue for ambiguous categorization
- AR sub-ledger reconciliation — invoice-to-payment match, partial-payment allocation logic, dunning integration, customer-dispute exception flow
- AP sub-ledger reconciliation — three-way match (PO / receipt / invoice) where applicable, vendor-dispute exception flow, payment timing validation
- Intercompany matching — entity-pair-level match by currency and transaction type, FX revaluation tied to source GL, exception queue with 24-hour SLA
- Deferred revenue reconciliation — sub-ledger to GL tie-out, modification handling, waterfall generation
- Fixed-asset reconciliation — sub-ledger to GL, depreciation schedule, impairment indicator screening
- Payroll reconciliation — payroll provider to GL accrual, benefit accruals, payroll-tax tie-out, 401(k) match accruals
- Sales-tax reconciliation — Avalara/TaxJar to GL, jurisdiction-by-jurisdiction tie-out, payable roll-forward
Accrual and deferral patterns
Recurring entries that follow a predictable rule are perfect candidates for templates. Each accrual or deferral has source data, calculation logic, GL posting, reviewer routing, and reversal logic.
- Payroll accrual — based on days-elapsed-since-last-payroll, gross-up for taxes and benefits, reverses on next payroll
- Bonus / commission accrual — based on plan rules, performance metrics, payout schedule
- Vacation / PTO accrual — earned hours × loaded rate, refreshed monthly
- 401(k) match accrual — match formula × eligible compensation, reverses on contribution
- Property tax accrual — annual assessment ÷ 12, true-up at assessment receipt
- Insurance prepaid amortization — annual premium ÷ coverage months
- Software / SaaS prepaid amortization — annual fee ÷ subscription months
- Rent prepaid (when applicable) — straight-line if escalators, payment-pattern otherwise
- Deferred rent / leasehold improvement — ASC 842 lease liability and ROU asset roll-forward
- Audit fee accrual — annual fee × % of fieldwork complete
- Legal accrual — based on engaged-but-unbilled estimates from outside counsel
Controls and audit-ready evidence
Every close artifact lands with documentation auditors can walk through. We build the controls into the workflow so the evidence pack is a byproduct, not extra work.
- Role-based approvals by close stage and account group
- Timestamped logs for status changes, JE postings, and approvals
- Reconciliation evidence with attached source data and reviewer sign-off
- Exception escalation with SLA and owner accountability
- PCAOB-aware documentation when AI agents touch the GL
- Master-data change log for accounts, vendors, customers, and items
- Segregation-of-duties enforcement (preparer ≠ approver)
Typical outcomes
| Metric | Before | After | Delta |
|---|
| Close cycle time | 10–15 business days | 4–7 business days | −50% to −60% |
| Manual close-prep hours | 40–80 per close | 12–25 per close | −65% to −70% |
| Unresolved exceptions at sign-off | 15–25 avg | 2–5 avg | −80% |
| Audit prep time | 3–5 days | Same-day evidence pack | −100% |
| JE volume requiring review | ~150–250 per close | ~30–60 per close | −75% |
| Reconciliation tie-out variance | $5K–$50K monthly | $0 monthly | −100% |
Tools landscape — when to build, when to buy
| Tool | Strength | When it's the right fit | When it isn't |
|---|
| FloQast | Close-management workflow + Excel-rec automation | $25–200M, primarily reconciliation pain | If pain is integration depth or evidence packaging |
| BlackLine | Account recs + matching + close + journal entry | $200M+, public-company readiness | Below ~$150M, the implementation cost rarely pays back |
| Numeric | Modern close-management with strong UI/UX | $10–100M tech-forward teams on QBO/NetSuite | Heavy multi-entity or industry-specific (GovCon, healthcare) |
| Trintech / Adra / Cadency | Enterprise close + recs + transaction matching | $500M+, regulated, multi-instance ERP | Mid-market — usually over-scoped |
| Tool Box AI on existing stack | Workflow + controls + evidence layered on existing GL | Mid-market wanting fast time-to-value, no new vendor | Above $500M with public-company readiness — buy a CPM platform |
When this approach fits — and when it doesn't
| Strong fit | Not a fit |
|---|
| $10M–$300M revenue, mid-market complexity | Below $10M revenue (a CAS firm + better tooling is more cost-effective) |
| Existing accounting system that works at base level | Existing system needs replacement first (do that, then this) |
| Controller and accounting team already in place | No accounting talent in seat (managed close fits better) |
| Audit, refinance, M&A, or board cadence pressure | No upcoming compliance or operating-cadence pressure (no urgency) |
| Want to keep close in-house but improve discipline | Want to outsource close entirely (managed close fits better) |
| Multi-entity or project-driven complexity | Public-company SOX 404(b) — needs dedicated software stack |
Frequently asked questions
How long does a typical close automation engagement take?
Most teams reach measurable improvement in 30–45 days for a single workflow (e.g., bank reconciliations or intercompany), and a full close transformation in 60–90 days. We always start with a controlled pilot so you can validate before committing to the full rollout.
Do we need to replace QuickBooks or NetSuite to do this?
No. The whole approach is built around layering automation on top of your existing accounting system. We integrate with QuickBooks, NetSuite, Sage Intacct, Costpoint, and others — and only recommend a system change when there's a clear business case (which we'll quantify before suggesting it).
How does this compare to FloQast, BlackLine, or Numeric?
FloQast, BlackLine, and Numeric are software products. We're an implementation partner. If software is the right answer for you, we can implement any of those (or stand up Tool Box AI). Most mid-market teams need workflow design, controls, and integration as much as they need a checklist tool — that's the gap we fill.
What controls do you build for AI agents that touch the GL?
We design SOX-aware controls before any AI agent posts journal entries: scope limits, approval routing, full audit trail, evidence pack generation, and a controls matrix your auditor can walk. PCAOB amendments now expect this kind of documentation — we build it in.
Can you support our team after go-live?
Yes. Most teams move into a managed support engagement after rollout — we run alongside the close monthly, resolve exceptions, and optimize as the business changes. Pricing is fixed monthly so it's predictable.
How do you handle accounting standard adoptions (ASC 842, ASC 326)?
Standard adoptions are scoped as their own projects on top of close automation. ASC 842 lease accounting and ASC 326 CECL each have specific calculation engines and disclosure requirements; we build them with the same workflow + controls + evidence pattern.
What about multi-currency and consolidations?
Multi-entity consolidation is a layer on top of close automation — see our multi-entity case study for the full pattern. Multi-currency uses ASC 830 mechanics; we handle re-measurement, translation, and CTA tracking as part of the close engine.
Can you support inventory and cost accounting?
Yes — inventory cost-flow, WIP roll-forward, cycle-count reconciliation, and standard-cost-vs-actual variance analysis are part of the close-automation pattern for manufacturing and distribution companies.
How do you handle non-recurring transactions?
One-off transactions (acquisitions, restructuring, impairment, equity transactions) are scoped separately. The base close engine handles the recurring 95%; controller-led work handles the unusual 5%.
What does ongoing managed support cost?
Fixed monthly fee scaled to entity count, transaction volume, and reconciliation depth. Quoted after a 30-minute scoping call. No per-transaction pricing.
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