WHAT DO YOU DO?
Since 1993, Your Part-Time Controller has been helping nonprofit organizations build a better world by helping them build better accounting departments. By providing controller-type services on an as-needed, outsourced basis, YPTC makes this critical function effective and affordable for charitable organizations whose budgets are always tight and whose expertise may not be in the world of accounting and finance. Outsourcing your controller functions is a simple, economical solution that makes sense. From coming to your office one day a month to several days a week, or working remotely we’re there for you – and with you, and ready to hit the books when we start.
HOW CAN YOU HELP ME?
Your nonprofit has an important mission. You have a passion for your cause, and you’re terrific at what you do, but accounting probably isn’t your strong point. You know you can’t realize your dream without a solid finance department, but you’ve got better places to put your energy and your limited resources than into bookkeeping, budgeting, forecasting and financial analysis. As an executive or member of the board of directors, you want actionable management information that helps you run things more effectively and efficiently. You need quality information that’s accurate, timely and easy to understand. You want the reassurance that your finance department is running the way it’s supposed to. You want to be able to sleep at night.
That’s where we come in. We step in and handle the fiscal duties you just can’t get to – or get into:
- Accounting
- Assessments
- Benchmarking
- Bookkeeping
- Budgeting
- Cash flow issues
- Cost accounting
- Evaluations
- Financial analysis and reporting
- Fiscal responsibility training for board members
- Forecasting
- Internal controls
- Staff training
- Troubleshooting
HOW DID YOU GET STARTED?
In 1993, Eric Fraint, CPA, a father of three, set up Your Part-Time Controller to supply highly qualified accountants to concerns that need such staffing just one or two days a week. He expected to develop a clientele of small manufacturing enterprises, but soon discovered his true passion in helping the nonprofit sector.
“Any accountants can review finances and develop control systems,” he says. “For me, it’s not just a question of dollars and cents. I thoroughly enjoy the intellectual challenges and sense of giving something back to the community that comes with working in the nonprofit sector. The world of nonprofits has been far more emotionally satisfying for me, and my staff, to work with.”
He regularly shares his expertise of responsible fiscal management with students in such programs as La Salle University’s Nonprofit Management Development Center and Drexel University’s Graduate Arts Administration Program, and he’s served on more nonprofit boards of directors than he cares to admit. “Acquisition of material wealth never brings true fulfillment,” he says. “The job of every person is to make the world a better place.”
WHY DO YOU WORK ONLY WITH NONPROFITS?
While all businesses must address control issues to be successful, nonprofits usually have fewer resources upon which to draw. Meanwhile, they’re facing increasingly more complex financial and accounting concerns and scrutiny from legislators and the public. Whether it’s complying with state charitable bureaus’ reporting requirements or understanding the implications of the federal Sarbanes-Oxley and Pension Protection Act provisions, good intentions are no longer good enough.
We know the nonprofit sector, we believe in it, and we believe in you. We know the pressures you face, your funding issues, your reporting requirements, what your board of directors needs, what your auditors want, and the challenges of today’s economic conditions. We understand the tightrope you have to walk between your margin and your mission.
At Your Part-Time Controller, we’re not interested in helping a company produce a cheaper widget: we have a social conscience and want to give something back to our community. We want to do everything we can to help nonprofits succeed. We want to help build a better world, too. Since control is a pillar of an organization’s capacity – and what we do best – we’ve dedicated ourselves to helping nonprofits navigate the challenging environment of finance and accounting – so you can do what you do best.
WHO ARE YOUR CLIENTS?
Our clients – many of whom have stayed with us for many years – represent the full range of nonprofit services: performing arts groups, food banks, philanthropic services, community development, job training, youth programs, and a lot more. Each of them has a passion for their particular field, and recognizes that our expertise in financial management and accounting has helped them do a better job. We consider them part of our family, and they quickly come to think of us as My Part-Time Controller.
DO YOU COME TO OUR OFFICE, OR DO YOU TAKE OUR RECORDS OFF-SITE?
At Your Part-Time Controller we think of ourselves as “in-sources” – we come to you. Our staff are on your site, interacting with your people, available to answer your questions, at your schedule. Your records never leave your premises. We tailor our services to meet your needs and timeframe.
WHAT IS A “CONTROLLER”?
A controller is the top financial person in an organization. Depending on the nonprofit’s size and sophistication, it could be a senior vice president for finance, a chief financial officer, or an accounting manager. Regardless of the title, this person maintains control over the organization’s assets, cash, deposits, payments, and payroll. He or she is responsible for the functioning of the finance department, and has to provide all the financial analysis, reporting, planning, budgeting, forecasting, and address cash flow issues. It’s a huge responsibility – and one which many nonprofits are not prepared to undertake adequately.
IF WE HIRE YOU, WHAT’S OUR COMMITMENT?
None – you’re not locked into any specific time frame. When you decide to use Your Part-Time Controller, we’ll issue an engagement letter spelling out our services. We make it as easy as possible for you. We provide whatever level of services, and the amount of time we’ll spend with you, that best suit your needs. As long as you’re happy with us, continue to use us. You can cancel at any time. But we don’t think you’ll want to: we’re extremely proud of our high level of client retention. Many of our clients have been with us for years. We’re relying on your being so happy with our services that you’ll want to continue. It’s that simple.
WHAT DO YOU CHARGE?
Our pricing model is based upon the range of services that would be done by a CFO, controller, accountant, or bookkeeper, and we make it cost-effective. You get all the financial services you need at a fraction of what it would cost to have these people on your payroll. Costs are based on the amount of time and services you need – we charge only for the work performed. Our people work effectively and efficiently: if they get their work done quickly, we charge less.
WHAT’S THE NEXT STEP?
Get in touch! We’ll be pleased to meet with you and your board and present a plan to help you build a better world more effectively and affordably.