Outsourced Controller Services for US Businesses A Clean Close, Every Month
Outsourced controller services that own your month end close, review every reconciliation and put real internal controls around your money, without the cost of a full time controller.
- Close in 10 daysAgreed calendar
- Reviewed balancesEvery account, every month
- Audit readySupport files kept
Big Accountants provides outsourced controller services to US businesses that need more than bookkeeping but are not ready for a full time controller. We take ownership of the month end close, check the work behind every balance and build the controls that keep your numbers reliable.
A controller sits between your bookkeeper and your owners or CFO. Bookkeeping records what happened. Controller services make sure it was recorded correctly, completely and in the right period, so the financial statements you rely on can stand up to a lender, an investor or an auditor.
- Month end close calendar and checklist
- Review of every reconciliation
- Accruals, prepaids and cutoff
- Internal controls and approvals
- Variance analysis and audit support
Why Internal Controls Matter for Growing Businesses
Weak controls are rarely noticed until money is already missing. The latest global study of occupational fraud shows how costly and slow that discovery can be.
What Our Outsourced Controller Services Include
Scope is set around your close, your risks and your reporting needs, and written into your engagement letter.
Month end close management
A close calendar and checklist, run and tracked every month.
Reconciliation review
Bank, card, loan, clearing and intercompany accounts reviewed and signed off.
Accruals and cutoff
Accrued expenses, prepaids, deferred revenue and period cutoff handled correctly.
Internal controls
Approval limits, segregation of duties and access reviews designed and tested.
Variance analysis
Budget and prior period variances investigated and explained in plain language.
Fixed assets and inventory
Asset registers, depreciation schedules and inventory reconciliations kept current.
Policies and procedures
Written close procedures, approval matrices and accounting policies.
Audit and review support
Schedules and support files prepared for auditors, lenders and tax preparers.
A Month End Close You Can Rely On
A typical close calendar. We agree your exact dates at onboarding and report against them every month.
- Days 1 to 3
Collect and reconcile
Statements pulled, bank and card accounts reconciled, open items listed.
- Days 4 to 6
Adjust
Accruals, prepaids, payroll and revenue cutoff entries prepared with support.
- Days 7 to 8
Review
Controller review of every balance sheet account and the income statement.
- Days 9 to 10
Report
Financial statements, variance commentary and the signed close checklist delivered.
Books behind or unreconciled? We start with catch up bookkeeping, then run the close from clean numbers.
Controller Services Built on Internal Control
We design controls around how your business actually runs, using the structure of the COSO Internal Control Integrated Framework, the framework most widely used by US companies and auditors.
For smaller teams, that means practical steps: one person never controls a transaction from start to finish, every reconciliation is reviewed by someone else, and changes to vendors, bank details or user access leave a record.
- Segregation of dutiesPrepare, approve and pay kept separate
- Approval matrixLimits by amount, vendor and department
- Reconciliation sign offPreparer and reviewer on every account
- Access reviewsWho can see and change what, checked regularly
- Close checklistEvery task dated, owned and evidenced
In House Controller vs Outsourced Controller Services
The work is the same. The difference is cost, cover and how much expertise you can access.
| Factor | Full time controller | Bookkeeper only | Big Accountants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Month end close | Owned in house | Often informal | Owned, on a written calendar |
| Review of the work | One person | None | Controller review every month |
| Internal controls | Depends on the hire | Rarely designed | Designed, documented and tested |
| Holidays and turnover | Close stalls | Close stalls | Team based cover |
| Cost | Senior salary, benefits and payroll tax | Lower, without review | Competitive fixed monthly fee, hourly or per task |
Already have a bookkeeper? We can sit above your existing team as the reviewing controller, or provide the full stack through our outsourced bookkeeping team.
Signs You Need Outsourced Controller Services
If two or more of these sound familiar, controller level oversight will pay for itself in accuracy and peace of mind.
- Your monthly reports change after they are sent
- Nobody reviews the bookkeeper’s reconciliations
- A lender, investor or buyer has asked for reviewed financials
- You are preparing for an audit or a financial review
- Revenue or expenses land in the wrong month
- One person can set up a vendor and pay it
Outsourced Controller Services Pricing
Price depends on transaction volume, number of entities and accounts, close timetable and the controls work involved. Every quote is fixed in writing after a free call, and our pricing is competitive. See how our pricing models work.
Fixed monthly fee
Ongoing controller support
Close ownership, review and reporting for an agreed monthly fee.
Hourly
Review only
Controller review over your existing bookkeeping team.
Per task
Defined projects
A controls review, audit preparation or close redesign at a set price.
Industries and Software We Support
Our controllers work with US businesses in these sectors, inside the platforms they already use.
- Ecommerce
- Healthcare
- Retail
- Wholesale
- Manufacturing
- Restaurants
- Construction and contractors
- Real estate and property management
- Accounting firms
- QuickBooks Online
- QuickBooks Desktop
- Xero
- Zoho Books
The Finance Team Around Your Controller
Outsourced bookkeeping
The daily and weekly work your controller reviews.
Financial reporting
Monthly statements and management reports.
Virtual CFO
Forecasts, budgets and strategic decisions.
Accounts payable
Bills paid on time, with fraud controls.
See all our accounting and bookkeeping services for US businesses.
Outsourced Controller Services FAQs
What are outsourced controller services?
Outsourced controller services provide a qualified controller on a part time basis. The controller owns the month end close, reviews reconciliations and journal entries, maintains internal controls and makes sure the financial statements are accurate and complete.
What is the difference between a bookkeeper and a controller?
A bookkeeper records and reconciles transactions. A controller reviews that work, posts adjusting entries such as accruals, enforces cutoff, designs internal controls and signs off the monthly close.
What is the difference between a controller and a CFO?
A controller makes sure the numbers are right and the month is closed properly. A CFO uses those numbers to plan cash, set budgets and guide future decisions. Many growing businesses need a controller before they need a CFO.
How much do outsourced controller services cost?
Cost depends on transaction volume, entities, the close timetable and the controls work involved. We offer a competitive fixed monthly fee, hourly billing or per task pricing, quoted in writing after a free call.
Can you work with our existing bookkeeper?
Yes. We can act as the reviewing controller over your in house or outsourced bookkeeper, or provide bookkeeping and controller services together through one team.
How long does the month end close take?
Most clients close within ten business days of month end once the books are current. Your exact calendar is agreed at onboarding and tracked every month.
Do you help with audits and financial reviews?
Yes. We prepare the reconciliations, schedules and support files your auditor, reviewer or lender asks for, and answer their questions on the accounting.
Which accounting software do you work in?
We work in QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Desktop, Xero and Zoho Books, using your existing chart of accounts or improving it where needed.
Close Every Month With Confidence
Tell us how your close runs today. We will recommend the level of controller support you need and send a clear written quote.