Reliable books. A close process you can trust.
It is hard to get where you are going until you know what you have.
Accurate books are the starting point for board reporting, grant compliance, tax filings, audit preparation, and every financial decision your organization makes.
Relevant Strategies provides the reconciliation, monthly-close, and reporting work that turns raw transactions into financial information your leadership can use and your board can trust.
MORE THAN TRANSACTIONS IN A SYSTEM
A useful monthly close answers practical questions.
Are cash and balance sheet accounts reconciled?
Are restricted resources and grant activity tracked appropriately?
Can management and the board rely on the reports they receive?
A useful monthly close does more than confirm that debits equal credits. It brings the books, supporting records, and the organization's reporting needs into one consistent process.
Are revenue and expenses recorded in the correct period?
Are unusual items identified and explained?
Are records organized well enough to support tax and audit requests?
When those questions can be answered consistently, the monthly close becomes part of the organization's operating discipline rather than a recurring scramble.
WHAT AN ENGAGEMENT MAY INCLUDE
Support built around your team, systems, and reporting needs.
The exact scope is based on your internal team, systems, transaction volume, funding structure, and reporting expectations
Close & reconcile
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Monthly bookkeeping and close
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​Bank, credit-card, loan, and balance sheet reconciliations
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​Transaction coding and account review​​​
Reporting & records
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Board-ready financial statements
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Budget-to-actual reporting
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Supporting schedules and document organization
Operational support
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Accounts payable and accounts receivable support, as scoped
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Fund and grant tracking
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Payroll and benefit-account reconciliation
Specialized coordination
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Coordination with your tax preparer or independent auditor
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Identification and resolution of historical accounting issues
These categories organize the work for clarity; they are not preset packages. The engagement is scoped around what your organization already handles well and where experienced support adds value.
WHAT YOUR RECEIVE
Reporting designed for the people who use it.
A monthly reporting package may include the items below. The content and level of detail should match the decisions each audience is responsible for making.
Statement of financial position
Budget-to-actual comparison
Fund, grant, or program schedules
Statement of activities
Cash and liquidity summary
Reconciliation status
Variance and unusual item explanations
Open questions and recommended follow-up
Management may need operational detail. A finance committee may need trend and variance analysis. The full board may need a concise view of financial condition, risk, and decisions requiring attention.
YEAR ROUND AUDIT PREPARATION
Preparation begins with a monthly close.
Reconcile as you go
Keep accounts current instead of rebuilding the year after the fact.
Flag issues early
Identify questions while the records and context are still readily available.
A clean monthly close keeps leadership and funders current throughout the year and makes year-end audit preparation more orderly.
Organize support
Maintain schedules and records in a way that supports efficient requests.
Reduce disruption
Current records and clear schedules help the team respond without an avoidable fire drill.
THIS SERVICE MAY BE A GOOD FIT WHEN
The monthly process is no longer keeping up with the organization.
The list is not a diagnostic test. It is a practical way for a prospective client to recognize the circumstances that often lead to this type of engagement.