Short version: Bookkeeping services record what happened. Client Accounting Services (CAS) add higher‑level reporting and true advisory on top of bookkeeping, and can extend into AR, AP, and payroll as modular add‑ons. CAS automates handoffs and turns reports into decisions. If you want clean books, bookkeeping fits. If you want a faster close, fewer bottlenecks, and proactive insights, CAS is the model.
Why This Matters
Most firms outgrow basic bookkeeping long before they realize it. Early signs are subtle: the core financial statements stop answering the questions leaders are asking, the close slows relative to the pace of decisions, and the owner feels they are guessing when planning the next moves. What is missing is a strategic finance partner. Client Accounting Services (CAS) provides that partnership by keeping the ledger accurate and adding proactive guidance, structured handoffs, and management reporting tailored to the business, so leaders can make timely, confident decisions.
Bookkeeping in Practice
Bookkeeping keeps the ledger accurate and current. It captures bank and credit card activity, enters vendor bills and customer invoices, reconciles the key accounts, and produces the core financials a small business expects: the profit and loss, the balance sheet, and basic AR and AP aging. The emphasis is on completeness and correctness of past activity so that the historical record is dependable.
Bookkeeping is the right fit when transaction volume is modest, activity is straightforward, and reporting needs are limited. Cash‑basis companies without inventory or project costing often do well here. If the owner only checks the numbers occasionally and the goal is simply clean books, bookkeeping does its job.
CAS in Practice
CAS builds on solid bookkeeping rather than replacing it. With accurate, timely books in place, the next constraint becomes how decisions get made and executed. Core CAS focuses on the higher‑level work most owners are missing: a management‑reporting cadence, variance reviews with owners, and advisory support that links results to next steps. From there, CAS can extend into operational modules, including accounts payable, accounts receivable, and payroll, when those handoffs need structure and automation. These modules are add‑ons; not every firm needs all of them, and they are priced separately.
CAS turns that foundation into an operating system for finance. Routine handoffs are automated and scheduled so approvals, postings, and reminders flow without inbox chasing. Review points are documented to keep errors out, and exceptions are logged and resolved before close. CAS also sets a simple operating rhythm with recurring KPI reviews and a brief leadership finance check‑in, monthly or biweekly, so finance stays connected to operations and decisions happen on time. The effect is practical: a shorter close, less rework, and decision‑ready reporting that arrives in time to be used.
Tool note: We build on your existing stack, such as Microsoft 365, to keep data in your tenant and automate handoffs without adding new systems.
CAS vs. Bookkeeping: Scope and Outcomes
| Area | Bookkeeping Services | Client Accounting Services (CAS) |
| Scope | Record and reconcile | Record, reconcile, close, analyze, improve |
| Deliverables | GL tidy, basic reports | Close package, dashboards, KPIs, rolling forecasts |
| Controls | Light, reviewer spot checks | Segregation of duties, approvals, audit trail, remediation tasks |
| Automation | Optional bank rules | Structured flows, intake forms, scheduled jobs |
| Cadence | As time allows | Calendar‑driven, SLA‑based |
| Ownership | Bookkeeper executes tasks | CAS team owns process health and outcomes |
Note: AP, AR, and payroll can be added to CAS as optional modules. Core CAS always includes higher‑level reporting and advisory.
How Work Gets Done and Who Owns Outcomes
An in‑house bookkeeper offers proximity and familiarity, but progress slows when one person must juggle AP, AR, and the close. An outsourced approach adds depth on demand, documented coverage for vacations and peaks, and a results contract that defines what is delivered and when. Under CAS, messy email threads give way to structured intake and approvals. Every step is timestamped and auditable, so handoffs are clear and recoverable.
Accountability is explicit. The owner or CFO sets policies and thresholds. Staff submit requests through standardized forms or shared folders. The CAS team runs the calendar, executes tasks on schedule, and maintains an exception log. A controller‑level review signs off the checklists and confirms that exceptions were resolved before the period is closed.
Deliverables and Cadence
Core CAS (included): The month‑end close runs on a checklist by day. Reconciliations, accruals, and fixed‑asset activity are assigned to owners with dates. Variances are analyzed with clear owners, and corrective actions are logged rather than left in email. Reporting arrives on a fixed schedule with a management pack that highlights performance, focuses attention on the few metrics that matter, and ties each significant variance to an owner and next step. For stakeholders such as a board or lender, an optional pack adds covenant tracking and narrative context without recreating the numbers in a separate file.
AP module (add‑on): Intake captures vendor and required details up front. Vendor‑master changes are controlled, three‑way match is applied where it makes sense, and approvals route to the right people on a predictable schedule. Payment runs follow a calendar so cash planning is straightforward, and year‑end 1099 obligations are tracked as the year unfolds.
AR module (add‑on): Invoicing follows a standard template and cadence so customers know what to expect. Reminders and collections steps are predefined, from friendly nudges to promise‑to‑pay tracking, keeping cash conversations professional and consistent.
Payroll module (add‑on): Roles and approval thresholds are defined, changes are captured through a simple intake, and payroll calendars integrate with the close so accruals are clean and audit‑ready.
Controls and Governance
Controls live inside the work, not off to the side. Access to sensitive folders is limited to the right roles, and approval policies define dollar thresholds, dual approvals where needed, and delegated authority during absences. Each approval and document change leaves a timestamped record, so the audit trail is visible without extra effort.
Business continuity follows the same logic. SOPs, runbooks, and service calendars make the process resilient to staff changes and vacations. If a step is delayed or skipped, the exception log and checklist make it obvious and actionable.
AI assist: Modern AI tools can draft SOPs, summarize exception logs, and produce first‑pass variance commentary. Human review stays in place.
What CAS Is Not
CAS is distinct from several other financial services. It does not encompass tax preparation or tax planning, which are separate services. Similarly, CAS does not involve audit work or any other type of attestation that verifies the accuracy of financial statements, nor does it represent the client in any formal capacity. While CAS does include advisory components, its focus is on operational finance and management reporting. It does not provide the strategic vision, capital planning, or board-level responsibilities typically associated with a Chief Financial Officer (CFO) or fractional CFO services.
Pricing and Pilots
Bookkeeping is priced as a fixed monthly fee. CAS begins with a 30‑day pilot focused on one primary workflow where we capture the baseline, agree on targets, and implement changes. After the pilot, steady‑state CAS is tiered by process complexity, service levels, and the reporting pack. Operational modules for AP, AR, and payroll are available as add‑ons and priced separately, so you only pay for what you need.
Who CAS Is For
CAS is an accounting-in-a-box solution designed for professional service firms. It helps these firms offload manual finance and some finance-adjacent services, allowing their teams to focus on core business growth.It’s best suited for firms looking for more detailed information or strategic advice about their financials, who are also hoping to free up their current teams’ time by offloading accounting tasks. The most successful engagements begin with piloting the CAS processes over 30 days to measure its immediate impact.
Common readiness signals include a recurring spreadsheet grind, month‑end slippage, unclear KPIs, or approvals that sit in inboxes. Firms running multiple systems or repeating data entry benefit quickly from standard intake, clear approvals, and a single source of truth.
Capabilities Side by Side
| Capability | Bookkeeping | CAS |
| Transaction capture | ✓ | ✓ |
| Reconciliations | ✓ | ✓ |
| Month‑end close checklist | △ ad hoc | ✓ documented and scheduled |
| Variance analysis | ✗ | ✓ recurring |
| KPI dashboards | ✗ | ✓ refreshable |
| Automation | △ minimal | ✓ structured flows |
| Controls and approvals | △ informal | ✓ policy‑driven |
| Forecasting and scenario work | ✗ | ✓ as add‑on |
| SLA and accountability | △ task list | ✓ outcome‑based |
Get Started
- Grab a 30‑minute mapping call to assess fit and pick your pilot.
Book a consult - Download the 12‑Step Month‑End Automation Checklist and mark your current state, then identify one quick win to automate first.
Get the checklist - Pilot in 30 days, measure results, then lock the steady‑state CAS package.
CPA review note: All automations and process changes are reviewed by a CPA for control impact and accuracy before rollout.