Controller Services for Growth-Stage and Founder-Led Companies
Growing companies reach a point where basic accounting is not enough. Audits, lender reporting, investor updates, acquisitions, and complex contracts require stronger close discipline, cleaner reconciliations, and GAAP-ready reporting. We are a Houston-based CPA firm serving growing companies in Houston and nationwide with controller services designed to scale with your business.
When Companies Hire Us
- Preparing for a first audit or the audit keeps getting delayed
- Month-end close takes too long or the numbers keep changing
- Reconciliations are incomplete or documentation is inconsistent
- Need GAAP-ready reporting for investors, lenders, or a transaction
- Hiring a first Controller, or need Controller-level leadership without a full-time hire
- Scaling into multi-entity operations, a new system, or an acquisition
What We Help With
Fractional Controller Services
- Month-end close leadership and calendar design
- Balance sheet reconciliations and review standards
- Accrual frameworks, rollforwards, and tie-outs to the trial balance
- Financial reporting packages for leadership and stakeholders
- Audit coordination support and PBC organization
- Documentation standards and controls-ready workflows
Audit Readiness for Growing Companies
- Audit readiness assessment and remediation plan
- Reconciliation clean-up and support package standards
- Rollforwards and audit-ready schedules for key accounts
- PBC tracker setup and request organization
- Preparation for auditor walkthroughs and common audit questions
Close Optimization
- Close workflow redesign and role clarity
- Standard templates for reconciliations and schedules
- Review checkpoints and sign-off procedures
- Automation opportunities for high-volume reconciliations
- Close playbooks your team can maintain
GAAP and Technical Accounting Support (As Needed)
- ASC 606 revenue recognition support for complex contracts
- Acquisition and integration accounting support
- Lease accounting support and policy guidance
- Technical memos and audit-ready documentation
What You Receive
- A cleaner close and higher confidence in the numbers
- Audit-ready documentation that reduces rework and auditor follow-up
- Reporting that leadership, lenders, and investors can rely on
- A repeatable process that scales as your company grows
Industries Served
- SaaS and subscription businesses
- Professional services and managed services
- Technology and cloud-enabled businesses
- Healthcare technology and healthcare services
- Energy services and industrial services
- PE-backed and VC-backed portfolio companies
- Founder-led companies building their first finance function
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Do you offer controller services for companies not yet audited?
A. Yes. Many clients engage us before their first audit to establish strong reconciliations, reporting, and documentation standards.
Q. What is the difference between a fractional controller and bookkeeping?
A. Bookkeeping focuses on recording transactions. A fractional controller focuses on close leadership, reconciliations, accrual accuracy, reporting quality, and audit readiness.
Q. Can you help while we hire our first Controller?
A. Yes. We provide interim leadership, stabilize the close, and help transition processes to your new hire.
Q. Do you only work with Houston companies?
A. No. VAO CPA LLC is based in Houston and serves the Houston metro area (including Sugar Land, Richmond, Katy, Pearland, Stafford, and The Woodlands) and clients nationwide.
If your company is growing and you need a cleaner close, audit readiness, or controller-level leadership without a full-time hire, we can help.