WEALTH ADVISORY OUTSOURCING AUDIT, TAX CONSULTING
CLA is a professional services firm delivering integrated wealth advisory, outsourcing, and public accounting capabilities to help enhance our clients’ enterprise value and assist them in growing and managing their related personal assets — all the way from startup to succession and beyond. Our professionals are immersed in the industries they serve and have specialized knowledge of their operating and regulatory environments. With more than 4,500 people, more than 100 U.S. locations, and a global affiliation, we bring a wide array of services to help clients in all markets, foreign and domestic.
headquarters
other locations
Focus
Recommended Providers
Reviews
the project
CPA Accounting Services for Low-Voltage Systems Integrator
“Working with CLA, we have a direct line to a knowledgeable CPA who can guide us through specific financial issues.”
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m the president of Skyline Communications, a low-voltage systems integrator. We design and install communication and security systems. As for security, we focus on electronic access control and video surveillance systems. As for communications, we do structured fiber and cat six cablings and implement wireless solutions, including emergency responder radio coverage and indoor cellphone coverage.
What challenge were you trying to address with CliftonLarsonAllen?
We hired CliftonLarsonAllen (CLA) to provide us with CPA-reviewed financial statements to support bonding and borrowing.
What was the scope of their involvement?
CLA provides us with two sides of a pretty straightforward service. On the one hand, they have access to our accounting software, so they handle our financial statements. On the other hand, we sit down with the CPA assigned to our account and have Q&A sessions with them.
Over our engagement, CLA has helped us structure our general ledger so that it was more compliant with our industry, which was important. Additionally, they helped us put in place some financial safeguards, best practices, and controls for the security of our financial information. Finally, over three years ago, we transferred to a new accounting software system they recommended.
What is the team composition?
We have one main point of contact from CLA, but an analyst sometimes comes into the picture to get some specific information from us as needed.
How did you come to work with CliftonLarsonAllen?
We’ve been working together for a while now, so I don’t remember how we initially found them. However, we’ve continued working together because we’re very pleased with their service, and they’re a respected firm in the industry.
How much have you invested with them?
This year, we spent around $30,000, but in past years we spent close to $20,000 and about $10,000 years before that. On average, we’ve spent around $10,000–$15,000 per year.
What is the status of this engagement?
We started working together around 2012, and our engagement is ongoing.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
The financial statements that CLA provides are thorough and accurate. In addition to that, the security controls they’ve put in place have allowed us, for example, to have two people looking at every purchase order to avoid someone stealing from us. Finally, the new accounting system has allowed us to take our business to the next level as we’re growing.
How did CliftonLarsonAllen perform from a project management standpoint?
Accounting is an annual process. Every year, we get together with CLA, and they provide us with a letter that lists all the documents they need from us. We then compile those documents and submit them. They also let us know if anything is missing, and we get occasional updates to know when we can expect their work done.
What did you find most impressive about them?
Working with CLA, we have a direct line to a knowledgeable CPA who can guide us through specific financial issues, whether it is about taxes, reporting, or classification.
Are there any areas they could improve?
It would be great if they improved their expertise in our particular accounting software.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
Be sure to tell them everything they need.
CliftonLarsonAllen has helped the client improve their financial security and accuracy, taking their business to the next level. The team is communicative and thorough in their work, and they provide quality service. Clients can expect a knowledgeable and helpful CPA partner.