Lombardo Ayers & Company, LLC

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are a digital agency based in the Washington, DC area, and I’m the CEO.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Lombardo Wagner Ayers & Company?

We have an in-house accounting department, but we feel it’s important and prudent for us to have some checks and balances when it comes to accounting. Most of the day-to-day work is handled here in our office. On a monthly basis, we send all of our financials out to Lombardo & Ayers

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They handle all our taxes. Andy Lombardo is a veteran accountant, and he’s very knowledgeable from a tax perspective. We certainly value the expertise that he and his staff bring not only to day-to-day accounting and financial assistance, but also quarterly and year-end taxes, and potential opportunities for savings.

They review all the work done by our internal accounting department over the course of that month, validate everything, and close out the books for us. The relationship provides us with an added level of comfort, security, and validation with the finances. They’re an objective participant in the financial process.

I’m pretty sure they’re familiar with most accounting, bookkeeping, and payroll systems, including QuickBooks and Peachtree. We use ADP with them.

How much have you invested with Lombardo Wagner Ayers & Company?

They’re net30, and they bill you on an hourly basis. I think the year-end tax preparation is a flat rate.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

I’d probably be reaching a bit if I put some type of quantified percentage around it. I don’t know right now.

How did Lombardo Wagner Ayers & Company perform from a project management standpoint?

It’s more of an ad hoc. We could certainly put some more structure around it, but it works well. They’re very accessible, so if I need to get in touch with them, it’s very easy. We don’t need set times and dates to talk. It’s easy to just pick up the phone and give them a call.

We haven’t had any problems with communication or deadlines at all. They’re very trustworthy and reliable. If they say they’re going to get something done on time, they get it done on time. Even in instances where I didn’t realize that we needed to file something, they’ve reached out proactively to let us know the requirement and help us get it completed and submitted on time.

What did you find most impressive about Lombardo Wagner Ayers & Company?

They’ve helped make financial decisions and have given us input on company strategy, especially when it’s relative to taxes. We can plan a bit more efficiently and accurately. We understand what our tax liability is going to be, both the current and projected liability. We’re able to make some proactive moves to account for whatever those responsibilities might be. Being able to reallocate capital and other resources based on the tax liability forecasts is certainly helpful for us.

Are there any areas Lombardo Wagner Ayers & Company could improve?

No, I don’t have any specific suggestions. They’ve been great. I just want them to continue what they’re doing.

Do you have any advice or recommendations for someone who’s looking to work with Lombardo Wagner Ayers & Company?

I think communicating early and often with your accounting firm is very important. I think that goes for a lot of relationships, especially with professional services. We’re a big proponent of effective communication, and we think it’s certainly been one of the driving factors of the success we’ve had with Lombardo & Ayers. We have an open line of communication with them, and we leverage that on a regular basis. It just helps us get in front of any potential problems before they become bigger problems.