As financial management, regulatory compliance, and working with the federal government become increasingly complex for businesses, not-for-profit entities, and local and tribal governments, Walker & Armstrong’s client advisory services take on growing value.

We use the term “client advisory services” to describe a broad and holistic range of client-focused, outsourced services – for private companies, not-for-profit entities, tribal governments and state and local government entities – that frequently include:

• financial oversight and complex accounting
• data compilation, analytics and reporting
• budgeting and expense management
• profitability and financial metric analysis
• business process improvements and internal controls
• grant financial management
• federal funding support
• GASB 34 financial statements
• pre-audit services
• financial planning and analysis
• financial staff training
• CFO and controller recruiting assistance and mentoring
• turnaround management

In contrast to “compliance” services (i.e., tax returns and audited financial statements), which are typically performed in response to a third-party requirement, advisory services are more pro-active in nature. They reflect a “whole client” understanding of your needs and, at their most valuable levels, stem from our knowledge of your major objectives and opportunities, many of which require a quick response from you and your advisory services team.

While advisory services have been prominent among Walker & Armstrong’s areas of assistance for decades, we found that many of our clients became more accustomed to sharing financial data remotely during COVID-19. That is consistent with the results of a 2020 survey by CPA.com, which revealed that 29% of respondents identified “advisory and consulting” as their greatest unmet need.