The monthly close drifts
Reconciliations, adjustments, or missing information delay a dependable month-end view.
Year-round finance support for nonprofits
Keep your nonprofit’s books, monthly review, and Form 990 working from one year-round system.
For established 501(c)(3) organizations that need reliable monthly close, a consistent financial review, maintained handover documentation, and a finance process that does not depend on one staff member or treasurer.
The pilot is designed primarily for organizations filing the full Form 990 with approximately $750,000 to $2 million in annual revenue.
Blue Swans Consulting coordinates the Finance Continuity Review. Bookkeeping, accounting, and tax services are provided directly by Summiton Financial under a separate engagement.
Monthly
Close and reconciliations
Leadership
One financial review call
Continuity
Documented handovers
Year-end
Form 990 support
Problems worth recognizing
Would the finance process keep moving if one person stepped away?
These are operating problems, not judgments about whether the books are correct. They are signals that a nonprofit may need a more repeatable finance system.
Bookkeeping entries accumulate
Payment, payroll, or expense information is not kept current through the month.
The monthly review depends on one person
Someone else could not prepare the current figures and open-item list for the call.
Year-end becomes a reconstruction
Form 990 support, governance changes, and explanations are gathered after the year closes.
Three ways to begin
Match the engagement to the condition of the books.
Final scope depends on complexity and Summiton’s written engagement. These distinctions prevent a 990-ready information package from being confused with tax return preparation and filing.
Ongoing
Complete
The year-round bookkeeping and annual-return relationship.
- Monthly bookkeeping, bank and credit-card reconciliations, and close
- Agreed payment, payroll-entry, and expense tracking
- One monthly financial review call
- Maintained finance handover documentation
- Form 990 preparation and filing where appropriate and within the agreed scope
Ongoing
Core
Reliable monthly finance operations with a clean year-end handoff.
- Monthly bookkeeping, bank and credit-card reconciliations, and close
- Agreed payment, payroll-entry, and expense tracking
- One monthly financial review call
- Maintained finance handover documentation
- Form 990-ready year-end information package
- Core does not include Form 990 preparation or filing
One time
Finance Reset
One-time cleanup and setup before dependable recurring work can begin.
- Review the current books and unresolved balances
- Define the correction and catch-up scope
- Set up the close, reporting, and document process
- Move into Core or Complete only when the starting point is ready
Any work beyond the items shown here is confirmed separately by Summiton in the written engagement before work begins.
Who the pilot is for
Established nonprofits that need dependable finance operations without a full internal finance team.
Best initial fit
Established 501(c)(3) public charities filing the full Form 990, typically with $750,000 to $2 million in annual revenue.
Common starting point
An executive director, operations lead, or treasurer needs better close ownership, a consistent monthly financial review, or handover coverage.
Scope comes first
Summiton confirms the service, professional responsibility, and licensing scope before any engagement is offered.
Who does what
A clear introduction to the provider responsible for the work.
Blue Swans handles outreach, the introductory review, scheduling, and the handoff. Summiton Financial confirms technical scope, issues the engagement, and provides the bookkeeping, accounting, and tax services it agrees to deliver.
Coordination
Blue Swans Consulting
James leads the introductory Finance Continuity Review and coordinates an appropriate next step. Blue Swans does not provide the accounting or tax engagement.
Service provider
Summiton Financial
Summiton defines the technical scope, assigns the appropriate professionals, provides secure onboarding, and owns fulfilment under its separate agreement.
Amber Balagam
Principal, CPA. Publicly listed by Summiton for tax strategy and advisory.
Tracy Short
CPA. Publicly listed by Summiton for tax preparation and bookkeeping.
Specific engagement responsibilities are confirmed by Summiton before work begins. Summiton Financial states that it employs licensed CPAs but is not operated as a CPA practice under Texas State Board of Public Accountancy guidelines. Review Summiton’s public team and disclosures.
How the review works
Twenty minutes to clarify fit and agree the next step.
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1
Before the call
Book the introductory review
James from Blue Swans leads the conversation. No bank access, tax return upload, or sensitive records are needed.
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2
During the review
Clarify the area causing the most friction
We discuss how month-end, the monthly financial review, Form 990 preparation, and finance handovers are handled today, then decide whether a technical conversation with Summiton is warranted.
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3
After the conversation
Receive a one-page Action Map
The introductory summary records what you described, the apparent area of concern, and the agreed next route. If Summiton may be a fit, the next meeting confirms technical scope, provider responsibilities, and engagement terms.
James does not inspect records or make accounting judgments. The Action Map is an introductory next-step summary, not a technical diagnosis, accounting recommendation, audit, assurance opinion, or confirmation that the books or controls are correct.
What the first call protects
Useful clarity without asking for sensitive records.
One priority
Understand how the process is handled today and clarify the area the prospect says is causing the most friction.
Protected information
Sensitive records belong in Summiton’s approved secure process, not an email or booking form.
Clear next step
Continue only when the needs, provider, scope, and responsibilities are clear to both sides.
Questions worth asking
The practical details.
Who is the Finance Continuity Review for?
It is designed for established 501(c)(3) leaders who need more dependable monthly close, a consistent monthly financial review, finance handover, or Form 990 support.
What is the difference between Complete and Core?
Both are recurring bookkeeping and monthly financial review engagements. Complete can include Form 990 preparation and filing where appropriate and explicitly agreed. Core provides a Form 990-ready year-end information package but does not include preparation or filing.
When might Summiton recommend a Finance Reset?
A Reset may be recommended when unresolved balances, missing reconciliations, or historical errors must be addressed before recurring monthly work can begin. Cleanup and catch-up are scoped separately.
What does Blue Swans Consulting handle?
Blue Swans coordinates outreach, the introductory review, scheduling, and the handoff. Summiton Financial provides any agreed bookkeeping, accounting, or tax service directly under its own engagement.
Should I send financial documents before the call?
No. Please do not share sensitive financial documents, tax returns, credentials, bank access, or account information through the booking form or an introductory message.
What happens after the review?
You receive a one-page introductory summary of what you described, the apparent area of concern, and the agreed next route. If there may be a service fit, Summiton then confirms the technical scope, secure document process, assigned professionals, and engagement terms.
Start with the operating gap
Understand how the finance handover is working today.
We will clarify the area causing the most friction and decide whether a technical conversation with Summiton is warranted. Afterward, the one-page Action Map records what you described and the agreed next route.
Book a 20-minute Finance Continuity Review
Blue Swans Consulting + Summiton Financial
Book the review
Book a 20-minute Finance Continuity Review
Choose a time for a focused introductory conversation with James about the current monthly close, monthly financial review, Form 990 preparation, and finance handover process. James will not inspect records or make accounting judgments. You will receive a one-page next-step summary afterward.
Please do not send sensitive financial documents. No bank access, tax return upload, credentials, or account information is required for the introductory review.