For growing organizations, there comes a pivotal moment when manual accounting processes can no longer keep pace with business demands. Julie Huls, President & CEO of Austin Technology Council, experienced this challenge firsthand as her organization expanded beyond the capabilities of spreadsheet-based financial management.
Her journey from sleepless nights about financial accuracy to confident strategic planning illustrates the transformative power of professional outsourced accounting services. This is the story of how partnering with Consero changed everything.
The Growing Pains of Manual Accounting
As ATC expanded, the limitations of their financial infrastructure became increasingly apparent. What once seemed adequate for a smaller operation quickly became a source of concern and inefficiency.
“For the first few years I think we were adequate in terms of financial services and reporting, but as the organization continued to grow it became pretty apparent that our services were really limited.
We did absolutely not have tech-enabled processing—we were still working primarily through spreadsheets and PayPal accounts and a lot of the reconciliation obviously was manual.”
The challenges ATC faced included:
- No tech-enabled processing systems
- Heavy reliance on spreadsheets and PayPal accounts
- Manual reconciliation processes
- Limited reporting capabilities
- Increasing risk as the organization grew
The manual processes created unnecessary risk and consumed valuable time that could have been directed toward strategic initiatives. For Julie, this situation became a serious concern that kept her up at night.
From Solo Operation to Strategic Partnership
The transition to Consero marked a fundamental shift in how ATC approached financial management. Instead of relying on a single individual juggling multiple responsibilities, ATC gained access to an entire team of specialists.
“It was a one-man shop before Consero. When Consero came in, they came with a team so it’s more of a team aspect now than it is a one-person shop.”
The team-based approach brought immediate benefits. Rather than requesting individual reports on an ad-hoc basis, Julie received comprehensive financial packages that provided multiple perspectives on the organization’s performance—all in one convenient location.
The new reporting package included:
- Variance against budget
- Variance against prior year
- Variance against prior month
- All metrics accessible in one simple location
The proactive nature of this reporting allowed for better decision-making and eliminated the delays associated with manual report generation.
Elevating Board-Level Reporting
One of the most significant improvements ATC experienced was in their ability to present sophisticated financial information to their board of directors. With the confidence that day-to-day transactions were being handled professionally, leadership could focus on higher-level strategic communications.
“The biggest improvement ATC has really enjoyed in terms of before and after Consero has been the reporting functions.
Knowing that the transactions and the volume on the accounting side are being handled, it has made a huge difference for us to be able to bring up so much more sophisticated reporting to our board of directors.”
Enhanced reporting capabilities didn’t just improve internal operations—it strengthened stakeholder confidence and enabled more informed governance decisions.
The ability to present clear, accurate, and comprehensive financial data became a competitive advantage for the organization. Board meetings transformed from basic financial reviews to strategic discussions powered by sophisticated insights.
From Anxiety to Confidence: The Peace of Mind Factor
Partnering with Consero dramatically improved Julie’s confidence and peace of mind regarding financial operations.
“My confidence in terms of the work that we’re focused on now with Consero is off the charts. I literally used to lose sleep about the effectiveness and to some degree the efficiency before Consero, and I have no doubt now that the accounting side is being handled.”
The newfound confidence created a ripple effect throughout the organization. With accounting concerns resolved, leadership could redirect their energy toward planning and forward-thinking strategy—essential activities for any growing organization.
The transformation enabled ATC to:
- Stop worrying about financial accuracy
- Focus on strategic planning
- Think proactively about the future
- Direct energy toward growth initiatives
The mental burden of worrying about financial accuracy was replaced with the freedom to innovate and plan for the future.
The Human Touch: Expertise Meets Personality
Consero’s approach goes beyond technical accounting excellence. We recognize that financial services are fundamentally relationship-based, and they bring a personalized, accessible approach to every client engagement.
Combining professional expertise and approachable communication style makes complex financial matters understandable and manageable. It’s not about drowning clients in technical jargon—it’s about clear, down-to-earth conversations that drive real business understanding.
Consero’s relationship-focused approach includes:
- Clear communication in layman’s terms
- Personalized service with warmth and humor
- Accessibility and responsiveness
- Partnership mentality, not just transactional service
It’s accounting services designed for real people running real businesses—not just number crunching in isolation.
A Twenty-Year Veteran’s Highest Recommendation
After two decades of business experience in Austin, Julie’s endorsement of Consero carries significant weight.
“I would tell anyone considering working with Consero to go ahead and take the lead. They have been a delight to work with. The expertise that they bring to the table really is unparalleled.”
This testament speaks to the comprehensive value Consero delivers—not just in technical accounting proficiency, but in partnership quality, responsiveness, and real business impact.
Ready to Transform Your Financial Operations?
Don’t let spreadsheet chaos hold your business back from strategic growth. Consero’s team of experts can provide the tech-enabled systems, sophisticated reporting, and peace of mind you need to focus on what matters most: growing your business and serving your mission.
What you’ll gain with Consero:
- Tech-enabled accounting systems
- Sophisticated, proactive reporting
- A full team of specialists, not just one person
- Peace of mind about financial accuracy
- Freedom to focus on strategy and growth
Request your consultation with Consero today and discover how outsourced accounting services can transform your financial operations from a source of anxiety into a strategic advantage. Join the growing number of organizations that have made the shift from adequate to exceptional financial management.
Your journey from spreadsheets to strategic clarity starts with a single conversation.
