Ok2Charge’s CEO Eric Broughton understands that clean books aren’t just an administrative task—they are a strategic lever. By adopting Consero’s Finance as a Service (FaaS)—a blend of an expert team and an integrated tech platform—Eric transformed chaotic, opaque finances into a streamlined, investor-ready operation.
This rigorous approach was first proven during his tenure at eSupply Systems. By implementing Consero’s framework, Eric led eSupply Systems through a high-scrutiny acquisition by a public-company buyer, closing in just 52 days from LOI. Today, he employs that same diligence-ready posture at Ok2Charge.
The Problem: Opaque Financials Blocked Execution
Basic questions on P&L, AR, and reconciliations couldn’t be answered, pulling the CEO into accounting firefights instead of scaling the business.
“All these things could not be answered… I still couldn’t get the answers.”
- Inability to Scale: Basic details like outstanding AR or reconciled figures were unavailable.
- Fragmented Tools: Fractional CFO conversations weren’t enough because the underlying processes were disconnected.
- Executive Focus: CEO time was consumed by troubleshooting accounting errors rather than strategic growth.
The Solution: Consero’s Team + Platform
Consero brought a coordinated finance team plus a platform—beyond one person and disconnected tools—so decisions could be made on clean, timely numbers.
“It was not just the CFO… it was also a technology platform that brought it together.”
- Beyond the Individual: Moving past a single finance hire to an integrated platform and dedicated support team.
- Operational Peace of Mind: Tight, GAAP-aligned books and on-demand answers became the standard.
- True Partnership: A consistent cadence with a VP of Finance for both weekly strategy and ad-hoc support.
Operating Rhythm and Tooling
Real-time dashboards now provide visibility into cash, AR, and budget vs. actuals, allowing for mid-month course corrections.
“I’m able to use that dashboard for a quick glance… and then go into those more detailed reports.”
- Holistic Data: Sales and operations data (e.g., HubSpot and platform uptime/transactions) viewed alongside financial metrics.
- Streamlined AP: invoices routed to a managed inbox; handled by the Consero team.
Results: Speed, Trust, and Scalability
A tidy data room and investor-grade reporting allow for rapid execution during M&A and fundraising.
“We were able to close… about 52 days from LOI… with a public company.”
- Proven Speed: Leveraging this model at his previous company, eSupply Systems, Eric closed an acquisition with a public company in ~52 days from LOI.
- Diligence-Ready: A “click-copy-paste” data room simplified the intense scrutiny of a public-buyer audit.
- Scalable Efficiency: Access to a VP of Finance and a full accounting department without the overhead of multiple full-time hires.
Why GAAP and Accrual Accounting Matter
Accruals reflect the true trajectory of a business and build essential investor trust by smoothing out cash-basis volatility.
“Cash basis… [is] reporting after the news has already happened; accrual… [can] foretell what direction you’re going.”
- Valuation Credibility: GAAP revenue recognition builds the “trust bridge” necessary for high valuations.
- Smoothing Spikes: Recognizing subscription revenue over time avoids misleading optics and reflects actual performance.
Lessons for Founders and CEOs
Messy financials kill deals. Treating finance as a strategic partner from day one ensures that when an opportunity arises, you are ready to move.
- Trust Starts with the Books: Tight financials are the first signal of a well-run company.
- Maintain Clean Lines: Avoid commingling funds and ensure every balance sheet is reconciled rigorously.
- Active Rhythm: A consistent CEO–Finance cadence catches issues in real-time—not weeks after the month ends.
Broughton pairs a seasoned finance team with an integrated platform to turn finance into a strategic asset, delivering clarity, speed through diligence, and a scalable cost structure.
The takeaway: contact Consero to build GAAP discipline and real-time visibility early, and your exit (or next raise) gets faster, cleaner, and more valuable.
