Project-based consulting for audit preparation, internal controls, regulatory compliance, and finance team augmentation. Ridgeway Financial Services delivers consulting work to tech, fintech, and crypto-native companies through scoped engagements that address specific events and milestones: first audits, SOX readiness, BSA/AML program design, MTL applications, M&A diligence, technical accounting memos, and other situations where focused expertise produces better outcomes than ongoing retainer scope. Our team brings CPA credentials and Big Four backgrounds, working alongside your internal team, fractional CFO, auditors, and other advisors.
What’s Included
Project-based engagements with clear deliverables, scoped to specific outcomes rather than ongoing operational responsibility.
- Audit preparation and walkthrough support
- Internal controls design and SOX readiness
- BSA/AML compliance program design and MTL readiness
- Technical accounting memos for complex transactions
- M&A and diligence response support
- Documentation supporting partner bank reviews and regulatory examinations
- Finance team augmentation for major projects or rapid scaling
Consulting Practice Areas
Audit preparation
Comprehensive support to help you prepare for first audits, investor reviews, and financial diligence. Engagements typically run three to six months before audit fieldwork begins.
- Pre-audit close cleanup and documentation
- Workpapers and supporting schedules
- Equity rollforward and SAFE conversion support
- Walkthroughs and sample request response
- Auditor liaison throughout fieldwork
Internal controls and SOX readiness
Strengthen your internal financial environment with practical controls designed for high-growth companies. SOX readiness for companies approaching public-company status or working with public-company clients.
- Control design and documentation
- Segregation of duties
- Access controls and policy frameworks
- SOX-style processes for early-stage teams
- Controls tailored for fintech and crypto operations
Compliance programs
Regulatory and compliance program design for fintech and crypto companies subject to BSA/AML, money transmitter licensing, and other regulatory frameworks.
- BSA/AML compliance program design
- MTL readiness support and state-by-state documentation
- Transaction monitoring frameworks
- Policy and procedure drafting
- Support for regulatory examinations and partner bank reviews
Finance team augmentation
Interim and project-based support during rapid growth, major projects, mergers, or finance team transitions.
- Month-end close support during periods of high volume
- Financial reporting and compliance project teams
- Interim coverage during finance team gaps
- Support from staff-level through senior-level resources
- Flexible engagement models tailored to your team’s needs
When to Engage Consulting Support
Common signals that companies are ready for consulting engagement: approaching first audit, preparing for SOX-style controls or institutional reporting expectations, building or upgrading BSA/AML programs, preparing MTL applications, responding to partner bank reviews or regulatory examinations, scaling through M&A or rapid hiring phases, or facing technical accounting questions that require focused expertise (revenue recognition, software capitalization, complex transactions). Consulting engagements are scoped to specific outcomes rather than ongoing operational responsibility.
How We Work
Engagements are scoped projects with defined deliverables and timelines. Most consulting engagements run from a few weeks for focused projects (a single technical accounting memo, a partner bank review response) to several months for larger engagements (audit preparation, comprehensive SOX readiness, MTL applications across multiple states). Pricing is typically fixed-fee for scoped projects or time-and-materials for engagements with evolving scope. We coordinate with your internal team, fractional CFO, accounting team, auditors, and other advisors throughout the engagement. For companies that need ongoing support beyond the consulting project, work transitions naturally to our fractional CFO services or accounting and bookkeeping retainers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between your consulting services and your fractional CFO or accounting work?
Consulting work is project-based with defined scope and deliverables tied to specific outcomes (an audit, a compliance program, an MTL application, a technical accounting memo). Fractional CFO services provide ongoing strategic finance leadership through monthly retainers. Accounting and bookkeeping services provide ongoing day-to-day accounting through monthly retainers. Most clients use multiple service lines together; consulting handles focused projects while CFO and accounting handle ongoing work.
When should we engage consulting support?
Common triggers include preparing for first audit, building or upgrading internal controls, designing BSA/AML programs, preparing MTL applications, responding to partner bank reviews or regulatory examinations, navigating M&A or rapid scaling, and addressing technical accounting questions that require focused expertise. Consulting is the right fit when the work is bounded to a specific outcome rather than ongoing operational responsibility.
How much do your consulting services cost?
Pricing varies based on scope, timeline, complexity, and the specific deliverables required. Consulting engagements are typically structured as fixed-fee for scoped projects or time-and-materials for engagements with evolving scope. The right fee can only be determined after a conversation about the specific situation, whether that’s audit preparation, compliance program design, MTL readiness, technical accounting work, or finance team augmentation.
Reviewed by YR, CPA
Senior Financial Advisor