AI-enabled accounting & fractional CFO services

Strategic, AI-Enabled Financial Guidance For Growing Businesses

AI-enabled accounting, tax, and fractional CFO services from a licensed CPA. We use AI to execute the mechanical work, so your books close faster, your reports stay live, and you get senior financial strategy without the cost of a full-time finance team.

No commitment · A 30-minute call to see if we're a fit

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Years of experience
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Clients served
$0M+
Capital supported
CPA-led
Every engagement

Built for owners who want more than compliance

If any of this sounds familiar, you're in the right place. We help growing businesses turn messy numbers into clear decisions.

  • Cash flow feels unpredictable and hard to see clearly
  • Tax time is a scramble instead of a planned event
  • You need strategic financial guidance, beyond basic bookkeeping
  • A full-time CFO is too expensive for where you are today

AI-enabled services that grow with you

From day-to-day accounting to senior financial strategy, every engagement runs on an AI-enabled stack with a CPA reviewing the output. Pick what you need now and add more as you grow.

Accounting & Bookkeeping

Accurate books and clear financials, kept current all month by AI-assisted categorization and reconciliation with CPA review.

  • AI-assisted bookkeeping, CPA-reviewed monthly
  • Financial statements and management reporting
  • Cash flow tracking and budgeting

Tax Services

Strategic tax planning and compliant preparation that minimizes your tax burden, built on clean, AI-monitored books.

  • Business and personal tax preparation
  • Proactive tax planning with real-time data
  • Sales tax and estimated payments

Fractional CFO Services

Senior financial leadership on a flexible basis, powered by live, AI-updated reporting instead of stale month-old data.

  • Financial forecasting and scenario modeling
  • Live dashboards, KPIs, and performance tracking
  • Investor and lender reporting support

Specialized & transaction services

Project-based financial expertise for fundraising, transactions, and tax incentives: the work that shapes the big decisions in your business.

Fundraising Support

Investor-ready financials, projections, and diligence prep that help you raise capital with confidence.

Quality of Earnings & Sell-Side Diligence

QoE reports and sell-side financial diligence that surface and resolve issues before a buyer does.

R&D Tax Credit Substantiation

Documentation and substantiation that supports and defends your R&D tax credit claims under IRS review.

Purchase Price Allocations

Post-acquisition PPAs that allocate purchase price to identifiable assets and goodwill, compliant with ASC 805.

Portfolio Valuations

Independent portfolio company valuations for fund reporting, fair value measurement, and exit planning.

AI-Enabled Finance Operations

We implement and run an AI-enabled accounting stack for your business, from automated categorization and document capture to anomaly detection and live reporting.

How we use AI

AI-enabled accounting, with a CPA in the loop

Guard Accounting Group uses AI-enabled tooling to execute the mechanical side of accounting: categorization, document review, reconciliation, and anomaly detection. That means faster closes and fewer errors for your business, while a licensed CPA reviews and owns every output. Your data stays inside vetted, access-controlled systems at all times.

Automated transaction processing

AI categorizes transactions, captures receipts and invoices, and reconciles accounts continuously, so your books stay current all month.

Anomaly and error detection

Machine review flags unusual transactions, coding errors, and variances in real time, before they become month-end surprises.

Live reporting and forecasting

Dashboards and forecasts update as data flows in, giving you answers any day of the month instead of weeks after close.

CPA review on everything

A licensed CPA reviews and signs off on every deliverable. You get the speed of automation with the same professional accountability.

Already have an accounting stack? We implement AI-enabled workflows inside the tools you use today, including QuickBooks, Xero, NetSuite, Sage Intacct, Campfire, and Rillet, rather than forcing a migration.

How it works

A clear path from first call to ongoing partnership

Starting is straightforward. Three steps take you from an exploratory conversation to a finance partner who knows your business.

Step 1

Discovery call

We start with a free 30-minute call to understand your business, your numbers, and where you want to go. You leave with a clear sense of whether we're a fit.

Step 2

Onboarding & setup

We connect your books, set up reporting, and agree on a scope that matches your stage. You get a fixed proposal with no surprise fees before any work begins.

Step 3

Ongoing partnership

We deliver timely financials, proactive planning, and the strategic guidance you need on a regular cadence, scaling up or down as your business changes.

Engagement models

Pricing that scales with your business

Choose an engagement that fits where you are today. Starting points are shown below; we confirm a fixed proposal in your free consultation so there are no surprise fees.

Monthly retainer

Ongoing accounting, tax, and bookkeeping on a fixed monthly rate.

From $1,500/mo
Engagement depth
  • Monthly bookkeeping and reconciliation
  • Financial statements and reporting
  • Year-round tax planning
  • Direct access to our team
Most popular

Fractional CFO

Senior financial leadership scaled to your stage, with no full-time salary.

From $3,500/mo
Engagement depth
  • Everything in Monthly retainer
  • Forecasting and scenario modeling
  • Budgeting, KPIs, and cash flow
  • Investor and lender reporting

Project-based

Transaction and advisory work priced per engagement.

Custom quote
Engagement depth
  • Quality of earnings and diligence
  • R&D tax credit substantiation
  • Purchase price allocations
  • Portfolio valuations

Prices shown are starting points only and confirmed in a fixed proposal after your free consultation. Project-based work is quoted per engagement.

Why work with Guard

We pair a modern, AI-enabled accounting stack with senior CPA judgment, and we treat your business like our own.

Proactive, not reactive

Automated monitoring flags issues and opportunities early, and you hear from us regularly throughout the year.

AI-enabled, CPA-reviewed

We use modern automation and AI tooling for categorization, document review, and anomaly detection, with a licensed CPA reviewing every deliverable.

Personalized service

You work directly with our team, not a rotating cast. We learn your business and tailor our approach to it.

Fast and reliable

A connected, cloud-based stack means timely closes, accurate work, and quick answers. No chasing us down for your own numbers.

A modern firm built on a tech-first stack

Guard Accounting Group is a remote-first CPA practice that pairs senior accounting judgment with an automated, cloud-native close. Bank feeds, billing systems, and payroll flow into one connected ledger, so your numbers are current instead of two months behind.

We use AI-enabled tooling for transaction categorization, document review, variance analysis, and anomaly detection. Software does the repetitive work, a CPA reviews every output, and you get faster answers with the same professional accountability.

CPA-reviewedDirect partner accessAI-enabled workflows
Connected stack
Your ledger, billing, payroll, and spend tools integrated into one source of truth.
AI-assisted review
Machine review flags anomalies and coding errors before a CPA signs off.
Live reporting
Dashboards and KPIs you can open any day of the month, not just at close.
Human accountability
Every deliverable is reviewed and owned by a licensed CPA.

Experience Spanning Industry Leaders

Wolf AthleticsHypr LEDEpoch LacrossePowerSpikeEnergi CoreSyps HydrationAustin Sunshine CampsAlleyoopKnapsackAutomotus5 Iron GolfAgile Contentfind.coPettableBold.orgCapitalizeLearner EducationNexford UniversityWolf AthleticsHypr LEDEpoch LacrossePowerSpikeEnergi CoreSyps HydrationAustin Sunshine CampsAlleyoopKnapsackAutomotus5 Iron GolfAgile Contentfind.coPettableBold.orgCapitalizeLearner EducationNexford University

Industries we serve

Professional ServicesTechnology & SaaSConstruction & TradesHealthcare PracticesRetail & E-commerceHospitalityProfessional ServicesTechnology & SaaSConstruction & TradesHealthcare PracticesRetail & E-commerceHospitalityProfessional ServicesTechnology & SaaSConstruction & TradesHealthcare PracticesRetail & E-commerceHospitalityProfessional ServicesTechnology & SaaSConstruction & TradesHealthcare PracticesRetail & E-commerceHospitality

Software we work with

QuickBooksXeroNetSuiteSage IntacctCampfireRilletMicrosoft DynamicsGustoRipplingTrinetbill.comStripeChargebeeShopifySalesforceHubSpotPipedriveQuickBooksXeroNetSuiteSage IntacctCampfireRilletMicrosoft DynamicsGustoRipplingTrinetbill.comStripeChargebeeShopifySalesforceHubSpotPipedrive
Client outcomes

How we help businesses move forward

A look at the kinds of problems we solve and the results we work toward.

Fractional CFO13-week runway

B2B SaaS company

The problem. Rapid revenue growth hid a cash flow gap, and the founder could not tell if the next round of hires was affordable.
The result. Switched to accrual accounting, built a 13-week cash flow forecast, and gave the founder a clear hiring runway.
Cash visibility
Transaction advisoryConfident exit

Manufacturer preparing to sell

The problem. The owner wanted to sell within two years but had no quality of earnings work to support the asking price.
The result. Delivered a sell-side QoE report, resolved the findings before going to market, and supported a cleaner sale process.
Outcome

Illustrative examples. Replace with real client outcomes and metrics when ready.

Frequently asked questions

Questions, answered

Clear answers about how we work and what we do.

What is a fractional CFO and do I need one?

A fractional CFO is a senior finance executive who works with your business part-time, providing financial strategy, forecasting, and investor reporting without the cost of a full-time hire. You need one if your business has outgrown basic bookkeeping and would benefit from strategic financial leadership, but isn't ready for a full-time CFO.

What is a quality of earnings report?

A quality of earnings (QoE) report analyzes a company's earnings to confirm they are sustainable and repeatable, and free of one-time or non-recurring distortions. Buyers and lenders rely on QoE reports during due diligence. Guard prepares QoE and sell-side financial diligence reports so you can address issues before a transaction, not during it.

How does R&D tax credit substantiation work?

The R&D tax credit rewards businesses for qualifying research and development activity. Substantiation means documenting the qualifying activities, expenses, and personnel that support the credit claim so it holds up under IRS review. Guard gathers and organizes that documentation to substantiate and defend your credit.

What is a purchase price allocation?

A purchase price allocation (PPA) is the process of allocating an acquisition's purchase price across the identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed, with the remainder recorded as goodwill. PPAs are required under ASC 805 for business combinations and affect post-deal financial statements and tax positions.

Do you work with clients remotely?

Yes. Guard Accounting Group is a remote-first firm serving clients nationwide. We work with growing businesses across the United States using secure cloud accounting tools, and our mailing address is 306 W Redwood St STE 202, Baltimore, MD 21201.

What industries do you serve?

We work with growing small and medium-sized businesses across professional services, technology and SaaS, construction and trades, healthcare practices, retail and e-commerce, and hospitality, with financials and strategy tailored to how each industry operates.

How much does a fractional CFO cost?

Fractional CFO engagements are priced based on the scope and cadence you need, so you get senior financial leadership scaled to your stage without a full-time salary. After a free consultation, we provide a clear, fixed proposal based on your requirements.

Does Guard Accounting Group use AI in its accounting work?

Yes. We use AI-enabled tooling for transaction categorization, document and receipt review, variance analysis, and anomaly detection, layered on a cloud accounting stack with automated bank, billing, and payroll feeds. Automation handles the repetitive work so closes are faster, and a licensed CPA reviews and signs off on every deliverable. Client data stays inside vetted, access-controlled systems.

What accounting software and tools do you work in?

We work in QuickBooks, Xero, NetSuite, Sage Intacct, Campfire, Rillet, and Microsoft Dynamics, and we connect payroll and operations tools such as Gusto, Rippling, TriNet, Bill.com, Stripe, Chargebee, Shopify, Salesforce, HubSpot, and Pipedrive. If you already have a stack, we work inside it rather than forcing a migration.

Will AI replace my accountant?

AI handles repetitive accounting tasks well, such as transaction categorization, document capture, reconciliation, and anomaly detection. It does not replace professional judgment. Tax positions, financial statement interpretation, transaction diligence, and strategic advice still require a licensed CPA. At Guard, AI accelerates the mechanical work and a CPA reviews and signs off on everything you receive.

How do I get started with Guard Accounting Group?

Book a free 30-minute consultation using the form below. Tell us about your business and what you're looking for, and we'll follow up within one business day to schedule a call. No commitment required.

Free resource

The CFO Readiness Checklist

Not sure if you are ready for a fractional CFO? This short checklist walks you through the signs that your business has outgrown basic bookkeeping and would benefit from senior financial leadership.

  • 10 questions to gauge your finance readiness
  • A simple way to see if a fractional CFO fits your stage
  • No commitment, and no sales pressure

We will send the checklist within one business day. Your information stays private.

Book a free consultation

Tell us a bit about your business and what you're looking for. We'll get back to you within one business day to set up a 30-minute call. No commitment.

hello@guardcpa.com(667) 262-7331

Remote-first · Serving clients nationwide

Mailing address: 306 W Redwood St STE 202, Baltimore, MD 21201

We'll respond within one business day. Your information stays private.