Empowering Businesses to Thrive
At De Boer, Baumann & Company, our mission has remained constant since 1934: to empower our clients and our community for success. Over the decades, we’ve walked alongside West Michigan businesses through every stage of growth, providing trusted accounting services rooted in Relationships, Experience, Communication, Integrity, Passion, and Excellence — our RECIPE.
As your business evolves, so do your financial needs. Knowing which level of financial expertise is right for your stage of growth can be the difference between simply keeping up — and confidently moving forward. Our Client Accounting and Advisory Services (CAAS) are designed to meet you where you are and scale with you as you grow.
Bookkeeper: Building a Solid Foundation
Focus: Daily financial transactions and recordkeeping
Best for: Small businesses needing basic financial management
Bookkeepers manage the nuts and bolts of your business’ finances.
Responsibilities may include:
- Recording income and expenses
- Managing accounts payable and receivable
- Reconciling bank statements
- Processing payroll
- Maintaining accurate financial records
Signs You’re Ready for This Role:
If you’re launching or running a small business, a bookkeeper can keep your financial data organized and accurate. This ensures bills get paid and payroll runs smoothly. Bookkeepers are ideal when you need strong transactional support.
Accountant: Turning Records into Reports
Focus: Financial compliance and reporting
Best for: Companies needing reliable monthly closes and accurate statements
Accountants build on the foundation provided by bookkeepers.
Accountants can assist with:
- Overseeing bookkeeping activity
- Reconciling balance sheet accounts and accrual adjustments invoices
- Performing month-end and year-end closes
- Preparing financial statements and management reports
Signs You’re Ready for This Role:
As your operations grow and financial complexity increases, an accountant ensures your records meet required standards. They can prepare timely and reliable financial statements and provide insight into your financial health. This role is essential when you need accurate reporting to make informed operational decisions.
Controller: Driving Accuracy and Insights
Focus: Financial oversight and internal controls
Best for: Companies that have clean books but need deeper financial insights
Controllers act as the quarterback of the accounting function.
Controller services may include:
- Supervising bookkeepers and accountants
- Managing financial reporting and compliance
- Developing internal controls to reduce risk
- Providing budgeting support and financial analysis
Signs You’re Ready for This Role:
If your books are clean but you’re missing timely reports, accurate budgeting, or risk controls, a controller bridges that gap. They implement financial processes, strengthen internal controls, and provide data-driven analysis. This is ideal when you want more robust reporting and operational efficiency without the cost of a CFO.
CFO: Steering Strategic Growth
Focus: Long-term financial planning and strategy
Best for: Companies ready to scale, raise capital, or optimize performance
Chief Financial Officers look beyond the numbers to shape your business’s future. They:
- Develop and execute financial strategies
- Provide forecasting and risk analysis
- Guide funding and capital structure decisions
- Interpret management reports for strategic planning
Signs You’re Ready for This Role:
When you’re preparing to expand, raise capital, or plan long-term strategy, a CFO provides the vision and modeling you need. They guide funding, oversee risk, and align financial strategy with business goals. This role is critical when you need big-picture financial leadership to drive growth and profitability.
Which One Is Right for Your Business?
Role | Focus | Key Responsibilities | Best For Businesses That… |
Bookkeeper | Daily financial transactions | Record keeping, payroll, reconciliations, paying bills, maintaining ledgers | Need basic financial management and accurate day-to-day records |
Accountant | Financial compliance & reporting | Overseeing bookkeeping, preparing statements, reconciling accounts, month-end close | Need reliable financial reports and compliance with accounting standards |
Controller | Financial oversight & analysis | Managing reporting, developing internal controls, budgeting, forecasting, providing insights | Have clean books but need better financial reporting and deeper insights |
CFO | Strategic financial planning | Long-term strategy, forecasting, risk management, capital structure, high-level decision-making | Are ready to scale, raise capital, or optimize performance |
Partnering for Your Growth
There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to building a strong financial function — and you don’t have to figure it out alone.
At DBC, we recognize that every business is on its own journey. That’s why our Client Accounting and Advisory Services (CAAS) are designed to meet you where you are and scale with you as you grow. Whether you’re focused on staying compliant, improving financial visibility, or planning for expansion, we’ll help you build a financial structure that supports both today’s operations and tomorrow’s ambitions.