Key Takeaways
- Implement ASC 606 for subscriptions, tuition, licensing, and grants, with automated deferrals, clear performance obligations, and audit‑ready documentation.
- Stand up grant and fund accounting controls, reconcile costs to budgets, and document Section 41 R&D credit eligible software costs.
- Support multi‑currency and global tax, including VAT or GST, nexus tracking, and digital services tax awareness, with clean FX revaluations.
- Deliver GAAP financials, deferred revenue roll‑forwards, and strong controls that speed audits and investor diligence.
- Operate through SOC 2 certified workflows that meet IRS and GAAP requirements, delivered as a white‑label extension of your firm.
Who You Serve, Where We Plug In
Education providers, K‑12, higher ed, and training
K‑12, higher ed, and training Tuition, program fees, restricted funds, and aid require careful rules and complete evidence. You need separate ledgers for restricted activity, clear refund tracking, and reporting that satisfies boards and lenders. We help your team install repeatable processes that stand up in audits.
EdTech platforms and content companies
SaaS subscriptions, bundled licenses, international users, and frequent plan changes create risk in revenue recognition, tax, and currency. You need deferrals, SSP allocations, and usage links that tie back to contracts. We build schedules that match the general ledger and the billing stack, so margins reflect reality.
Why Firms Choose Accountably
- White‑label staffing that expands capacity without new hires
- IRS compliant, GAAP aligned, SOC 2 certified workflows
- Audit‑ready workpapers, tie‑outs, and reviewer notes in your format
- Coverage across federal, state, and multi‑state returns, plus payroll and property tax
- Familiarity with QuickBooks, Xero, NetSuite, Stripe, Chargebee, Maxio, and common BI tools
- Clear SLAs, predictable pricing, and steady communication with your managers
When the numbers tell a clean story, board meetings move faster, investor questions get shorter, and your partners stay focused on advisory, not spreadsheet triage.
Industry Pain Points We Solve
- Early revenue recognition on subscriptions or tuition, missed deferrals, and uneven cutoffs
- Mixed grant and operating spending, weak evidence for draws, and unclear restrictions
- VAT or GST obligations discovered after a notice arrives, messy returns, and late payments
- FX noise from multi‑currency activity, inconsistent rate use, and period‑end reversals
- Busy season overload, thin review time, and seniors stuck in manual tie‑outs
What You Can Expect
You set the engagement model, we match it. Our team works inside your portals with MFA, keeps least‑privilege access, and documents every step. You keep your templates and naming standards, and you present the outputs to your client. We stay in the background as your dependable production engine, month after month.
Services Built for Education and EdTech
Revenue recognition under ASC 606
We map each revenue stream to performance obligations, then set release rules that prevent early recognition.
- Subscriptions and SaaS plans, recognize ratably over the service term
- Tuition and term access, recognize as instruction or access is provided
- Multi‑element bundles, allocate price using SSP memos, recognize each element on its own pattern
- Implementation and support, recognize as delivered, not when billed
We build deferred revenue schedules, waterfalls, and roll‑forwards tied to contracts, invoices, and usage data. Upgrades, downgrades, refunds, credits, and partial periods flow through cleanly. Where you need automation, we configure rules in QuickBooks, Xero, NetSuite, or in your billing tool, then monitor exceptions so reviewers focus on judgment calls, not data entry.
Tie MRR and ARR directly to recognized revenue. This prevents timing differences from being misread as churn or growth. Cohort views link the customer journey to GAAP, so partners can explain cause and effect in plain language.
Grant, fund, and Section 41 R&D credit support
Grants and incentives can lower burn if the structure and evidence are right. We help your team organize the foundation.
- Separate ledgers for each award, with budget versus actual tie‑outs
- Evidence files for draws, milestones, and deliverables, stored in the workpaper stack
- Policies for salaries, contractors, prototypes, and cloud costs that align to grant terms
- Section 41 documentation for software R&D, including time tracking and cost allocation that your tax reviewers can sign off on
If your education clients interact with federal aid programs, we keep restricted funds segregated, keep audit evidence tight, and prepare schedules that make reviews straightforward.
Global tax, VAT or GST, and multi‑currency
Cross‑border growth should not put margins at risk. We prepare your clients for VAT or GST, digital services tax considerations, and nexus monitoring, then keep monthly mechanics steady.
- Registration readiness where taxable supplies are created
- Invoicing rules for the right rate, exemption, or reverse charge
- Monthly reconciliations of VAT or GST returns to subledgers
- Nexus registers that track people, servers, users, and marketing activity
- Functional currency policy, daily rates, and period‑end FX revaluations with clean entries
Global growth works best when indirect tax logic is consistent, FX is disciplined, and evidence is easy to audit.
GAAP financials, close, and audit support
We produce GAAP financials, cash flows, and deferred revenue roll‑forwards that speak the language of boards, lenders, and investors. Close checklists keep your month‑end on pace. Workpapers show sources, ties, and reviewer notes, so audits move faster and cost less.
Compliance and tax production
From busy season to special projects, we support your tax team with preparation, tie‑outs, and schedules across common forms.
- Federal, state, and multi‑state income tax return support, including 1040, 1065, 1120, 1120‑S, 1041, 990
- Payroll tax, sales and use tax data prep, and property tax filings
- SOC 2 certified processes with reviewer trails that your QA team can rely on
Risks and the Controls We Put In Place
Risk area | What usually goes wrong | Control or deliverable you get |
|---|---|---|
Subscription revenue | Upfront cash booked as revenue | Deferred revenue schedules with automated releases and reviewer sign‑off |
Grants and restricted funds | Mixed spend, weak evidence for draws | Separate ledgers, budget tie‑outs, and organized evidence files |
Multi‑element contracts | Misallocation across license, setup, and support | SSP memos, allocation worksheets, and contract links in workpapers |
Indirect tax | VAT or GST missed until penalties arrive | Registration tracker, invoice logic, and monthly return reconciliation |
Multi‑currency | FX swings distort margins at month‑end | Functional currency policy, daily rates, and clear revaluation entries |
KPIs and reporting your partners can present
We connect operational data to accounting, then publish dashboards your partners trust.
- MRR, ARR, gross churn, net revenue retention
- CAC, LTV, payback period, pipeline to revenue conversion
- Cohorts tied to contract terms and price changes
- Roll‑ups for diligence and board decks, with footnotes that match workpapers
How We Work With Your Firm
Engagement steps
- Scope and playbook, we confirm entities, systems, and reporting needs, then document ASC 606, grant, tax, and close requirements.
- Secure onboarding, we connect through your portal, enforce MFA, and align folder structures to your audit approach.
- Build and automate, we set revenue rules, grant ledgers, VAT or GST logic, and month‑end routines in your GL and billing stack.
- Produce and reconcile, we prepare schedules, tie key accounts, and document reviewer notes for your seniors.
- Review and improve, you sign off, we log issues, and we tune the process so the next cycle is faster.
Tools and integrations
- Accounting, QuickBooks, Xero, NetSuite
- Billing and rev‑rec, Stripe, Chargebee, Maxio
- Tax and compliance, leading state portals and common indirect tax platforms
- Data and reporting, your BI or spreadsheet models with controlled inputs
Service Highlights
- ASC 606 for subscriptions, tuition, and licensing, with SSP memos and allocation worksheets
- Deferred revenue waterfalls and roll‑forwards that tie to billings and usage
- Grant accounting with separate ledgers, budget tie‑outs, and evidence packages
- Section 41 R&D credit support for software development, coordinated with your tax reviewers
- VAT or GST readiness, nexus tracking, and monthly indirect tax reconciliations
- Multi‑currency accounting, functional currency policies, and FX revaluations
- GAAP financials, close checklists, and audit‑ready workpapers in your format
- Federal, state, and multi‑state return support, plus payroll and property tax data prep
- KPI dashboards for MRR, ARR, churn, NRR, CAC, and LTV, linked to cohorts and contracts
FAQs
Do you work directly with EdTech companies or only through firms?
We are a white‑label partner to CPA firms, EAs, and accounting practices. You lead the engagement and present the deliverables. We supply the staffing, reconciliations, schedules, and return support inside your environment.
Can you help us clean up revenue recognition fast?
Yes. We map contracts, set ASC 606 rules, rebuild deferral schedules, and create deferred revenue roll‑forwards that match the general ledger. We also set exception reports so the problems do not come back next quarter.
What does your security posture look like?
We operate with SOC 2 certified processes, follow least‑privilege access, enforce MFA, and document reviewer trails. We work inside your secure stack or a tenant you provide.
Do you support R&D credits for software under Section 41?
We help your team gather and document eligible activities, time, and costs, then prepare summaries for your tax reviewers. You keep sign‑off and final opinions, we provide defensible support.
Can you handle VAT or GST for global EdTech sales?
We prepare registration trackers, invoice logic, and monthly reconciliations that flow into returns. We maintain a nexus register and keep digital services tax considerations visible in pricing models.
Which forms do you support during busy season?
We assist with data prep and schedules for 1040, 1065, 1120, 1120‑S, 1041, 990, along with payroll tax, property tax, and multi‑state filings. Your tax team stays in control of positions and sign‑offs.
What timelines can we expect?
For recurring close work, we follow agreed SLAs. For cleanups and projects, we scope the timeline up front, add capacity when needed, and keep your managers informed daily.
Ready to Equip Your Firm
If your education and EdTech clients expect clean numbers and quick answers, we will help you deliver both. Accountably provides white‑label staffing, meticulous accounting, and tax support inside IRS, GAAP, and SOC 2 frameworks, with optional cash basis procedures where appropriate.
- Book a discovery call to confirm scope and SLAs
- Share redacted contracts, billing exports, and grant documents for a fast assessment
- Receive a practical plan, a clear onboarding checklist, and a go‑live date your partners can approve quickly
Your clients want certainty, your partners want time back, and your firm wants consistent realization. We will handle the back office, you can focus on advisory and growth.
