Centralized and Outdated to Cloud-Based and Streamlined
How Accountable Numbers helped Scenic Art Studios, Broadway’s premier scenic painting studio, elevate their accounting processes after a change in ownership.
- Transaction history migrated
- 4 yrs
- Reports archived for audits
- 7 yrs
- Monthly reports delivered
- By the 15th
- Industry
- Scenic painting for Broadway
- Location
- New York
- Client since
- Early 2024
- Services
- Cloud migration, AP, reporting
New York-based Scenic Art Studios is Broadway’s premier scenic painting studio, creating custom painted backdrops and sculptures for production companies across New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.
In early 2024, with new ownership and a retiring Finance Director, it partnered with us to move to cloud-based accounting and streamline its processes.
About the client
The Story of Scenic Art Studios
Founded in 1994 by Master Scenic Artist and Tony Honors recipient Joseph Forbes, Scenic Art Studios has provided its craftsmanship for over 350 Broadway productions.
After 25 years, it had grown to over 100 employees, with upwards of fifty scenic artists across five locations on a given day. Yet all of its accounting still ran on a desktop system, managed by one person, with minimal financial controls.
In December 2023, after many years with the company, David Jackson purchased it, and partnered with us to make its finances as well-managed as its creative work.
The challenge
Outdated Software, Manual Processes, Limited Visibility
Outdated desktop software, manual processes and paper checks limited visibility into the company’s financial health. Under new ownership, it needed something modern and scalable.
Manual accounts payable
Paper checks and no digital approval system.
Outdated desktop software
Financial data was hard to access remotely, and reporting capabilities were limited.
No project-level visibility
No clear view of project-level income and expenses inside the accounting system.
Inconsistent reporting
Financial reporting was inconsistent and often delayed.
Our solution
Modern Systems and Clear Financial Insight
Our goal was to modernize their accounting and give them the clarity to make informed decisions. We focused on:
Software evaluation and recommendation
Sage 300 (formerly Accpac), a full ERP, was overbuilt and overpriced for their needs, and as a desktop system only one person could access it. We recommended QuickBooks Online Advanced for real-time, multi-user access.
Data migration
We migrated four years of transaction-level data, including invoice and payables history, so David and his team can reach it from anywhere and compare against prior years. We also saved reports going back seven years in case of an audit.
Streamlined accounts payable
We moved accounts payable to Bill.com with digital approvals, eliminating manual checks, cutting errors and delays, and creating a more secure, auditable process.
Custom financial reporting
Custom management and financial reports, delivered by the 15th of the following month, give the owner insights that were previously unavailable.
Project tracking implementation
Projects were tracked in a separate system. We moved tracking into the accounting system, so David can evaluate profitability project by project.
The results
Streamlined Operations and Better Decisions
Scenic Art Studios has streamlined its financial operations, improved cash flow and gained clarity that supports better decisions.
David now has reliable, timely financial data and a clear view of both overall business performance and individual project profitability.
Pillar:Money outWhat it means
Bills approved and paid in one place, reports on time
For Scenic Art Studios, that meant paper checks replaced by digital approvals in Bill.com, and management reports delivered by the 15th of every month.
We run the money, so you can run the business.
Let’s meet. Your team is ready when you are.
Still running the money on paper checks and one person’s desktop?
Our Controller-led team runs your bills, books and reporting on modern systems. You approve. We execute. Your Controller reviews every payment.