With lean accounting and finance departments and an ever-changing regulatory landscape, companies often struggle with the accounting and financial reporting requirements of non-recurring transactions. Such requirements can be complex and time-consuming, whether the matter is the result of a merger or acquisition, divestiture, initial public offering, significant new contract, or adoption of a newly-issued accounting standard.

Our professionals’ large-firm and corporate experience, combined with a hands-on approach, uniquely positions Stout to deliver accounting expertise and horsepower around complex accounting and financial reporting topics. We offer a flexible and practical approach and can assist with projects large and small. Because we are not a CPA firm, Stout is not bound by independence restrictions.

Technical Accounting Consulting

Whether providing informal feedback on complex contracts, or preparing accounting memoranda, journal entries, or financial statement disclosures, our professionals provide expertise across a wide range of technical accounting topics, including:

• Business combinations
• Complex equity and debt instruments
• Revenue recognition
• Derivatives and hedging
• Stock-based compensation
• Impairment of goodwill, intangible assets, or fixed assets
• Consolidation and variable interest entities
• Lease accounting
• Carve-outs and divestitures
• Fresh start accounting
• Adoption of new accounting standards, including leases (ASC 842), revenue recognition (ASC 606), and current expected credit losses (ASC 326)

Our professionals also support companies with their annual audit and quarterly reviews including:

• Preparing and/or providing feedback on supporting schedules and other audit support
• Performing cut-off procedures
• Preparing financial statements and related disclosures, including statement of equity and cash flows
• Preparing financial sections of Form 10-K or 10-Q and related support
• Support in discussions with auditors

Public Company Readiness

Going public is one of the most significant transactions a company can undertake and getting it right is imperative. Preparing for an initial public offering or SPAC transaction requires significant planning and effort. Our professionals assist companies in preparing the SEC filings required to become a public company, transforming their financial organization to meet public company requirements, providing audit readiness and support, and supporting public company financial reporting and other ongoing complex accounting matters.

How can Stout assist?

Our Public Company Readiness Services

Finance Integration

Effective post-acquisition integration can be an elusive goal. We focus on all aspects of post-acquisition integration with the finance function and its sub-verticals. Whether it be tax, treasury, FP&A, accounting, finance operations, or financial reporting, we can ensure preparedness at closing, smooth execution during the first 100 days, and establishment of a sustainable finance operating model at steady state.

How can Stout assist?

Our Finance Integration Services

Internal Control over Financial Reporting

Internal controls that are designed and operating effectively help safeguard a company and its assets, minimize risk, and provide reasonable assurance to internal and external stakeholders that the company is operating in accordance with policies, rules, regulations, and laws. Furthermore, it promotes operational efficiency and ensures the accuracy of financial records - critical elements to a successful organization in any industry.

The challenge, often, is that internal controls are viewed as a compliance exercise and do not receive the same prioritization and focus as other areas of an organization. The result is internal controls that may not be effectively designed, resulting in control deficiencies or worse still, material weaknesses. Our professionals can help by:

• Performing internal control assessments
• Conducting process walkthroughs
• Designing and documenting SOX compliant controls
• Drafting risk control matrices
• Assisting with testing the operating effectiveness of controls
• Remediating identified control deficiencies

Who We Work With

• Chief Financial Officers
• Chief Accounting Officers
• Controllers
• Managers/Directors of technical accounting and financial reporting
• Public and private companies
• Portfolio companies of private equity groups