Accounts Payable Services & AP Automation Providers in Glastonbury, CT

Accounting Resources Inc, known as ARI, is an outsourced finance and human resources firm based in Glastonbury, Connecticut. It works with small and mid-sized companies and with non-profit organizations that would rather hand off their back-office functions than build an internal department.

According to the firm, it has worked with thousands of clients over more than three decades, and its pitch rests on giving organizations a complete accounting function, often at lower cost than hiring staff to do the same work.

Accounts payable within a full accounting engagement

Buyers looking specifically for AP support should note that ARI does not sell payables processing as a standalone software product. Instead, accounts payable is part of its comprehensive outsourced accounting package, alongside cash management. The firm studies each client's operating cash cycle and then oversees cash balances and outgoing payments on a weekly schedule.

Its entry-level bookkeeping tier, aimed mainly at cash-basis small businesses, leaves out payables handling, so companies needing vendor bill management should look at the full accounting service. Related AP-adjacent work in that package includes:

• Recording daily and weekly transactions, including bank, credit card and payroll activity
• Monthly payables and accrual reviews
• Bank reconciliations and debt activity tracking
• Preparation of 1099 forms for vendors and subcontractors
• Cash forecasts and budget preparation
• Sales and use tax and property tax compliance

Broader finance and HR capabilities

Beyond transaction processing, each client team includes an experienced manager who acts as controller or CFO, reviews financial statements with leadership, and helps interpret trends affecting profitability. ARI also coordinates with outside tax preparers and auditors at year end, builds industry-specific budget models, and can produce forecasted balance sheets, cash flow statements and income statements.

For non-profits, the service adds cost allocation, grant management, annual audit support and board meeting participation. A separate HR outsourcing practice covers benefits administration, employee relations, recruiting, compliance and training.

How engagements work

New relationships follow four stages: an introductory call, an in-person needs assessment, a written proposal outlining deliverables and timelines, and an implementation phase in which ARI sets up processes, cleans up the books and moves the client onto recurring monthly service. Onboarding usually takes 30 to 60 days after an engagement letter is signed.

Pricing is a flat monthly fee tied to transaction volume and complexity, with hourly billing reserved for special projects. There is no long-term contract; either party may end the arrangement with 30 days of written notice.

The firm commits to replying to calls and emails within one business day, and clients can have their accounting software hosted on ARI's secure server for ongoing access.

Industries and team

ARI serves clients in arts, automotive, banking, construction and contracting, engineering, entertainment, fitness, food and beverage, health and beauty, manufacturing, healthcare, property management, recreation and retail. Its non-profit clients include afterschool programs, social service and mental health agencies, domestic violence organizations, historical trusts, theaters and special education schools. The company is led by CEO Tony Allen and President and COO Tony Zambrello, supported by a staff of accounting managers, supervisors, senior accountants and HR professionals working from its Glastonbury office.