Accounts Payable Services & AP Automation Providers in Annapolis, MD

Bencivenga and Associates PA, which operates online as Ben CPAs, is a certified public accounting firm based in Annapolis, Maryland. It serves executives, independent professionals, individual taxpayers, and small and mid-sized companies. The firm positions itself as an outsourced finance resource for owners who would rather spend their time on operations than on keeping their own ledgers.

Buyers comparing accounts payable providers should note that the firm does not market a dedicated AP department or an AP automation platform. Payables work would fall under its broader bookkeeping, QuickBooks and controller-style offerings.

Services relevant to payables and back-office finance

The firm's business menu focuses on keeping a company's records current and accurate, and on turning those records into information owners can act on. The offerings most closely tied to managing vendor bills and cash outflows include:

• Ongoing bookkeeping and small business accounting, including catch-up work for owners who have fallen behind on their records
• QuickBooks setup, training, troubleshooting and periodic file tune-ups
• Cash flow projections meant to help owners anticipate and avoid cash shortfalls
• Reviews of internal control systems, followed by recommendations to tighten procedures
• Part-time CFO support that gives a company access to a seasoned financial manager without a full-time hire
• Audits, reviews and compilations offered at three different levels of assurance

Beyond these, the firm handles business and individual tax preparation and planning, estate and trust tax work, new business formation, succession planning, strategic advisory, non-profit accounting, forensic accounting and litigation support. Its tax relief practice covers:

• IRS audit representation, unfiled returns and back taxes
• Payroll tax problems
• Liens, levies, wage garnishments and seizures
• Payment plans, offers in compromise and innocent spouse relief

The site also mentions help with payroll and with sales and use tax compliance.

Industries and clients

Ben CPAs highlights experience with dentists, healthcare practices, hospitality businesses, law firms, manufacturers and real estate companies. For organizations that rely heavily on supplier relationships, such as manufacturers or hospitality operators, the most relevant part of the offering may be the mix of bookkeeping, internal control assessments and cash flow forecasting.

Background and credentials

The firm was founded by Joseph W. Bencivenga, CPA, CFE, MBA, who has more than three decades of audit and tax experience at public accounting firms of varying size. He is licensed as a CPA in Maryland, Florida and New York. He also holds the Certified Fraud Examiner designation, which complements the firm's work on internal controls and fraud-related investigations. His education includes:

• An accounting degree from Binghamton University
• A master's in taxation from Pace University
• An MBA from Columbia Business School

He belongs to the AICPA and the ACFE. He has taught continuing education sessions on advanced tax planning and stock option planning, and he has written for The CPA Journal.

How the firm works with clients

Prospective clients can start with a no-cost consultation to work out which services suit their situation. Clients exchange documents through a secure file transfer page and an online client portal. The firm also publishes a monthly newsletter along with tax calendars, record retention guidance and financial calculators. The practice stresses affordability, discretion and direct access to an experienced accountant.

That approach may appeal to smaller companies that want hands-on help with their books and payables rather than a large-scale automation system.