Accounts Payable Services & AP Automation Providers in Seattle, WA

Seattle CFO is an accounting firm in Seattle that works with businesses, nonprofits and consultants throughout the Pacific Northwest, and with some clients beyond the region. For buyers comparing providers of accounts payable help, the firm is a service organization, not a software vendor. Handling vendor bills is one piece of a broader package of bookkeeping, payroll, tax and compliance work, and the company's website does not name any AP automation platform that it sells or resells.

Accounts Payable Within a Complete Accounting Operation

The firm provides accounts payable alongside accounts receivable, bookkeeping and payroll processing. That combination suits organizations that would rather rely on a single outside team for money coming in and going out than hire a different provider for each task.

Seattle CFO states that it aims to keep books clean and compliant while giving owners the financial insight needed to make sound decisions. It also prepares business compliance filings in Washington and in other states, which can help companies whose operations or vendors span several jurisdictions.

• Accounts payable and accounts receivable
• Routine bookkeeping and payroll processing
• Business compliance filings in Washington and elsewhere
• Federal tax preparation and planning, covering Forms 1040, 1065, 1120S, 1120 and 990
• Fractional CFO work, including planning, cash flow forecasting and analysis
• Nonprofit and fund accounting
• Staff augmentation and back office support

Strategic and Specialized Support

Some organizations outgrow routine transaction handling. For these clients, the firm offers fractional CFO services, giving a company senior-level financial guidance without the expense of a full-time executive hire. The work spans strategic planning, projections of cash flow, financial analysis and advisory support for companies preparing to scale.

Mission-driven organizations can turn to a dedicated nonprofit and fund accounting service. According to the firm, it is tailored to each organization's mission and covers tracking of restricted funds, reporting to grantors, work supporting relationships with donors, and the internal safeguards that keep money handled properly. Tax support for exempt organizations includes Form 990 preparation.

Flexible Engagement Models

Seattle CFO can take over a client's whole accounting function, or it can supply experienced people to support an existing internal team or cover a vacant finance role. The firm says it has capacity for new clients. It also works with referral partners, such as other accountants and financial professionals, who pass along overflow work or clients that need specialized expertise. Its stated approach is personalized and responsive service that grows with the client.

Industries and Fit

The team reports deep experience across several sectors, which may matter to buyers whose payables follow industry-specific patterns:

• Technology companies
• Professional services firms
• Construction businesses
• Nonprofits and consultants
• Growing companies and established organizations of all sizes

Buyers who mainly want a standalone AP automation product may need to look elsewhere. Organizations that prefer to have people manage payables as part of an outsourced accounting, compliance and CFO-level relationship may find Seattle CFO a practical choice.

Vazquez & Company is a Seattle-based CPA practice that supports small and mid-sized businesses, including clients located outside Washington. The firm suits owners who would rather not build an internal accounting department. It handles accounts payable as one piece of a broader outsourced bookkeeping arrangement, not as a standalone automation product.

Accounts Payable and Bookkeeping Services

Staff accountants and bookkeepers take over daily accounting duties for client companies. Payables and receivables are processed alongside the general ledger, so supplier bills, cash activity and reconciliations all land in a single, consistent set of records. Owners also receive weekly and monthly reporting, which keeps them informed without requiring them to produce the numbers themselves. The outsourced accounting package includes:

• Accounts payable and receivable processing
• General ledger maintenance and balance sheets
• Tracking of cash balances
• Credit card reconciliations
• Monthly closings
• Weekly financial statements and monthly financial reporting
• Sales rep commission tracking
• Setup on QuickBooks in the cloud

Payroll and Contractor Reporting

Companies that pay contractors as well as vendors may value the firm's payroll offering, which covers preparation of W-2s, W-3s and 1099s. Other payroll items include tax filings, direct deposit, customized reports, weekly accounting summaries, unemployment claims and worker's compensation audits. Processing can run on a weekly, bi-weekly or monthly cycle.

Technology and Working Style

The practice centers on QuickBooks, and its team holds Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor status. Software can be installed at the client's premises or hosted online by the firm. Hosting gives clients round-the-clock access to current financial data, which helps when decisions cannot wait.

Businesses that prefer to retain some bookkeeping internally can obtain setup help, ongoing troubleshooting and advice on how best to approach particular tasks. The firm begins with a no-cost introductory consultation and then shapes a package around the size and requirements of the business.

Advisory Depth

Beyond routine processing, the firm provides outsourced controller and CFO support, a service many small companies cannot justify as a full-time hire. An engagement typically starts with a review of financial operations, followed by work on cash flow, expense reduction, internal controls and a practical budget.

Related services include forecasting, strategic planning, profit analysis, tax planning and training for in-house bookkeepers. Project-based advice covers mergers, acquisitions, raising capital, risk management, cost analysis, employee incentive planning and exit strategies. A client can therefore progress from basic payables work to wider financial oversight without changing providers.

Background

The firm is led by Sonya Vazquez, who graduated magna cum laude with a B.S. in 1987 and passed the CPA exam on her first try in February 1988, at a time when few candidates did.

She opened a practice in Oklahoma City, sold it in 1989 and relocated to Washington, DC, where she audited labor unions, pension funds and nonprofit organizations for a large regional firm. Vazquez & Company was established in the Port Orchard and Seattle area in 1996 and has worked only with small businesses since.

Her experience includes helping software companies secure financing, evaluating potential business ventures for clients, and negotiating settlements and offers in compromise with the IRS and state agencies. Many clients jokingly call her their "financial shrink," reflecting her habit of listening closely before recommending solutions.