Financial Systems and Guidance You Can Rely On

SZ Accounting, a licensed CPA firm permitted by the Indiana Board of Accountancy, helps businesses and organizations replace disorganized financial information, inefficient processes, and reactive decisions with reliable systems, clearer reporting, and practical next steps. Led by Sara Zidal, CPA, serving Indianapolis and Central Indiana, with virtual support available statewide.

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Licensed CPA Firm

Credentialed and accountable to CPA-level standards under Indiana law.

20+ Years of Experience

Across accounting, finance, tax, and advisory work.

Indianapolis and Central Indiana

Local support, with virtual options where it fits.

Systems-First Approach

Built for reliability, not just year-end cleanup.

Why Reliable Financial Systems Matter

National research consistently points to the same root cause behind small-business failure: cash-flow problems, not a lack of profit. Indiana is home to more than 591,000 small businesses supporting over 1.2 million jobs, and the ones that build clear, current financial visibility are the ones positioned to weather slow months, unexpected expenses, and seasonal swings.

Cash Flow, Not Profit

Cash-flow problems are the most commonly cited reason small businesses close, even profitable ones.

27 Days of Buffer

JPMorgan Chase Institute research found that the median small business held roughly 27 days of cash buffer, leaving little room for a late invoice or slow season.

591,000+ Indiana Businesses

A large, growing small business community makes reliable financial systems a competitive advantage, not overhead.

Where We Usually Step In

A business doesn’t have to be struggling to have a financial systems problem. Most engagements start with one of these situations, not a crisis, just a gap between how the business is actually running and what the numbers show.

Growing, But Cash Still Feels Tight

Revenue is up, but cash flow doesn’t reflect it. Usually a timing, pricing, or reporting gap, not a growth problem.

Numbers You Don't Fully Trust

Reports exist, but you hesitate before making a decision based on them. That hesitation is worth listening to.

Profit That Doesn't Match the Work

Revenue looks fine, but margins don’t reflect the effort behind it. Pricing and cost visibility usually need a closer look.

Outgrown the Spreadsheet

What worked at a smaller size starts to break down: version conflicts, manual reconciliation, hours lost rebuilding the same file every month. Reliable bookkeeping systems replace that with something repeatable.

Knowledge That Lives in One Person's Head

If a key person left tomorrow, would the financials still make sense? Documented systems answer that question in advance.

Preparing for What's Next

Hiring, expansion, funding, or a larger contract is coming, and the financial systems need to be ready before the opportunity is. Business advisory support often starts here.

None of these mean something is wrong with the business. They mean the financial systems haven’t caught up to it yet. It’s where SZ Accounting starts, for businesses and organizations across Indianapolis, Fishers, Carmel, Noblesville, Westfield, and the rest of Central Indiana, with virtual support available statewide.

How SZ Accounting Helps

Practical support built around how your organization actually runs, not a generic checklist.

Bookkeeping and Reporting

Clean up bookkeeping and build dependable monthly reporting.

Systems Over Spreadsheets

Replace scattered spreadsheets and one-person recordkeeping with repeatable processes.

Cash Flow Visibility

Improve cash-flow visibility and cash-management routines.

Pricing and Profitability

Understand costs, pricing, margins, and profitability.

Budgets and Forecasting

Build budgets, forecasts, and decision-ready financial reporting.

Internal Controls

Strengthen internal controls with clear approvals and documentation.

Choose the Right Support Path

Five ways to work with SZ Accounting, depending on where you are and what you need.

Business Financial Systems & Advisory

Fractional CFO-level support, AI readiness, and workflow automation to build reliable systems and guide growth decisions.

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Tax, Bookkeeping & Payroll Support

The core accounting work your business needs to run cleanly, every month.

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Contract CPA Support for CPA Firms

Confidential, CPA-level capacity for firms that need reliable help without expanding headcount.

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CPA Exam Coaching

A realistic study plan and accountability from someone who has been through the exam.

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Programs, Technical Assistance & Institutional Partnerships

CPA-led financial education, technical assistance, cohort programs, and financial-systems support for associations, workforce organizations, economic-development groups, institutions, and public-sector partners.

Discuss a Program or Partnership

Why SZ Accounting?

Sara Zidal, CPA, brings more than 20 years of experience across accounting, finance, tax, compliance, operations, and advisory work. SZ Accounting is a licensed CPA firm built on practical, real-world experience rather than generic advice. The goal is simple: help business owners and organizations understand their numbers well enough to make confident decisions.

Finds the problems you did not know you had, not just the ones on your list
Systems-focused, built to hold up over time
Direct communication, no account-manager layer

Who SZ Accounting Serves

SZ Accounting works with small and growing businesses, organizations and nonprofits, CPA firms needing contract support, and institutional buyers. That includes supporting the financial-readiness needs of organizations preparing for growth, funding conversations, or work with local government, State of Indiana entities, federal opportunities, and government contracting relationships.

Better Accounting Should Lead to Better Decisions

Reliable financial systems aren’t the end goal. Better decisions are. Once the numbers can be trusted, they start doing real work:

✓See where money is actually being made and lost, not just what came in and went out.
✓Evaluate pricing and margins with real cost data behind them.
✓Anticipate cash needs before they become a scramble.
✓Make hiring and expansion decisions with confidence instead of guesswork.
✓Catch inefficiencies or unusual activity early, while they’re still small.
✓Produce financial information that lenders, boards, partners, and funders can actually rely on.
✓Spend less time rebuilding spreadsheets and more time using information to run the business.

Ready to Build Financial Systems You Can Trust?

Tell SZ Accounting a bit about your business or organization, and get a clear next step, not a sales pitch.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What types of businesses does SZ Accounting work with?szacctweb@gmail.com2026-09-05T00:19:27+00:00

What types of businesses does SZ Accounting work with?

SZ Accounting works with small and mid-sized businesses and organizations across Central Indiana, as well as CPA firms needing contract support, entities preparing for funding or growth, and nonprofits. Support is available in-person or virtually across the state.

Do you provide ongoing bookkeeping and financial reporting?szacctweb@gmail.com2026-09-05T00:20:10+00:00

Do you provide ongoing bookkeeping and financial reporting?

Yes. Monthly bookkeeping and clear financial reporting are core services, built to give you an accurate, current picture of your numbers rather than a year-end scramble.

Can you help clean up disorganized or inaccurate books?szacctweb@gmail.com2026-09-05T00:21:03+00:00

Can you help clean up disorganized or inaccurate books?

Yes. Catch-up and cleanup work is common, whether it’s a backlog of unreconciled accounts, inconsistent categorization, or books that no longer match reality. The goal is a clean, reliable starting point going forward.

How can better accounting systems improve cash-flow visibility?szacctweb@gmail.com2026-09-05T00:21:57+00:00

How can better accounting systems improve cash-flow visibility?

Reliable, up-to-date books make it possible to see cash coming in and going out before it becomes a surprise. With consistent reporting and categorization, you can spot patterns, plan for slow months, and make decisions with real numbers instead of guesswork.

Can you help a business move away from spreadsheets?szacctweb@gmail.com2026-09-05T00:22:36+00:00

Can you help a business move away from spreadsheets?

Yes. Moving off spreadsheets and into a proper accounting system reduces manual errors and gives you reporting you can actually trust. The transition is handled step by step, with your historical data carried over accurately.

What’s the difference between bookkeeping, accounting support, and financial guidance?szacctweb@gmail.com2026-09-05T00:23:24+00:00

What’s the difference between bookkeeping, accounting support, and financial guidance?

Bookkeeping is the day-to-day recording of transactions. Accounting support builds on that with reconciliation, reporting, and compliance. Financial guidance goes a step further, using those numbers to help you make decisions about pricing, cash flow, and growth. SZ Accounting offers all three, tailored to what your business actually needs.

What should I prepare before a consultation?szacctweb@gmail.com2026-09-05T00:24:14+00:00

What should I prepare before a consultation?

Nothing formal is required. A general sense of your current bookkeeping setup, recent financial statements if you have them, and the challenges you’re running into are all helpful, but not required to get started.