Accounting and
Financial Management
Your Monthly Financials, Timely and Accurate
How profitable were you last month? If you can’t answer that question with confidence, you are aren’t alone. In fact, many successful funeral and cemetery business owners can’t realistically define the health of their business. That’s where we come in.
Know you’re in the know
Constant up-to-date financial reporting is key to the success of your business—not from your local CPA, accountant or bookkeeper, but from funeral and cemetery experts who bring technical, numerical, and industry-specific expertise to bear. With over $600 million in revenue and more than 145,000 cases under management, JCG has all the know-how and experience to help you thrive in a competitive business environment.
It’s time to raise your expectations
When you partner with JCG, you gain access to a team with more than 600 years of combined industry experience. Our wide range of accounting and financial services are designed to deliver value from day one:
- An experienced financial management representative dedicated specifically to your firm
- Financial reports with industry benchmarking
- Industry specific accounting practices
- Monthly, quarterly and annual budgets
- Free access to our Performance Tracker X sales analysis software
- Full integration with your point of sale system (POS)
- Available on-site training with your staff to get you up and running quickly
Performance Tracker X
The complete customer experience management tool that evaluates your staff and financial performance, streamlines your success plans and dramatically improves your bottom line. LEARN MORE
Meet our Accounting and Financial Services team
A word from our clients
JCG’s monthly reports are so beneficial, and the quarterly visits with Sheryl, my JCG rep, always make a significant impact. Whenever I have an industry specific question, the JCG experts are always there to answer my concerns, because they know what is going on in the industry, and what industry standards are.
– Todd Schneider
Let’s start the conversation
With a clear understanding of where the profession has been, and a compelling vision of where it’s going, we help our clients reach new levels of success. Let’s talk about how we can do the same for you.
Berny Gaarsoe
Consulting Chief Financial Officer
Berny brings extensive experience to Johnson Consulting’s financial services. He graduated from the University of Utah with a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting. Having served as chief financial officer for several large corporate companies, his areas of expertise are Corporate Finance, Accounting Systems – Implementation and Financial Statement Preparation, Tax Planning, Risk Management, Human Resource Responsibilities, and Governmental Regulation Compliance. Berny also has extensive death care industry experience having created the financial management systems for two large funeral home and cemetery companies, including Prime Succession where he was responsible for finance, accounting, budgeting, reporting, auditing, human resource and risk management functions. Under Mr. Gaarsoe’s direction, Johnson Consulting has created a web based bookkeeping system, employing proprietary death care industry software that will allow independent funeral homes to control cash flow, create accounting reports, and maintain budgets.
Kristen Szymborski
Chief Financial Officer
Kristen Szymborski is an experienced Financial Executive with over 15 years of expertise in driving financial optimization and business transformation through data insights and automated reporting. With experience in serving various industries and having worked at CliftonLarsonAllen, a Top 8 Accounting Firm, Kristen is a licensed CPA in Arizona and holds a master’s in accountancy from the University of Phoenix. Kristen enjoys spending time with her husband, family and friends, travelling, trying new restaurants, and living a healthy lifestyle.
She is committed to being a strategic business partner to the Executive team, leading process improvements, and driving strategic initiatives. Kristen has a proven track record of increasing profitability, stabilizing cash flow, identifying high-impact problems, and implementing new technologies. She has managed budgets up to $700M and has extensive experience leading multi-location dispersed, cross-functional teams.
Caroline Desvallons
Consulting Controller
Caroline Desvallons graduated from Florida International University with a bachelor’s degree in accounting. She has over 20 years as an accomplished, solution-driven, and detail-oriented accounting professional with extensive experience. She is a reliable and supportive team leader capable of coaching and developing teams to enable them to fulfill their potential and add value to the organization. When she is not working, she enjoys movies and reading books.
Jennifer Griffith
Accounting Manager
Jennifer comes to Johnson Consulting Group with over 20 years of experience in client services, accounting, and financial management. She recently worked as the accounting manager for a large property management company in the Phoenix area. When she is not working, she enjoys spending time with her family.
Nate Larsen
Accounting Manager
Nate first started at JCG in 2012.
Nate holds a bachelors in accounting from Utah Valley University. Nate has heavy previous GAAP and budgeting experience. He enjoys interacting with business owners to communicate financial analysis, budgeting and recommendations. Nate’s responsibilities included oversight of clients’ balance sheet and income statement reporting, implementation of internal controls, trend reporting and a concentrated focus of his clients’ cash position. Nate’s love of all things business assists him greatly in his accounting role at Johnson Consulting Group.
Sheryl Lawary
Manager of Training
Sheryl brings over 15 years of accounting experience to Johnson Consulting Group. While earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Accounting from the University of Phoenix, she worked with certified public accountants and tax attorneys. Prior to her accounting career, Sheryl worked as an Assistant Trust Administrator in Wealth Management and Private Banking. As a Johnson Consulting Group Senior Accountant, Sheryl builds and maintains strong client relationships and anticipates their needs. Integrity is her core value. Sheryl is responsible for providing accounting and bookkeeping services to our Accounting client base. In Sheryl’s off hours, she enjoys the outdoors and the challenges of hiking.
Niccole Delgado
Consulting Controller
Niccole graduated from the University of Phoenix with honors, earning a Bachelor of Science in Accounting. Niccole is a current member of the Delta Mu Delta International Honor Society in Business Administration. Her past work experience in the credit and banking industry as an SR Rapid Cycle Test Analyst provided her analytical and strategic decision making, as well as teamwork skills. Her innovative ideas help strengthen customer relationships, improve processes, and fortify the company brand. Niccole’s dedication to Johnson Consulting Group’s core values and mission to provide the highest quality services, will ensure she is not only meeting, but exceeding, our clients’ expectations.
Lynne Jejna
Staff Accountant
Lynne comes to Johnson Consulting Group with an extensive background in the finance/accounting arena. Her prior work experience encompassed preparing and analyzing monthly financial statements. She has worked closely with her client base to foster an invaluable partnership. This experience has afforded Lynne the essential skills needed to better serve her clients.
Tuyen Tran
Staff Accountant
Tuyen has a Master’s in Accountancy degree from Arizona State University. Her professional career prior to JCG was working for Food Service of America in their Corporate Headquarters in Scottsdale, AZ. In the accounting role she focused on cash management and financial analysis of vender accounts. Tuyen is a team player and prides herself on quick results and accuracy.
Valerie Walls
Accounting Manager
Valerie graduated from the University of Central Oklahoma with a Bachelor’s in Business Finance. She has over 20 years of accounting and finance experience with private and public companies. And with knowledge in accounts receivable, accounts payable, bank and balance sheet reconciliations, variance analysis, budget and finance, and financial reporting. She has worked in various industries such as service, distribution, manufacturing, educational and insurance. Valerie takes pride in building a rapport with her co-workers and clients, it is important to her to build a strong foundation and trust in the service that she provides to her internal and external customers.
Madison Swaney
Staff Accountant
Madison graduated from Northern Arizona University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration – Management and certificates in Marketing and Accounting. She was on the executive board for the professional business fraternity, Delta Sigma Pi. During her college career, Madison worked at an accounting firm where she found a passion for helping clients with their businesses and assisting in reaching their goals for their business.
Ryan Hill
Consulting Controller
Ryan joins Johnson Consulting Group with more than 10 years of accounting and customer service. Ryan has earned multiple degrees while studying at his alma mater, Florida Southern College, including a Bachelor of Science in Accounting, a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, and a Masters of Accountancy. Ryan brings a unique perspective to JCG, having experience in public accounting, construction, real estate, and manufacturing industries, with his most recent experience as the Controller of a new home construction company. When he is not working, Ryan enjoys traveling, reading, playing video games, and crossfit.
Simon Wong
Financial Analyst
Simon graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting. After graduation, he worked at a student loan company as a staff accountant preparing financial documents. Thereafter, Simon worked at an insurance brokerage as a staff accountant preparing financial statements and reviewing an assortment of accounting procedures. Simon’s prior accounting experience and analytic abilities supports his role as a Financial Analyst at Johnson Consulting Group. Simon enjoys bicycling, hiking and listening to music in his free time.
Melisa Battaglia
Accounting Manager
Melisa graduated from the University of Arizona with a Bachelors in Intelligence Studies. Melisa brings over 15 years’ experience in accounting, administration, and financial management. She has a diversity of knowledge in the accounting industry such as non-profit, manufacturing and construction, both nationwide and globally. Previously she was an Accounting Manager responsible for aggregating data for teams across multiple platforms. She also has extensive experience in both payroll and audit preparation. Melisa enjoys a good challenge and has a willingness to learn new knowledge and skills. When she is not working, Melisa enjoys creating new memories by traveling the world and spending time with family and friends. She also enjoys cars and a good hockey game.