Financial Leadership for Nonprofit & Research Organizations
Forensic-minded financial leadership for organizations managing grants, contracts, restricted funding, and complex financial reporting.
Pennies Count provides forensic-minded financial leadership to nonprofit and research organizations that need more than bookkeeping and more than financial statements.
We help organizations strengthen their accounting infrastructure, improve financial visibility, identify risk, and make informed financial decisions- with the level of care and accountability you would expect from an experienced Controller or CFO.
Who We Serve
Financial Leadership for Organizations with Complex Financial Needs
Pennies Count works with nonprofit and research organizations that need more than routine accounting.
We work with organizations where grants, contracts, restricted funding, multiple programs, compliance requirements, and financial reporting create a level of complexity that requires experienced financial leadership.
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS
For nonprofits that need stronger financial infrastructure, clearer reporting, better internal controls, or Controller-level financial leadership.
RESEARCH ORGANIZATIONS
For research foundations and organizations managing multiple research programs, grants, contracts, Principal Investigators, and complex reporting requirements.
GROWING & GRANT-FUNDED ORGANIZATIONS
For organizations whose financial operations have outgrown their current structure and need experienced financial leadership without immediately adding a full-time Controller or CFO.
SEE THE PENNIES COUNT APPROACH IN ACTION
Nonprofit Case Study
How an Audit‑Ready Review uncovered a misclassified conditional grant.
Research Foundation Case Study
How an internal controls review uncovered misallocation of payroll expense
What We Do
Financial Leadership That Fits Your Organization
Controller-level oversight for organizations that need stronger accounting operations, reporting, and financial infrastructure.
Fractional Controller
Specialized financial support for research organizations managing grants, contracts, research programs, and Principal Investigators.
Research Finance
Strategic financial leadership for organizations that need forecasting, planning, financial analysis, and executive-level insight.
Fractional CFO
Identify financial risks, strengthen processes, and build controls that work.
Internal Controls Assessment
Prepare your financial records, reporting, documentation, and controls before the auditors arrive.
Audit & Financial Readiness
Specialized Financial Reviews
The right financial review starts with the right question.
Nonprofit organizations don't always need more accounting-they need a clearer understanding of what's happening within their financial operations.
Nonprofit organizations don't always need more accounting-they need a clearer understanding of what's happening within their financial operations.
Which question are you trying to answer?
Your Question
How financially healthy are we?
Are we ready for our next audit
Are our grants being managed appropriately?
Financial Health Check
Understand your organization's financial position.
A broad financial assessment that looks at financial position, liquidity, funding, budget performance, internal controls, and financial reporting.
Starting at $750
Audit-Ready Review
Know what your auditor may find before they do.
A focused assessment of financial records, documentation, reconciliations, and internal controls designed to identify potential audit-readiness risks.
$750
Grant Compliance Review
Follow the grant dollars.
A focused review of grant financial management, expenditures, documentation, reporting, cost allocation, and related internal controls.
Starting at $750
Not Sure Which Review You Need?
You don't have to determine the answer on your own, Request a Consultation!
Why Pennies Count
20+ Years of Accounting Experience
A career built around nonprofit accounting, financial reporting, compliance, and understanding how financial systems operate in the real world.
Public Accounting & Audit Experience
Experience working in public accounting and performing nonprofit audits provides an informed perspective on financial reporting, internal controls, documentation, and audit readiness.
Forensic Accounting Perspective
A Master's degree in Forensic Accounting brings an investigative approach to financial analysis, risk identification, and internal controls.
Controller-Level Thinking
Pennies Count looks beyond individual transactions to understand the systems, processes, and decisions behind the numbers.
Financial Information in Plain English
Financial leadership is only valuable when leadership can understand and use the information.
Complex financial matters should be explained clearly, not hidden behind accounting terminology.
Meet Upenda
The forensic mind behind Pennies Count.
Hello!With more than 20 years of accounting experience and a Master's degree in Forensic Accounting, Upenda brings an investigative approach to financial management.
Her career has included nonprofit accounting, financial reporting, grants and contracts, internal controls, and public accounting and nonprofit auditing. This experience gives her a perspective that goes beyond simply recording transactions or producing financial statements.
Upenda believes organizations need financial information they can trust and leadership needs to understand what that information is actually saying.
Through Pennies Count, she provides forensic-minded fractional Controller and CFO services to nonprofit and research organizations that need stronger financial infrastructure, clearer reporting, and experienced financial leadership.
READY TO STRENGTHEN YOUR FINANCIAL FUNCTION?
Whether your organization needs Controller-level oversight, CFO guidance, stronger internal controls, or specialized research finance support, let's start with a conversation.
Let's Talk About Your Numbers.
Schedule a consultation to discuss your organization's current financial structure, challenges, and where you want to go next.
Not sure where to start? We’ll guide you.