During the COVID-19 pandemic, Manna Food Center, a food distribution and advocacy organization, experienced an influx of community need. Located in Montgomery County, Maryland, Manna’s management team needed to develop new solutions and processes to meet this increased demand, and to manage accounting and budgeting tasks more efficiently. Manna partnered with Cherry Bekaert to streamline its operations and improve financial reporting, so staff could focus on carrying out the organization’s mission.
“The staff of Cherry Bekaert were very responsive in addressing immediate needs and helping us forecast upcoming challenges in an uncertain environment”
The Challenge
From 2020 to the end of 2023, Manna Food Center’s assets grew from less than $3 million to more than $12 million. Due to the pandemic, an overwhelming number of community members experienced food insecurity and were in need of food distribution services and access to nutritious food. With a mission to end hunger in Montgomery County, Manna was committed to taking on the challenge.
However, the increased demand and rapid organizational growth left management scrambling to accommodate the volume and complexity of transactions. As they began to expand operations, Manna staff realized they needed new processes and internal control functions to eliminated manual reconciliation processes. In addition, the organization experienced turnover in its internal accounting department and needed assistance preparing for both the 2021 annual budget and audit.
Manna reached out to Cherry Bekaert’s team in 2020 for budget and audit assistance, and the partnership expanded to encompass outsourced accounting.
Unique Solutions
Our advisors became trusted resources during Manna’s budget and audit timeline. As our teams collaborated, the need for need accounting employees arose and Manna then worked with members of Cherry Bekaert’s Outsourced Accounting Services and Recruiting & Staffing Services teams to develop workpapers and accounting guidelines. Outsourcing its accounting operations allowed Manna to reconcile and produce accurate and efficient, monthly financial statements. We also worked closely with Manna management to perform a system optimization and analysis before implementing tools that were more aligned with the needs of the organization. Manna was able to transition to cloud-based accounting software that integrated with other tools to save time, automate processes and increase efficiency.
As a result, Manna Food Center’s accounting systems are now streamlined and able to effectively handle the demands of a growing organization. We also assisted Manna in the hiring and onboarding of a managing director, who works closely with our accountants on strategy, process improvements, financial analysis and budget.
With new systems in place, Manna is now able to continue supporting its community and focusing on its core mission: to end hunger in Montgomery County. Our professionals provided the exposure, knowledge and capabilities needed to help the organization grow and focus on its strengths.
Wins
- Online Payment System Implementation
- Transitioned to Cloud-Based Accounting Software
- Documented and Implemented Key Policies
- Incorporated Segregation of Duties
- Implemented New Inventory Management Tool
Time and time again the Cherry Bekaert staff delivered timely and well-executed results. I built such confidence in their teams and often felt like the most important client. That’s a testament to the professionalism and values of the organization
– Jackie DeCarlo, CEO
Our Services
- Financial Reporting
- Account Reconciliation
- G/L Management
- AP/AR Processing
- CFO and Controllership Services
- Forecasting and Budgeting
- Tax and Audit Support
- Payroll Processing and Advisory
- Sage Intacct Sales, Implementation and Support
Cherry Bekaert’s outsourced accounting services are uniquely tailored to meet the needs of organizations looking to improve efficiency, streamline costs and focus on core operations. Our solution-driven team offers industry-aligned outsourced accounting services with the use of cloud-based accounting technology to provide access to financial data from anywhere, at any time. Contact us to see how our professionals can best serve your business.
