Arable Labs Streamlines Accounting with Scrubbed
Arable Labs produces a farming IoT device that helps farmers monitor weather, temperature, rainfall, and soil moisture in their fields. Software then gives instant financial data for farmers to make farming decisions like watering and using fertilizers and inputs. Brian Johansing, Arable’s controller, needed help to streamline the day-to-day accounting work for the growing business and allow him to focus on more strategic priorities.
Workload overload
As the sole accountant for Arable Labs, Brian was stretched thin. “I’m managing day-to-day finance tasks, including processing orders from customers, making sure that the right devices are fulfilled to customers and that we are invoicing and getting paid,” he says. “I’m also staying on top of compliance, tax issues, sales tax, working with the HR team to make sure that all of our financial and personnel data is correct, doing some financial modeling and forecasting, and providing ad hoc analysis for different departments within the company.”
He needed a reliable partner who could streamline the work, improve accuracy, and ensure a multi-layered review process for financial documents –crucial for a company with limited accounting staff. “It was important to me to have those layers of review to ensure accuracy and that different eyes are seeing all of the work papers and transactional accounting happening,” says Brian.
Expertise and multi-layered review
Brian chose Scrubbed based on positive recommendations from colleagues who had previously worked with the team and spoke highly of the service quality, particularly regarding month-end close accounting. He also valued Scrubbed’s “triage-style” team, which includes experts with experience in specific tasks such as revenue recognition and lease accounting. The team approach allows for a multi-layered review process that quickly addressed Brian’s concerns about accuracy and having more eyes on the financials.
Streamlined operations and improved accuracy
After hiring Scrubbed in early 2023, Brian says it took just a few months for them to become completely familiar with the business and develop an effective cadence. The Scrubbed team took over a significant portion of Brian’s workload, including the order-to-cash process, compliance tasks, tax issues, financial modeling, and the month-end close accounting. The team’s support not only reduced Brian’s workload but also significantly improved the accuracy and efficiency of Arable Labs’ accounting practices.
Perhaps the most significant benefit of the partnership was the time it freed up for Brian. With the peace of mind that Scrubbed was handling day-to-day tasks and keeping him updated, Brian could now focus on more strategic tasks.
Brian Johansing
Conntroller, Arable Labs Inc.
“When I’m busy working on new projects, my attention gets drawn away from the day-to-day accounting,” he says. “I have a call with Scrubbed every week to check in on how the month-end close is going and any new issues coming up. Over the last year, I’ve seen the quality of our financial reporting improve, and the number of days the month-end close takes has gotten smaller and smaller.”
Scrubbed Services Provided
Sense of ownership makes for a strong partnership
Scrubbed acts as an extension of Brian’s accounting team, handling routine tasks along with more complex accounting assignments and ensuring accurate financial reporting. “They are always aiming for accuracy, and they make sure that I’m giving them the information they need to do their jobs,” says Brian. “There’s a sense of productivity and responsibility, and they just take ownership of the accounting.”
The relationship itself is also very positive. “Accounting is sometimes not the top priority for a lot of the people we work with,” explains Brian. “Scrubbed follows up very well with different contributors to the company, and they’re very patient and kind when trying to extract the information they need to get our books done.”
Arable Labs’ partnership with Scrubbed is a textbook example of how outsourcing accounting tasks can lead to significant improvements. The company gained a streamlined and accurate accounting process while Brian is able to focus on strategic financial planning, and a strong working relationship ensures the continued success of the collaboration.
“I really look forward to my call with my Scrubbed accounting team every week. They come with solutions, and it feels like they are genuinely trying to help our business.”
