Business Details
40 Years
experience
Expert Nonprofit Accounting Services in Portland, OR
Founded in 1986 by Susan E. Jones, Susan Matlack Jones & Associates has established itself as a trusted partner for nonprofit organizations seeking expert accounting and bookkeeping services. Our team brings over 100 years of combined experience in nonprofit financial management, specializing in creating accurate and meaningful financial statements tailored to each client's unique needs. We serve more than 100 organizations across Oregon and Washington, offering full-charge bookkeeping services for nonprofits with annual budgets of $250,000 and above. Our commitment to technological innovation ensures clients access secure, paperless financial information through our online portal, while our dedication to fiscal security and sustainability aligns with modern organizational values. We distinguish ourselves through personalized service, including customized financial reporting, staff and board training, and collaboration with CPAs during audits.Our team's deep understanding of nonprofit accounting complexities, from restricted funds tracking to grant compliance, enables us to deliver actionable financial insights. With a legacy rooted in Portland's nonprofit community and leadership transitioned to Erin Zollenkof in 2013, we continue prioritizing client education and transparent communication. Our Sage 300 accounting software provides the flexibility needed to design precise financial reports, ensuring decision-makers receive timely, relevant data. We maintain strict professional boundaries by focusing exclusively on bookkeeping, avoiding conflicts of interest through our policy of not preparing IRS Form 990 or conducting audits. Our multidisciplinary team combines accounting expertise with arts and literature perspectives, making financial information accessible to all stakeholders.
Services
Financial statements
Bookkeeping
Online portal
Workshops
Consulting
Details
- Year established: 1986
Highlights and features
- We specialize in nonprofit accounting with 38+ years of industry-specific experience
- Our team combines accounting expertise with arts and literature perspectives for better financial communication
- We use Sage 300 software for customizable, audit-ready financial reporting
- We provide board and staff training to improve financial literacy
- We maintain strict professional boundaries by focusing exclusively on bookkeeping services
Services
Financial statements
Our core service creates customized financial statements using Sage 300 software. We design reports that track restricted funds, grants, and endowments while providing budget variance analysis and cash flow trends. Our team ensures timely delivery of Statements of Financial Position, Activities, and specialized analytical reports with visual dashboards for better decision-making.
Bookkeeping
Full-charge bookkeeping for nonprofits includes bank reconciliation, accounts payable/receivable management, payroll allocation, and GAAP-compliant journal entries. We maintain detailed balance sheet schedules and create monthly internal financial reports while assisting CPAs during annual audits and reviews for organizations with budgets over $250,000.
Online portal
Secure digital platform provides 24/7 access to financial reports, historical data, and educational materials. Our integrated BILL system enables online accounts payable management with customizable user permissions, ensuring fiscal control while maintaining paperless operations and real-time financial information sharing.
Workshops
We offer financial literacy training for nonprofit staff and board members. Our workshops focus on interpreting financial statements, understanding cash flow management, and utilizing visual dashboards to improve financial decision-making for organizations that typically avoid numerical analysis.
Consulting
Expert guidance on accounting system design, internal controls implementation, and chart of accounts creation. We help nonprofits establish proper financial procedures, develop multi-level reporting structures, and implement best practices for restricted fund management and grant compliance.
People
Susan E. Jones
Founder, Retired
Founded the firm in 1986 with nonprofit accounting expertise gained through family connections in Portland's nonprofit community. Pioneered specialized bookkeeping services for nonprofits before retiring in 2017.
Erin Zollenkof
Chief Executive Officer
Joined the firm in 2009, became Managing Partner in 2013, and now serves as CEO. Brings arts and literature background to improve financial communication while maintaining technical accounting excellence.
Christina Taylor
Director of Operations
Oversees daily operations with extensive nonprofit accounting experience. Ensures service quality and client satisfaction while managing the team of senior associates and specialists.
Jennifer Komanecky
Senior Associate
Provides direct client support with specialized knowledge in nonprofit financial reporting. Assists with custom statement design and client training on financial interpretation.
Jan Fenton
Senior Associate
Experienced nonprofit accountant who works closely with clients on financial statement preparation and compliance. Specializes in restricted fund tracking and grant reporting requirements.
Questions
Does SMJ prepare or file IRS Form 990?
No, we don't prepare or file IRS Form 990. We recommend working with a CPA for this requirement while we provide necessary financial information to complete the form.
Can SMJ perform audits or financial reviews?
Audits and financial reviews are outside our scope. We can provide CPA recommendations and assist with audit preparation through organized financial records.
What accounting software does SMJ use?
We use Sage 300, a professional accounting platform that tracks restricted funding, customizes financial statements, and maintains complete audit trails for nonprofit organizations.
What nonprofit sizes does SMJ work with?
We serve nonprofits with annual operating budgets of $250,000 and above, including organizations with budgets exceeding $10 million in our client portfolio.
What bookkeeping services are included?
Our services include bank reconciliation, accounts payable/receivable, payroll allocation, journal entries, balance sheet maintenance, and monthly financial reporting tailored to nonprofit needs.
How are bookkeeping fees structured?
We charge a predetermined monthly flat fee based on organizational size and financial complexity, with annual reviews and additional services billed hourly when needed.
