A rapidly growing private equity-backed residential services company (the Company) was in the middle of a large-scale enterprise resource planning (ERP) implementation when mounting operational demands began to outpace internal accounting capacity. With expansion across multiple markets already underway and a growing backlog of aged receivables, the Company needed to act quickly to protect cash flow and maintain financial continuity.
Stabilizing Operations During ERP Disruption
The Company’s ERP implementation created significant strain across accounting and finance
functions, particularly as the Company operated within dual systems during the transition. With new workflows, evolving processes and system changes, internal teams lacked the bandwidth to maintain daily operations while addressing a growing backlog of 11,000 invoices, representing nearly six months of unprocessed accounts receivable (AR) activity. Specifically, the organization needed support to:
- Manage ERP-related workflows and documentation
- Catch up on and clean up aged receivables
- Coordinate across departments and external partners
- Maintain accurate financial reporting during system transition
The Company required experienced professionals who could quickly integrate into the environment and execute both transactional work and process-driven tasks simultaneously.
Deploying a Targeted AR Strike Team
Cherry Bekaert’s Recruiting & Staffing team quickly mobilized, conducting a focused intake to understand the Company’s environment, technical requirements and timeline. Within three days, seven qualified candidates were presented, with five selected for final interviews.
Four professionals were hired on a temporary basis to form a dedicated AR and general ledger strike team. Each individual brought strong experience in AR management, ERP transitions and financial operations, enabling them to contribute immediately upon onboarding.
Cherry Bekaert led the onboarding process, while the Company facilitated system-specific training and expectations through an on-site session focused on access, workflows and deliverables. This coordinated approach helped the team begin executing quickly while also aligning with the Company’s processes and environment.
Achieving Rapid Financial Cleanup and Cash Recovery
- Speed to Hire: Candidates identified, interviewed and onboarded within two weeks — accelerating a process that typically takes approximately four weeks
- Team Deployment: A dedicated “strike team” established to support AR cleanup and ongoing operations
- Operational Readiness: Structured onboarding enabled immediate contribution
- Measurable Impact: Over 11,000 invoices cleaned up, with 90% successfully collected and applied within eight weeks
Delivering Measurable Business Impact
With support from Cherry Bekaert’s Recruiting & Staffing team, the Company stabilized its accounting operations during a critical transformation period. The engagement enabled rapid backlog reduction, improved cash flow and delivered continuity throughout the ERP implementation. The use of a temporary, specialized team provided immediate relief without long-term headcount expansion, allowing the Company to address urgent operational gaps while exploring longer-term process efficiencies and automation strategies.
Let Us Guide You Forward
Cherry Bekaert’s Recruiting & Staffing Services helps organizations address capacity constraints, drive operational efficiency, and support broader business transformations by delivering experienced talent quickly and strategically.
