Capitalist Hippies and the Human Side of FinTech

2025 kicked off with a stark reminder: in finance, technology is powerful, but it's the human element that makes the difference. Bench’s sudden shutdown – just days before year-end – left thousands of businesses scrambling. This highlights why the future of finance needs both innovative tech and genuine expertise.

That's why I'm particularly excited to share this month's stories with you. You'll meet Avidon Health , who found the perfect balance of technology and human support to transform their financial operations from a bottleneck into a growth driver. You'll also get practical insights from Alex Boyd , the self-proclaimed “capitalist hippie” who turned his agency's "marketing chaos" into acquisition gold (spoiler: understanding your margins is key).

And don't forget – our webinar with Digits is just one week away! Join us on January 22nd to see how we're combining AI-powered insights with human expertise to give businesses like yours crystal-clear financial visibility.

Plus, we've got a fresh lineup of finance and accounting opportunities, and a special offer for businesses affected by the Bench shutdown.

Let's get to it!

– Liz Feller , Your Fiscally Awesome Editor

Customer Spotlight: How Avidon Health Built a Financial Foundation for Growth

When Avidon Health needed to scale their digital health coaching platform, they faced a common challenge: their financial operations weren't growing with them. They needed more than just a service provider – they needed a true financial partner.

Here's how their financial operations transformed:

The Impact

Today, Avidon Health has the financial backbone they need to support their mission of transforming lives through personalized health coaching. Their finance function has evolved from a bottleneck into a growth driver, giving them the clarity and support they need to scale confidently.

Speaking of scalability, our webinar with Digits on real-time financial insights is just one week away! Secure your spot now to join us on January 22.

Expert Tip of the Month: Why Small Business Accounting Needs Both Tech AND Human Expertise

The sudden shutdown of Bench just days before the end of 2024 left thousands of small businesses scrambling. It also revealed an important truth about the future of accounting: while automation is powerful, it can't replace human expertise and relationships.

Here's what truly matters for strong financial operations:

?? Smart Tech + Real Expertise: The best solutions combine AI-powered insights with experienced professionals who understand your business.

?? Sustainable Partnership Quality: Accounting requires fair pricing that supports both cutting-edge technology and skilled strategic guidance.

?? Focus on Growth: You need more than basic bookkeeping — you need help with cash flow, operational decisions, and actionable insights.

Supporting Affected Businesses

If your business was impacted by the Bench shutdown, we're here to help with an immediate transition plan:

• Waived onboarding fee
• Free 2024 finance cleanup
• Free tax extension filing
• Full historical data migration
• Access to the Digits platform at no additional cost
• Plans start at $549/month

Ready to upgrade your financial operations? Schedule a consultation to learn how we can help you transition seamlessly.

Featured Finance & Accounting Roles

• Finance Director - Part Time, Leelanau Conservancy | $70K - $75K | New York, NY [Apply]
• Associate, Hiline | $50K - $65K | (Remote) [Apply]
• Senior Associate, Hiline | $80K - $90K | (Remote) [Apply]
• Tax Manager, Hiline | $110K - $150K | (Remote) [Apply]
• Tax Senior Associate, Aldrich | $95K - $105K | Lake Oswego, OR [Apply]
• Senior Client Accounting Coordinator, Cornerstone Research | $57.9K - $78.1K | Boston, MA (Hybrid) [Apply]
• Accounting Coordinator, Chef Ann Foundation | $52K - $66K | Broomfield, CO (Remote) [Apply]
• Director of Finance, FP&A, Accrete | $150K - $200K | New York, NY [Apply]

Fiscally Awesome Podcast: Turning Marketing Chaos into Exit Gold

What happens when a Wall Street hopeful ditches the suit, starts a marketing agency, and becomes a self-proclaimed "hippie capitalist"? Alex Boyd 's journey reads like a startup fairy tale – complete with plot twists and valuable lessons learned along the way.

In this episode, Matt and Alex unpack the realities of building and selling an agency. They discuss:

• Why understanding your margins is like having a financial crystal ball
• How to avoid the "too many cooks in the kitchen" trap when prepping for acquisition
• Why small businesses need to stop treating marketing like an optional task
• The secret to LinkedIn success (spoiler: it's not about the follower count!)

Whether you're running an agency, planning an exit, or just trying to get your business noticed online, Alex shares battle-tested strategies that'll transform how you think about growth.

Ready for some straight talk about what it really takes to build and sell an agency? Check out the full episode wherever you get your podcasts (and be sure to subscribe!): Youtube | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music