Aaron Pearlman

Founder/CEO

A Bit About Me

Welcome to Count the Cost Accounting LLC! We recently made the move to the Tri-Cities area of Tennessee, and I’ve felt right at home thanks to the warm and welcoming community. My wife Jessica, a dedicated RN, and I are thrilled to have welcomed our new baby girl, adding even more joy to our family adventures. Along with two wonderful daughters, we love spending quality time together, especially on our family hikes to waterfalls and exploring the great outdoors.

With an MBA in Finance from Washington State University and a strong background as a VP of Finance and Accounting for a large non-profit, I have the expertise to guide you through your financial journey. At Count the Cost Accounting, we believe in building relationships with our clients, and we are committed to providing personalized accounting services that suit your needs. We look forward to helping you achieve your financial goals with care and professionalism!

Work Experience

December 2021 - Present

February 2020-November 2021

As Owner and CEO of Count the Cost Accounting, I provide full-cycle accounting, payroll, tax compliance (including Form 990s), and strategic advisory services to small businesses and non-profits. I corrected multi-year financial records for a church client and implemented proper fund accounting practices. I deliver monthly P&L analysis, budget-versus-actual reporting, and cash-flow forecasting, while advising owners on cost reduction and operational efficiency. As a Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor (Online & Payroll), I take pride in helping small businesses thrive by streamlining processes, enhancing efficiency, and building long-term client relationships through attention to detail and accuracy.

As the Vice President of Finance & Accounting at Union Gospel Mission . I led the organization in all accounting, financial reporting, and compliance functions. I managed the Accounting Manager and A/P & A/R team members while successfully directing the full migration from Abila to Sage Intacct, including data conversion and system design. I overhauled the budget process by implementing a collaborative Smartsheet workflow that consolidated 15 programs into a single, approved $7M budget. Additionally, I developed custom KPI dashboards for the Board and program directors, and served as the primary liaison for external audits, achieving exemplary results both years while strengthening internal controls.

September 2017-January 2020

As an Accounting Specialist at International Paper, I managed month-end close processes, including accruals, inventory transfers and variance analysis. I led internal control self-assessments and conducted the official audit of a West Coast plant, while preparing my home facility for its 2018 peer review audit—identifying gaps, implementing corrective actions, and achieving top regional result. I also prepared capital appropriation requests, monthly sales forecasts, and ad-hoc financial reporting. Selected for the exclusive ABCD leadership development program, I led a waste-reduction project and mentored a junior accounting specialist at a remote facility.