Accounting Processes, Inc. (Tampa)

Financial Strategy That Goes Deeper Than Tax Season

Most construction companies interact with their CPA once a year for tax filing and maybe once more for financial statements. Accounting Processes, Inc., led by Mike Schulz CPA from their downtown Tampa office at 401 E. Jackson Street, operates on a fundamentally different model — providing deep-dive financial strategy that helps contractors understand their numbers well enough to make better business decisions throughout the year.

Their construction specialization centers on the two financial tools that matter most for contractor profitability: job costing and work-in-progress (WIP) reporting. Job costing tells you whether each project is making or losing money at a granular level — not just in total, but by labor category, material type, and subcontractor trade. WIP reporting tells you whether your overall financial position is accurately stated or whether you have overbilled (creating a future cash drain) or underbilled (leaving money on the table). Together, these tools transform a construction company's financial management from retrospective reporting to forward-looking decision-making.

The downtown Tampa location in the Jackson Street corridor puts them in the center of the city's business district, accessible to contractors across Hillsborough County and the broader Tampa Bay region. Mike Schulz's construction-specific focus means consultations move faster because you're not educating a generalist about how construction finances work.

The ConstructionPerks Take

We think Accounting Processes, Inc. is best for: Tampa Bay contractors in the $2M-$15M revenue range who need a construction-focused CPA for proactive financial management — job costing, WIP analysis, and year-round tax strategy — not just annual tax filing.

One thing to think about is the proactive engagement model. This firm's value is in ongoing financial management and strategy, not in processing a once-a-year tax return. If you only need basic tax filing, a less specialized (and less expensive) option may suffice. If you need someone who helps you understand project profitability in real time and makes strategic tax decisions throughout the year, this model delivers substantial value.

Another consideration is the job costing setup investment. Implementing proper job costing requires configuring your accounting system with the right cost codes, ensuring field teams code time and materials accurately, and establishing the reporting cadence that makes the data useful. Accounting Processes can guide this setup, but the contractor must commit to the data discipline that makes job costing work — garbage in, garbage out.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Accounting Processes specialize in construction?

Yes, construction is a primary industry focus. The firm provides job costing, WIP reporting, and tax strategy specifically designed for how construction companies operate — project-based revenue, retainage, progress billing, and the unique timing issues that distinguish construction accounting from standard business accounting.

What is WIP reporting and why does it matter?

Work-in-progress reporting compares the percentage of each project completed against the percentage billed, revealing whether you have overbilled (collected more than you have earned, creating future cash obligations) or underbilled (earned more than you have collected, leaving money outstanding). This analysis is essential for accurate financial statements and is a key metric that bonding companies evaluate.

Where is the Accounting Processes Tampa office?

The office is located at 401 E. Jackson Street, Suite 2340, in downtown Tampa. Phone: (813) 305-0273. The downtown location provides central accessibility for contractors across the Tampa Bay metro area.

Can they help set up job costing in my accounting system?

Yes, implementing job costing systems is a key service. This includes configuring cost codes, establishing data collection processes for field teams, and building the reporting structure that makes job cost data actionable for project management and financial decision-making.

How is a construction CPA different from a general CPA?

A construction CPA understands percentage-of-completion accounting, look-back calculations, retainage timing, job costing methodology, WIP schedule preparation, and the specific financial statement formats that surety companies require. A general CPA encountering these concepts for the first time will likely make errors that cost you money in taxes, bonding capacity, or inaccurate financial reporting.