Protea works with wineries and select beverage businesses that want disciplined, dependable financial operations.
While our clients vary in size and structure, they share a common trait: they care about running better businesses and understand that accurate financial information is essential to achieving that goal.
Our goal is to help those who need and want better accounting make better decisions.
We typically support clients in one of three ways.
1. Full Accounting Department Support
For many wineries, we serve as the complete outsourced accounting function. We are their everything when it comes to accounting.
These businesses often:
Do not have internal accounting staff
Have outgrown informal bookkeeping
Realize they need reliable inventory costing and reporting
Want consistent financial visibility without building a full internal team
In these engagements, we manage everything from administrative support to day-to-day bookkeeping, inventory costing, financial reporting, and forward-looking financial insight. We operate as your accounting department, providing the structure and depth typically found in larger organizations.
This model is especially effective for growing wineries that need clarity and control but are not yet at a scale where hiring multiple in-house finance roles makes sense.
2. Integrated Role Within an Existing Finance Team
Some wineries already have an internal accounting resource but require additional depth.
In these situations, we may:
Fulfill the bookkeeper role, reporting to an internal controller
Serve as the controller overseeing an in-house bookkeeper
Provide financial management and reporting support that is not needed full-time
Assist with inventory costing and key close functionality
These clients are often more operationally mature but recognize that certain finance functions require specialized expertise. Rather than over-hiring or stretching internal staff beyond capacity, they partner with us to strengthen defined areas of their accounting structure.
3. Defined Function or Project-Based Support
For larger or more operationally established wineries, we may take on a clearly defined role within a broader finance team. We provide targeted support where capacity is constrained or where the business requires specialized expertise that does not justify a full-time hire.
This could include:
Accounts payable processing
Distributor billback capture
Payroll coordination
Specific reconciliations
Inventory costing
Financial reporting support
Many of these engagements begin as short-term coverage during staffing transitions—such as resignation, maternity leave, or unexpected absence- but often evolve into longer-term roles based on performance and fit.
We also support project-based work, including:
Accounting clean-up and reconciliations
Inventory costing corrections
Financial organization and support for due diligence
Assistance with sell-side transaction preparation
In each case, our role is clearly defined, structured, and aligned with the client’s broader finance function.
The Clients We Serve Best
Protea works best with wineries and select beverage businesses that are serious about strengthening their financial operations.
A partnership with Protea works best with owners and leadership teams who:
Value accurate, timely financial information
Want structured processes and consistent reporting
Are willing to engage and collaborate
View accounting as a strategic operational function, not just compliance
We are particularly effective with wineries navigating growth, operational complexity, staffing transitions, or increased financial scrutiny from lenders or stakeholders.
When We May Not Be the Right Fit
We may not be the right partner for businesses seeking:
The lowest-cost bookkeeping solution
Minimal communication or involvement
One-time transactional clean-ups without long-term structure
Our approach is disciplined and relationship-driven. We focus on building strong financial systems that support long-term success.