Case Study: Transforming Clark & Pattison’s Accounting for a Competitive Edge
Photos: clarkandpattison.com
“Kevin and Parallel Accounting has completely modernized and streamlined our accounting and bookkeeping procedures.
He is also so efficient that he has made a superfluous labour load obsolete; saving time and money to be allocated more efficiently.”
-Ryan Clark, President
Clark & Pattison—a family-owned industrial coatings company with over 70 years of history serving major clients like the Royal Canadian Navy and BC Ferries—found themselves in a tough spot. Despite their success and reputation, they were stuck using a 25-year-old accounting system that was outdated and difficult to navigate. This left their leadership team scrambling to keep up and struggling to gain financial clarity. It was clear they needed a change.
The Situation: A Sudden Departure and Outdated Systems
After their controller’s sudden retirement, Clark & Pattison was left with outdated accounting software and cumbersome bookkeeping processes. The company spent six months interviewing candidates, but no one could provide the expertise required to modernize their systems, let alone help grow their business. That’s when we got the call.
Key Challenges:
Outdated Accounting Software: Their 25-year-old software was convoluted and inefficient.
Lack of Timely Financial Data: This caused a gap in job cost estimation, making it difficult for the team to bid competitively.
Inefficiency: Valuable time was being wasted on manual bookkeeping, diverting resources away from core business activities.
The Solution: Bringing Clark & Pattison into the Present
From our very first meeting, we could see that Clark & Pattison needed more than just a bookkeeping cleanup. They needed a complete overhaul of their accounting processes—something that would not only streamline their day-to-day but also provide real-time financial insights to support better decision-making.
The first step was replacing their outdated software with a modern, cloud-based system that would handle everything from payroll to job costing in one place. With that foundation in place, we set up automated workflows, created clear financial dashboards, and made sure that the data flowing to their General Manager was accurate and up-to-date.
What Happened Next: More Time, Better Decisions, and Increased Competitiveness
The results were immediate. For one, the General Manager could finally focus on core activities like project estimating and bidding instead of being tied up in manual bookkeeping tasks.
With real-time job costing, Clark & Pattison could now see exactly where their money was going and where they were profitable—something they hadn’t been able to do in years.
Here’s what that looked like in practice:
Real-Time Financial Data: With the new system, they could access real-time information on job costs and labour hours, giving them a clear picture of project profitability and allowing them to make data-driven decisions on the fly.
Better Bidding and Estimating: Accurate job costing fed directly into their project estimates. Instead of relying on outdated or incomplete figures, they were able to refine their bids and secure more contracts.
A Competitive Edge: With a streamlined accounting process and better visibility into their financials, Clark & Pattison was able to move faster, bid smarter, and stay ahead of competitors.
The Personal Impact: A Huge Relief for the Leadership Team
But for us, the real success story came from the personal impact we had on the leadership team. Ryan Clark, the company’s President, told us that the changes were “a huge relief.”
Before, he’d been stuck constantly commuting from his small island home to the office, just to keep the business running smoothly. With the new system in place, he only had to come in quarterly for check-ins, freeing him up to focus on higher-level strategy and growth.
Why It Worked: Understanding the Unique Needs of Construction and Industrial Businesses
One of the reasons this transformation worked so well is because we understand the unique challenges that mid-sized construction and industrial companies face. It’s not just about balancing the books—it’s about managing complex project costs, keeping a lid on overhead, and making sure the numbers support strategic growth.
We didn’t just slap on a new software and call it a day. We took the time to understand Clark & Pattison’s business, mapped out where the bottlenecks were, and tailored our approach to fit their specific needs.
Key Takeaways for Business Owners
If you’re running a construction or industrial business and feeling like your financial management isn’t keeping up, here are a few lessons from Clark & Pattison:
Get the Right Systems in Place Early
Don’t wait until a crisis hits to upgrade your systems. Having real-time data at your fingertips will save you time and money, and prevent a lot of headaches down the road.
Prioritize Accurate Job Costing
Knowing where your money is going in real-time is crucial for bidding competitively and avoiding costly surprises later on.
Don’t Go It Alone
Sometimes, you need a partner who understands the ins and outs of your industry to guide you through the process. Whether it’s implementing new software or overhauling your processes, having someone in your corner can make all the difference.
Ready to Modernize Your Accounting?
If your company is struggling with outdated accounting systems or inefficient processes, we can help. At Parallel Accounting, we specialize in helping businesses streamline their financial management, improve profitability, and make better business decisions.
Get in touch with us today to learn how we can transform your business.