Accounting Coach – WEPOWER Business Accelerator

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Request for Proposals (RFP): Accounting Coach for WEPOWER Business Accelerator RFP Title: Accounting Coach – WEPOWER Business Accelerator Issue Date: June 12, 2025 Submission Deadline: June 19, 2025 Location: St. Louis, Missouri (Virtual and In-Person Participation Required) Engagement Type: Contract Position Reports to: Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EIR) About WEPOWER WEPOWER is a community-driven organization committed to building community wealth and racial equity in St. Louis. We activate and elevate entrepreneurs, community leaders, and changemakers of color, working together to reimagine and reshape systems that have historically excluded and underserved our communities. Opportunity Summary WEPOWER is seeking experienced, equity-centered Accounting Coaches to support entrepreneurs participating in the WEPOWER Business Accelerator. This role is designed to empower founders with the financial knowledge, tools, and systems needed to effectively manage their businesses and prepare for growth. Accounting Coaches will play a critical role in ensuring entrepreneurs understand and maintain sound financial practices and are positioned for long-term success and capital readiness. This is a time-bound engagement from July–October 2025 with both virtual and in-person components, including collaboration with the WEPOWER team and cohort members in the All Industries and/or Construction tracks. Scope of Work Accounting Coaches will be responsible for delivering the following services to assigned entrepreneurs: 1. Initial Financial Review Conduct a comprehensive assessment of the entrepreneur’s current financial status. Review existing financial documents and records, if available. Identify gaps or inefficiencies in current financial practices. 2. Accounting System Setup/Cleanup Set up or clean up accounting systems (e.g., QuickBooks) based on the entrepreneur’s needs. Ensure proper income and expense categorization. Establish processes for regular recordkeeping and reconciliation. 3. Financial Education and Training Provide tailored training on accounting fundamentals and financial literacy. Help entrepreneurs understand and interpret Profit & Loss (P&L) statements, balance sheets, and cash flow reports. Offer guidance on budgeting, forecasting, and overall financial planning. 4. Financial Statement Preparation Assist entrepreneurs in preparing accurate and up-to-date P&L statements and balance sheets. Provide actionable feedback to improve the quality and completeness of financial documents. 5. Ongoing Financial Support Schedule routine check-ins to monitor progress, troubleshoot issues, and offer support. Help prepare financial reports for stakeholders, investors, or grantmakers. 6. Documentation and Reporting Maintain thorough documentation of financial support provided to each entrepreneur. Prepare summary reports on the financial status and improvements of each startup for internal review. Share common challenges and successful strategies to inform future programming. 7. Program Participation Meet monthly with WEPOWER’s Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EIR) to debrief on entrepreneur progress. Attend relevant cohort training sessions to remain informed and aligned with accelerator curriculum. Participate in the Accelerator Kick-Off session (virtual or in-person). Qualifications Proven experience in small business accounting, financial coaching, or bookkeeping Familiarity with accounting tools like QuickBooks, Xero, or similar platforms Strong understanding of financial statements, budgeting, and capital readiness Demonstrated ability to teach and communicate accounting concepts to non-experts Deep commitment to racial equity and community wealth-building Knowledge of the St. Louis/Missouri entrepreneurial ecosystem is a plus Proposal Requirements Interested applicants must submit: Cover Letter outlining your accounting experience and interest in the role Resume or Firm Overview Description of Coaching Style & Approach, including strategies for equity integration Portfolio or Examples of Financial Tools/Resources (if available) Fee Structure, preferably listed at an hourly rate This information may be submitted in a one-page overview document Evaluation Criteria Proposals will be evaluated based on: Relevant experience and expertise in accounting and financial coaching Alignment with WEPOWER’s mission and values Demonstrated ability to support diverse entrepreneurs Equity-centered service delivery Fee structure and service flexibility

Keyword: Business Coaching

Business Coaching Intuit QuickBooks GAAP Accounting Bookkeeping Financial Accounting CPA