Accounting Strategy provides law firms, small businesses and individuals with strategic financial support beyond bookkeeping basics. Traditional bookkeeping services are often too narrowly focused on the simple act of balancing “debits and credits,” leaving huge gaps that cost business owners and individuals unnecessary time and money. Whether it’s proactive financial monitoring, learning to read and understand your financials, or simply delegating the responsibility of managing your finances, Accounting Strategy elevates the role of bookkeeper to that of an “invisible business partner” so you can focus on what matters most.
Our Founders
Accounting Strategy was founded in 2015 by Valerie and Steve Menker with the mission to help clients develop and implement accounting strategies that create efficiency, reduce costs and make them more profitable.
Motivated to get Steve off the 405 freeway and to provide next level service to clients, Valerie realized Steve was the perfect person to add to the team. Not only would they experience a higher level of freedom and flexibility within their marriage, Valerie knew that Steve’s expert ability to “unravel the spaghetti” was exactly what would create more value and greater impact for clients. Together, they are able to help their clients make better business decisions that lead to increased profitability.
For nearly 20 years, Valerie has helped a variety of businesses and individuals, including small businesses, business consultants, IT firms, law offices and busy professionals grow and become more profitable. Her passion began when her grandmother, who was living independently with poor eyesight, became blind. She learned that it was one thing to arrange for meal delivery or a caregiver to help with showers and dressing, but entirely another matter to have someone you can trust to help with one’s finances. Since then, she has managed approximately $4.5M in client revenue. Valerie holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Business from UCLA and is a member of the American Association of Daily Money Managers (AADMM).
Steve has spent his career transforming chaotic conditions in companies into smooth, functioning processes. Steve started as a teenage machinist for his grandfather’s tool and die shop. Since then, he’s spent the last 30 years in factory engineering and operations management, improving performance and profitability by implementing an analytical and persistent approach, complementing the near-constant focus on daily performance. Over his career, he has managed over 300 people in a union environment and managed capital projects totaling over $25M. He is an expert at lean operation techniques and brings a sense of fun to the teams he manages. Steve holds a Bachelor of Science in Manufacturing Engineering and a Master of Science in Industrial Operations from Bradley University, as well as a Master of Business Administration from the University of Wisconsin.
Having grown up in the South Bay, both Valerie and Steve are dedicated to improving the community. Along with Deacon Jim, Valerie runs the St. Lawrence Martyr Food Pantry which provides important resources to the community’s low-income and homeless population. Steve has lead and spoken at Cornerstone Retreats, and serves as Sacristan at St. Lawrence Martyr.
Valerie and Steve have been married for 25 years and have two adult sons.
