Caroline Cawthon, founder of Cawthon Advisory
About

I'm Caroline Cawthon.

I've spent 8+ years as a Controller managing every aspect of financial operations — bookkeeping, month-end close, financial reporting, payroll, licensing, and compliance — for businesses navigating real complexity.

Most of that time was spent in the cannabis industry, where the margin for error on compliance is zero and the financial infrastructure most companies start with is... optimistic. I built systems that actually worked, kept the books clean through audits and license renewals, and translated messy numbers into decisions the leadership team could act on.

Cawthon Advisory exists because I kept meeting business owners who needed exactly this — senior financial operations expertise — but couldn't justify or afford a full-time hire. They'd outgrown their bookkeeper. Their CPA only showed up at tax time. And the gap in between was costing them money, time, and sleep.

I fill that gap.

Financial operations Full-cycle Controller: close, reporting, forecasting, payroll, compliance
Regulated industries Cannabis, agriculture, and regulated industries — multistate experience
Remote-first Based in Santa Barbara, CA. Clients nationwide.
Tools QuickBooks Online, Excel, advanced financial modeling and analysis
My approach

How I work

01

Scope it right

Every engagement starts with understanding what your business actually needs — not a bloated proposal. I'll tell you what matters now, what can wait, and what you're wasting money on.

02

Build the foundation

Clean up the chart of accounts. Fix the processes. Set up reporting that makes sense. The first 60 days are about building infrastructure that doesn't need to be rebuilt in six months.

03

Run and refine

Ongoing delivery — month-end close, reporting, compliance, cash flow — with a standing rhythm that keeps your finances tight. I flex with your business as it grows.

Let's see if we're a fit.

I'm selective about who I work with — and you should be too.

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