#55 – From the Trenches: Accounting, M&A & MSP Financial Maturity (Doug Johnston – Stonewall Finance)

Doug Johnston, founder of Stonewall Finance, specializes in financial leadership for MSPs — from bookkeeping cleanup and forecasting to M&A readiness and improving operational decision-making. In this conversation, we dig into what financial maturity looks like, where most MSPs get stuck, and how owners can use their numbers to make smarter, more confident decisions. 🎙 What We Cover in This Episode   • Why MSP financials are often messy — and how to fix them • The difference between actuals, budgets, and forecasts • Understanding financial maturity stages for MSP owners • Clean books as the foundation for valuation and M&A readiness • Sales tax complexity and state-level audit risks • The CFO mindset: how to think beyond the P&L • How buyers de-risk MSP acquisitions • Why operational metrics matter as much as financial ones • The accountant’s role — and boundaries — in MSP deals 👤 Guest Links   Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dougjohnstoncpa Company Website: https://stonewallfinance.com 🚀 Subscribe & Follow BMK Vision   YouTube (Video Podcast): https://www.youtube.com/@beringmckinleyvision?sub_confirmation=1   Learn More About the Vision Platform: https://beringmckinley.com/vision   Apply to Be a Guest: https://beringmckinley.com/bering-mckinley-podcast-blog