Places Management

SVA Helps Places Management Build a Stronger Accounting Foundation for Growth

Places Management is a residential property management company based in Colorado Springs, Colorado, with operations extending into Pueblo, Fountain, Granby, and Silverthorne. As the company expanded beyond managing properties developed by founder and CEO Darsey Nicklasson and began providing third-party property management services for other owners, the financial responsibilities of the business became increasingly complex.

For Nicklasson, that growth made one thing clear: Places Management needed an accounting function that could grow along with the business.

“I very strongly believe that accounting is an absolutely essential function of any small business,” said Nicklasson. “I needed somebody who knew how to pull my financials together and run my accounting better than I did. I’d grown beyond what I could do myself.”

The Challenge: Building an Accounting Function During Rapid Growth

Places Management had hired a controller to strengthen its accounting operations, but when the controller needed to take family leave Nicklasson was faced with an immediate gap in a critical role. She turned to SVA after receiving a recommendation from a friend.

She initially expected SVA to provide part-time CFO support. Once the team began working together, however, it became clear that Places Management needed more than temporary assistance. The company needed well-defined accounting processes that its internal team could consistently follow as the business continued to grow.

One area of focus was payroll reconciliation and accurately allocating payroll expenses back to the appropriate properties. SVA worked with Places Management to establish a repeatable process rather than simply performing the work on the company’s behalf.

“They helped create the pathway so that my team could do it and take it over,” said Nicklasson.

The Solution: Processes, People, and a Reliable Backstop

That emphasis on building sustainable internal capabilities became especially valuable as Places Management experienced additional staffing changes.

“My whole accounting department kind of dissolved on me,” said Nicklasson. “SVA was there to help hold it together while I got the right people back in place and then helped to train them.”

SVA helped Places Management navigate the immediate accounting needs while also assisting Nicklasson in determining what roles, skills, and processes her growing company needed for the future.

As an entrepreneur rather than an accountant, Nicklasson knew the business needed a strong accounting department, but didn’t always know what to look for when building one. SVA provided hands-on guidance, including helping her understand how to assess potential accounting hires and evaluate their financial knowledge.

“I didn’t know what I didn’t know,” said Nicklasson. “They’ve been teaching me. They’ve been holding my hand and then letting us go and figure it out, but still being a backstop there for us.”

The Results: Greater Confidence and a Stronger Internal Team

With SVA’s support, Places Management has been able to:

• Establish repeatable accounting and payroll reconciliation processes
• Maintain continuity during unexpected accounting staff transitions
• Recruit and train the right people for key accounting roles
• Strengthen the company’s internal accounting capabilities
• Improve confidence in the accuracy of financial reporting provided to property owners
• Gain access to responsive CFO-level guidance when questions or challenges arise

For Nicklasson, one of the most important results is the confidence to stand behind the financial information Places Management provides to its clients.

“They allowed me to be confident to go out to a client and say, ‘These are the accurate financials,’” she said.

A Trusted Partner Through Growth and Change

As Places Management continues to expand, SVA remains a resource Nicklasson can turn to when a new accounting challenge arises. She values both the team’s responsiveness and its willingness to have difficult conversations when necessary.

“I can just call them up at any time,” said Nicklasson. “They usually call back within that day or within the hour, and we’re right on topic.”

For Nicklasson, the relationship goes beyond technical accounting expertise. It’s the personal investment of the SVA team that has turned the engagement into a trusted partnership.

“If I didn’t have them, I think I would have had a really big mess on my hands, and I don’t know what I would have done,” said Nicklasson. “I trust them. It’s as simple as that.”