How Zenbooks Helped JHSO
John Howard Society of Ottawa
The John Howard Society of Ottawa (JHSO), a nonprofit focused on community support, struggled with outdated, cumbersome accounting practices that relied heavily on paper. They received envelopes filled with receipts, printed and signed invoices were circulated throughout the office, and countless emails were exchanged to obtain expense approvals. Their accounting system, Sage, was unable to meet the demands of their expanding organization. While challenges in approval workflows are typical for nonprofits, JHSO’s considerable size—over 200 employees—made this issue especially pressing, necessitating expert guidance for resolution. Additionally, the frequent turnover of their accounting manager role created gaps in expertise and added pressure on senior staff. The audit season was particularly taxing, with auditors having to sift through numerous boxes of documents and extensive year-end adjustments. Leadership recognized the need for assistance but underestimated how much improving their financial processes could allow staff to concentrate on programs and community impact. With 211 employees, assets exceeding $60 million, and an annual revenue of over $20 million, the outcomes were transformative: Audit efficiency significantly improved, with required adjustments reduced from multiple pages in previous years to just a few entries. All documents requested by auditors were now organized, digital, and readily available. Leadership felt more confident, thanks to real-time access to accurate financial information that enabled informed decision-making, better grant management, and timely reporting to funders. Stability was restored as JHSO now relied on Zenbooks for continuous oversight and advisory support instead of constantly trying to fill a high-turnover position. Overall, staff saved time, no longer spending hours on paper approvals or searching through files.