Columinate Financial Services (CFS) provides accounts payable, accounting, and fractional CFO services to meet the needs of food co-ops.

We are scheduling now for new clients in 2026 and welcome introductory calls. Request a presentation today!

Doug Johnson, GM for Belfast Community Co-op

The biggest contribution CFS has made to an improved workflow for me has been the inclusion of our fractional CFO. I was carrying so much of the weight of budgeting and reporting, and having another professional in the room to bounce ideas off of was crucial. Joe Doura helped us navigate a cash crisis post-renovation and helped us build a plan for sustainable growth.

The CFS team is made up of intelligent, resourceful, and talented individuals committed to helping us navigate unprecedented times.

 

CFS Team Member Spotlight

Miles Uchida, Accountant for CFS

As a CFS Accountant, I ensure all data is captured each month, account balances are reconciled, and that we have timely and accurate data to use for reporting and supporting operations. I help our clients understand and give them peace of mind that the financial data they are using is reliable. Examples include: prepaids, gift cards, membership, A/R (charges, coupons, advances).

We notice differences among our clients about how some operational systems are handled and move everyone towards alignment. By having all the bases covered, we ensure that our systems and data are accurate, effective, and consistent.

GMs often don’t have the time and/or expertise to ensure accounting is being done correctly. With CFS, they don’t have to worry if their bookkeeper understands balance sheets, if their data is correctly coded, or if inventory calculations are done correctly. We do the work effectively, driving down costs while driving accuracy and performance!

After working in Portland food co-ops for 24 years and being engaged with NCG and Columinate programs, it is exciting to be in a role where I can have a direct and tangible positive impact for the national co-op community. I see the need for accurate and comparable data, supporting co-ops with CCOA conversions, and providing accounting services as crucial to co-op improvement and maximizing the effectiveness of NCG programs.

CFS and National Co-op Bank (NCB)

CFS and National Co-op Bank (NCB) have developed a win-win-win-win relationship for your co-op, CFS, National Cooperative Bank (NCB), and the larger co-op economy.

For CFS, building efficient banking systems and strong financial partnerships is essential to serving many National Co+op Grocers (NCG) members. We believe NCB is a strong fit for your co-op and many NCG members, and so we are committed to fully exploring the opportunity for our CFS clients to bank with NCB, another example of Principle Six – Cooperation Among Co-ops.

We have tested NCB’s 24/7 Treasury System using Columinate’s accounts, and the results show that their platform delivers the business services needed for the most efficient banking-to-accounting connections.

Request a Presentation to learn more about the benefits for your co-op.

CFS’s Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

At CFS, we actively monitor our performance to ensure we provide excellent service to our clients.

As part of that commitment, we’re beginning to share select KPIs with our client community.

Days to post = invoice received to entered • Days to pay = posted to paid (cycle time) • On-time = paid within agreed vendor terms

*20th memo practice began March 2026 • **Finals measured within 3 days of the 25th

 

CFS exists to meet the financial management needs of food co-ops with excellent, efficient, and affordable service.

Contact us today to schedule a one-on-one walkthrough.