

Cicero is a Cook County town bordering Chicago's West Side, next to Berwyn and Oak Park. Historically an industrial center, it retains manufacturing, warehousing and rail related businesses, alongside busy commercial corridors filled with Mexican restaurants, bakeries, grocers, auto repair shops and family owned retailers. A largely Latino community supports a strong base of contractors, cleaning companies and service businesses that work across the Chicago metro.
Contractors and service firms need job costing, dependable payroll support and clear tracking of materials and subcontractors. Restaurants, bakeries and grocers focus on food costs, cash handling and Cook County sales and payroll taxes. Manufacturers need inventory and margin visibility. PSG maintains clean monthly books, delivers simple reports and provides fractional CFO support on financing and growth for Cicero owners.
Illinois levies state income tax plus a personal property replacement income tax on many entities, and sales taxes vary by locality. Chicago and some other jurisdictions add their own business taxes, so location tracking matters.
General information only, not tax advice. Rules change, so confirm specifics with a tax professional.
Yes. We work with Cicero companies through a dedicated team that is entirely US based, combining Big Four accounting experience with years of operating experience across industries. Your team closes the books on a regular schedule, works inside the accounting tools you already use and looks at your numbers the way an operator would, not just a bookkeeper.
Typically bank and card reconciliations, accounts payable and receivable, payroll support, Illinois sales tax tracking and monthly financial statements you can act on. Growing companies can add fractional CFO support for forecasting, budgeting and cash planning.
Usually when decisions start to outgrow the books: raising capital or bank financing, opening a new location, making key hires, tightening margins or preparing for a future sale. A fractional CFO adds forecasting and strategic guidance without the cost of a full time executive.
We also work with businesses in Berwyn, Oak Park, Chicago, Oak Lawn and Elmhurst.

.gif)

.gif)
.gif)





“If you want to sleep better at night, hire Phoenix Strategy Group.”

“PSG and David Metzler structured an extraordinary M&A deal during a very chaotic period in our business, and I couldn't be more pleased with our partnership.”

“PSG saved my dream. They helped us get our financials in order and renegotiate our lending agreements, pulling us through a tough financial crunch.”

“As our fractional CFO, they accomplished more in six months than our last two full-time CFOs combined. If you're looking for unparalleled financial strategy and integration, hiring PSG is one of the best decisions you can make.”

“Hire PSG if you want to make your life easier and have accurate data.”

“As a home service business owner, understanding complex financials and Unit Economics always seemed overwhelming—until we started working with Phoenix Strategy Group.”









240+
Portfolio Companies
$200m+
Raised over the Last 12 Months
100+
M&As Transacted
5+
IPOs

Hi! I'm Sam, a financial leader who's managed operations from startups to $40M enterprises.
I've led licensing deals with Disney, Marvel, and Viacom, while overseeing products across 35,000 retail stores. Through SHK Financial, I've helped 15+ high-growth companies succeed, including recovering $2M in receivables for a major client and rebuilding a $10M ARR company's accounting system in 6 months. Now, as Chief Accounting Officer at PSG, I oversee 50+ revenue streams and help launch many successful 8-figure businesses.
My journey started uniquely - while studying finance at Fresno State, I taught both chess and accounting to students, teaching me that success in finance, like in chess, is all about strategic thinking and seeing several moves ahead.