

DeKalb is in DeKalb County in northern Illinois, west of the Chicago suburbs and surrounded by productive farmland. Northern Illinois University is the largest employer, and the city's agricultural heritage includes seed and farm research. Distribution centers and manufacturers take advantage of interstate access, while campus area restaurants, property managers, contractors and retailers serve students and a growing residential population.
Campus area restaurants, retailers and landlords manage academic calendar swings, while ag businesses face harvest driven cash cycles. Distribution and manufacturing firms need inventory and cost tracking, and contractors rely on job costing. PSG maintains accurate monthly books, builds cash forecasts and provides fractional CFO support on financing, budgeting and growth for DeKalb business 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 DeKalb 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 Aurora, Elgin, Carpentersville, Rockford and Streamwood.

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“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.