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Easterseals New Jersey
Advancing the mission through trust and technology
services engaged
Digital | Enterprise solutions | Digital strategy
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Our Impact
%
of funding secured with HITRUST certification
%
reduction in reporting cycle
X
budget cycle reduction from 6 to 2 months

Overview

Already a leader in disability and community-based services, Easterseals New Jersey made bold, strategic investments to prepare for evolving, heightened Medicaid and managed care requirements. With HITRUST certification, modernized financial infrastructure and enhanced data capabilities, the nonprofit is scaling whole person care and is positioned for long-term impact. Wipfli advanced Easterseals NJ’s vision with steady support, turning priorities into plans and measurable progress.
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The CHALLENGe
How could Easterseals NJ expand quality care services amid evolving regulatory requirements, stricter funding compliance processes and more complex care delivery? The forward-thinking nonprofit’s answer: modernize systems and operations to add greater flexibility, stability and room for innovation. It partnered with Wipfli to enhance systems, strengthen accounting and finance capabilities, demonstrate regulatory compliance and streamline operations.
"Anytime I need something, my Wipfli team is there. We needed our accounting system on the cloud; they made it happen. We could not have gained HITRUST certification without them. They make lease accounting worry-free. I value our partnership with Wipfli. Their strategic guidance is key to our digital transformation success.”
Aleisha Hart, Chief operating officer

The Solution

NetSuite implementation

Wipfli helped Easterseals NJ evaluate ERPs and then select NetSuite for its nonprofit financial management capabilities and advantages as a cloud-based system. Wipfli implemented NetSuite, starting with top priorities, including AR, AP, purchasing, planning and subsequent budgeting modules. The implementation included process optimization and ongoing training. To maximize return on investment, Wipfli developed a long-term roadmap aligned to Easterseals NJ’s goals as well as provided ongoing helpdesk support.

HITRUST certification

Medicaid provides nearly two-thirds of Easterseals NJ’s funding. The funding process shifted to distribution from a Managed Care Organization (MCO) with a 1115 waiver, making it mission critical to obtain HITRUST certification. Easterseals NJ needed to provide proof that it had the security measures to protect patient/client information. Wipfli executed a HITRUST readiness assessment — a gap assessment reviewing controls, identifying weaknesses and determining needed remediations. The team then began the HITRUST certification assessment, which tested controls, requested evidence and prepared the final certification submission.

Lease accounting outsourcing

Easterseals NJ’s leases were subject to complex and changing lease accounting standards. Easterseals NJ kept its accounting resources focused on other priorities and tapped into Wipfli’s specialized knowledge and monitoring intelligence. Wipfli collected and analyzed lease data for proper classification, used proprietary lease software to generate journal entries for accurate financial reporting and drafted all required footnote disclosures.

Planful implementation

Wipfli transitioned Easterseals NJ from its existing legacy Excel-based budgeting tool to Planful, a budgeting, forecasting and workforce planning platform. It built a trackable approval process and customized reporting to support executive leadership. Wipfli streamlined and modernized budgeting and forecasting processes, integrated Planful with NetSuite, created templates, automated approval workflows and more.

The Results

Connected, modernized systems

With Wipfli, Easterseals NJ:

  • Has a cloud-based accounting system with integrated connections, data visibility and processes that are both streamlined and automated.
  • Mitigated turnover impact with improved workflows.
  • Automated AP and AR processes.
  • Has the ability to scale more efficiently.
  • Met stricter MCO requirements with accurate, documented health outcomes.

Easterseals NJ is raising the bar on how it improves the quality of life of its clients with two groundbreaking initiatives — creating a client portal and piloting whole person care with the addition of medical services.

Certified controls and outcomes for critical funding

With Wipfli, Easterseals NJ:

  • Achieved HITRUST certification.
  • Gained risk protection and outcome certification.
  • Fortified against the claw back of funds from the attorney general.
  • Reduced audit rework; controls are already documented and tested.

Easterseals NJ is the first nonprofit to achieve HIGHTRUST certification in its entire region. Not only does this have a monumental impact on Easterseals NJ and its clients, but the impact also ripples to network affiliates. These often smaller, less-resourced affiliates can leverage Easterseals NJ’s scale and compliance to survive and provide critical components of care.

Accurate accounting for complex leases

With Wipfli, Easterseals NJ:

  • Saved significant staff time by avoiding extensive internal training and software implementation.
  • Submitted accurate and timely lease accounting and disclosures.
  • Received the calculations of 140+ leases for each of the last two years.
  • Secured a reliable long-term partner for ongoing compliance and updates.

Easterseals NJ saved valuable time and gained peace of mind by utilizing Wipfli to address lease accounting standards and pass rigorous audits.

Predictive, automated budgeting

With Wipfli, Easterseals NJ:

  • Achieved a 3X reduction in reporting cycle from 13 to four days.
  • Achieved a 3X reduction in budgeting process from six pressure-filled months to two smooth and efficient months.
  • Eliminated the involvement of the entire accounting department of 18 people; now two people run the budgeting process.
  • Gained the advantages of accurate, real-time reporting, as well as generated new insights, higher collaboration and the ability to create new reports and perform deeper analysis.
  • Experienced scalable flexibility; staff can adjust templates in real-time, increasing speed and accuracy for budgets, forecasts and actuals.

Easterseals NJ gained a superior predictive budgeting process.

Every day I see examples of people with disabilities not receiving the level of care the general population has access to. Easterseals NJ is committed to changing that. Wipfli supports us with the right experts to build the necessary systems and processes, so our consumers have the best outcomes possible.

Aleisha Hart, Chief operating officer

Services Engaged

C-suite outsourced services
Business outsourcing
Outsourced technology services
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Business intelligence consulting
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Sage Intacct
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Organizational performance consulting
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