Clear books. Confident decisions. Any level of complexity.
I'm Helen M. Axelson, MBA, a Corporate Controller with more than nine years of corporate accounting and finance experience, including time as interim CFO. Through Lion Worldwide Consulting I bring that same level of expertise to businesses, yacht owners and growing companies.
Nova Southeastern University
A controller's experience, a partner's attention
My career has taken me from staff accountant to Corporate Controller of a major shipyard group, where I also stepped in as interim CFO. Before that I was Financial Controller for a medical device manufacturer and for the U.S. subsidiary of an international public company, and Assistant Controller for a multinational technology group.
I've led month-end and year-end closes, consolidations and external audits, ERP migrations, post-M&A integrations, and tax compliance at the federal, state and international level. I've also built and led accounting teams across locations.
In 2018 I founded Lion Worldwide Consulting, LLC. There I work directly with business owners, captains and owner's representatives on bookkeeping, payroll, taxes and yacht accounting, including refit and charter projects. I'm meticulous, process-driven and easy to reach, so clients always know where their numbers stand.
Everything your books need, in one place
From a small business that needs reliable monthly bookkeeping to a multi-entity company that needs a part-time controller, the service scales to fit you.
Bookkeeping, A/R & A/P
Accurate day-to-day books, receivables and payables, bank, credit card and intercompany reconciliations.
Close, consolidation & audit
Month-end, quarter-end and year-end close, multi-entity consolidation and full support for your external auditors.
Financial reporting
Financial statements under U.S. GAAP or IFRS, management reports and Power BI dashboards for owners, boards and lenders.
Tax compliance
Federal and state returns, quarterly filings, sales tax, payroll taxes via EFTPS, BOI reporting, and coordination with your tax advisors.
Payroll
Payroll setup, processing, reporting and transitions on ADP, Paychex, Paycom, Insperity PEO or QuickBooks Payroll.
Budgets, forecasts & cash flow
Annual budgets, cash flow projections, variance analysis and support with bank financing and loan covenants.
Fractional controller / CFO
Senior-level oversight without a full-time hire: internal controls, GAAP policies, cost accounting and process documentation.
Yacht accounting
Refit and charter accounting in Voly and Pinpoint Works, owner reports, funding requests and captain's expense audits.
ERP & system migrations
Moving to a new system safely, for example QuickBooks to Dynamics 365 or PierVantage to Odoo, with testing and new procedures.
A career built step by step
Hands-on experience at every level of the accounting function, from daily reconciliations to leading the entire finance department.
- Corporate Controller & interim CFODerecktor Shipyards
- Financial ControllerAtlas Spine, Inc., medical device manufacturing
- Financial ControllerBraemar PLC, U.S. subsidiary of an international public company
- Assistant ControllerFaceBank, Inc. & Subsidiaries (U.S., UK, EU, Brazil)
- Senior AccountantBlue Water Accounting and Asset Management (formerly Vault Wealth Management)
- Financial Analyst, Staff & Yacht AccountantSafe Harbor Rybovich, Fraser Yachts, Fairport Yacht Support
- Research AnalystKingscote Capital, investment fund
- FounderLion Worldwide Consulting, LLC (since 2018)
Industries
Areas of expertise
Software I work in
Strong academic foundation
A graduate degree in finance and economics, built on a science background that trained me to be precise and analytical.
Master of Business Administration (MBA), Finance & Economics
Bachelor of Health Science (BHSc)
Vascular Sonography
Bachelor of Science (BS)
Forensic Science
What you can count on
Controller & CFO-level expertise
The same standards I use as a Corporate Controller and interim CFO, applied to your business.
Any level of complexity
Multiple entities, consolidations, international subsidiaries, cost accounting, yachts and audits. I've handled all of it.
Works in your systems
No need to switch software. I'm fluent in 20+ accounting, ERP and payroll tools, and I can lead a migration when it's time.
Personal, responsive service
You work with me directly, not a rotating team. I'm based in Jupiter, Florida and work with clients on site or remotely.
Ready to get your books in order?
Tell me about your business and what you need. The first consultation is free and there's no obligation.