Brian Cogan

About Brian Cogan

I recently wrote a book called Thinking With AI — a practical guide to using AI without outsourcing your judgment. It\'s for professionals who use AI every day for real work and want to stay sharp while doing it.I work with business owners whose QuickBooks files need to be brought back under control. My focus is cleanup, reconciliation, and stabilization — especially when balance sheet issues, unreconciled accounts, or misclassified transactions are delaying clear reporting or tax preparation.I approach cleanup as a defined project with a clear beginning and end. The objective is accuracy, defensible reporting, and restored confidence in the numbers.Some clients continue independently after stabilization. Others request ongoing support. The next step is always their choice.Clear books. Clear decisions.

Experience

1. Quickbooks Consultant & Financial Operations Advisor Author

   Automated Bookkeeping Of Arizona, Llc

   May 2005 — Present · Phoenix, AZ, US

   Led full-cycle QuickBooks operations for small and mid-sized businesses, including cleanup, payroll, reconciliations, and monthly reporting• Specialized in untangling complex or neglected books and restoring reliable financial visibility for decision-makers• Worked directly with owners, managers, and internal staff to align financial systems with real-world operations• Built and maintained repeatable workflows to improve accuracy, reduce friction, and support consistent close processes• Translated accounting data into clear, actionable reports used for planning, compliance, and day-to-day management• Served as a steady, long-term resource for clients, with several relationships spanning 10–20+ years• Known for explaining complex financial issues in plain language and supporting teams through system changes• Leveraged modern tools, including AI-assisted workflows, to increase efficiency while maintaining accuracy and judgment

Education

• College of Hard Knocks

  Survivor, Life's wants and needs and be able to feel safe and secure, no matter the circumstance.

Skills

• Retirement Planning
• Partnership Taxation
• 401k
• Journal Entries
• Insurance
• Accounts Payable
• Sales Tax
• Accountants
• Reconciliation
• Income Tax
• S Corporations
• Small Business
• Business
• Financial Planning
• Corporate Tax
• Expenses
• Preparation
• Irs
• Quicken
• Bookkeeping
• Tax Preparation
• Spreadsheets
• Payroll Taxes
• Financial Statements
• Quickbooks
• Payroll
• Property & Casualty Insurance
• Word
• Accounts Receivable
• Tax
• Accruals
• Bank Reconciliation
• Fixed Assets
• General Ledger
• Tax Research
• Accounting
• Small Business Accounting
• Tax Returns
• Accounting Applications
• Job Costing