Who They Are

A pillar of Southern California foster care

For 45 years, Walden Family Services has been a cornerstone for children, youth, and families navigating the foster care and adoption system throughout Southern California. Their work isn't just impactful — it's irreplaceable. When their financial infrastructure falters, real families feel it.

That's why, when Walden's financial leadership unexpectedly departed, the stakes were immediately clear. With audits pending and institutional financial knowledge walking out the door, the organization faced a pressure test unlike any they'd planned for.

The Challenge

Two departures. One looming deadline.

Their CFO consultant and a senior accountant left in close succession — taking institutional financial knowledge with them at the worst possible moment.

Multiple audits were already scheduled with no flexibility in the timeline — and no margin for error on an organization serving vulnerable youth.

Teresa Stivers and her team underestimated how much ground needed to be covered — the scope of the gap was larger than anticipated.

"It was unexpected how much help we needed with the transition and audits."

— Teresa Stivers, Walden Family Services

The Solution

No ramp-up. Just results.

LLŪM didn't need time to settle in. They assessed the situation and immediately got to work — not just during business hours, but whenever the work demanded. Nights. Weekends. Whatever it took to protect Walden's mission.

Immediate
Rapid financial assessment
LLŪM oriented to Walden's books, systems, and audit requirements — identifying gaps and building a plan of action in real time.
Weeks 1–2
Full audit support, every level
From documentation to reconciliation, LLŪM handled every tier of audit preparation — carrying the load across multiple simultaneous compliance requirements.
Ongoing
Constant communication & oversight
Rather than disappearing into the work, LLŪM kept Teresa's team informed throughout — surfacing concerns early and delivering good news when it was there to give.
The Outcome

Every deadline met. Every audit covered.

LLŪM worked nights and weekends across a three-week sprint to ensure Walden met every obligation — financial and operational. The result wasn't just compliance. It was continuity. Walden's team could keep their focus on the families they serve.

Audit Deadlines Met
Every scheduled audit completed on time with full documentation — no extensions, no gaps.
Proactive Communication
Leadership stayed informed throughout — never left wondering about the state of their finances.
3-Week Turnaround
Nights and weekends — LLŪM operated on Walden's timeline, not a standard 9-to-5 engagement.
Mission Continuity
Walden's staff stayed focused on the children and families they serve — LLŪM handled the financial heavy lifting.
"

LLŪM's employees have been phenomenal. They kept us up to speed with frequent communication — always letting us know of any concerns or needs, and frequently gave us good news. They were excellent to work with.

— Teresa Stivers, Walden Family Services