Financial Strategy & Leadership
Specialized FP&A and controller services for startups and growing organizations in the Boston area and beyond
Passionate about helping innovative startups build sustainable financial foundations.
Start with a free consultation to explore how we can work together.
About Leslie Verploegen
Passionate about advancing climate impact through strategic financial leadership. I partner with startups and mission-driven organizations to provide financial consulting that brings clarity, structure, and insight to support scalable growth and long-term sustainability.
With over 15 years of experience, I specialize in building lasting financial capability within organizations. Known for making complex financial concepts accessible to non-finance professionals at every level, I ensure knowledge transfer through comprehensive documentation and training. As former Associate Director at Clinton Health Access Initiative, I secured over $40M in funding for Oxygen programming during the global pandemic, while supporting a team responsible for 600+ financial reports annually across 30+ countries.
Core Expertise
- Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A)
- Spend Visibility & Budget Controls
- Investor Reporting & Stakeholder Management
- Controller & Financial Operations
- Climate-Focused Business Strategy
- Remote & Global Team Leadership
Consulting Services
Tailored financial leadership solutions for innovative startups and growing organizations
FP&A and Controller Services
Strategic financial planning and analysis with rapid integration capabilities. Plug-in quickly to implement comprehensive budgeting, forecasting, and spend visibility. Experience with government grants and foundation funding. All services include documentation and training to ensure your team can maintain these systems independently.
Fundraising & Grant Management
As Associate Director at Clinton Health Access Initiative, I co-led grant management for a $200M+ global health organization, including $40M+ in emergency funding secured in one year during COVID. Specializing in donor relations, compliance reporting, grant applications, and creating sustainable grant management processes your team can maintain.
Financial Systems & Operations
Rapid financial system implementation with lasting impact. Specializing in creating clear SOPs, implementing analysis frameworks, and establishing reporting systems. Supporting both hardware and software startups with inventory management and complex operational needs. Every implementation includes comprehensive documentation and team training for long-term success.
Why Work With Leslie
An innovative problem-solver delivering customized financial solutions that maximize your investment
Customized Solutions
Every business is unique. I develop tailored financial strategies that align with your specific goals and challenges.
Timely Delivery
Time is money. I prioritize quick implementation and rapid results to ensure you see value from day one.
Sustainable Knowledge Transfer
I don't just solve problems - I ensure your team can maintain and build upon the solutions. Every engagement includes documentation, training, and tools your team can use independently.
Recent Client Success
Building lasting financial capability across diverse organizations
Manufacturing Startup Financial Transformation
A fast-growing manufacturer needed better visibility into project profitability as they scaled. They wanted to make data-driven decisions but couldn't see costs by project or department. Together, we restructured their chart of accounts, implemented expense policies, and trained their team on WIP and COGS tracking, giving leadership real-time visibility into margins and empowering confident decision-making.
Strategic Planning for Long-term Growth
An organization preparing for expansion needed to model multiple growth scenarios. They sought a flexible tool their team could update as strategies evolved. I developed a 5-10 year forecasting model designed for clarity and adaptability, enabling them to evaluate opportunities and plan with confidence.
Grant Management System Implementation
A growing nonprofit managing multiple grants recognized the need to empower their program teams with better financial tools. They wanted each team to have direct visibility into their grant budgets and spending. We implemented Vena—a cloud-based FP&A platform—and created comprehensive documentation, giving their teams the autonomy and real-time insights they needed to manage their programs effectively.
Project Profitability & Labor Tracking
A scaling robotics company with complex manufacturing operations wanted precision in understanding their project costs and labor spending to make better business decisions. With multiple projects running simultaneously, they needed clear visibility into where resources were being allocated. I developed an hourly labor allocation methodology and integrated time tracking with their PEO payroll system, giving management precise visibility into project margins and operational performance.
Client Testimonials
Proven results in financial system implementation and strategic leadership
"Leslie is a reliable, knowledgeable and enthusiastic professional whom I've had the pleasure to work with at my current organization, IINE. Leslie played a critical role in successfully rolling out a financial budgeting and reporting software (Vena) to our program leads at IINE, giving teams visibility into their grant-level budgets and spending. Her proactive approach and ability to take full ownership ensured the project stayed on track and delivered results without requiring constant oversight.
She not only solved technical problems, but also went the extra mile to find effective solutions. Her ability to think through challenges and develop practical, user-friendly reports have made financial insights more accessible and actionable for our team.
One of the most valuable contributions was the comprehensive procedures manual she created, which is clear, well-organized, and will serve as a lasting resource for our team. Her strategic thinking and ability to make complex information easy to use has empowered our staff with a clear, sustainable resource, ensuring long-term efficiency and continuity."
Céline Mukasine
Chief Financial Officer
International Institute of New England
Workshops & Speaking
Empowering entrepreneurs through education and community engagement
I actively engage with the startup community through:
- Financial workshops and office hours for entrepreneurs
- Speaking on sustainable business models and financial strategy
- Group sessions for accelerator and incubator programs
Available for both in-person (Boston area) and virtual sessions nationwide.
Let's Discuss Your Financial Strategy
Get in touch to explore how we can work together.
How We Work Together
I offer customized, targeted approaches with timely delivery to ensure you get the most value. Services are billed hourly with minimum engagement requirements. Special programs and group sessions available for accelerator and incubator members. Start with a free consultation to explore how we can work together.