What We Do

Advisory Services

Three core engagements — each anchored to the PSI framework. Designed for CFOs and PE sponsors who need payroll risk treated as the financial control issue it actually is.

Our Engagements

Institutional-Grade Payroll Governance

Every engagement enters at one of four tiers, each built around the Payroll Stability Index™ framework. Most CFOs start at Tier 1. CFOs in a transaction window enter at Tier 3. Pricing is scoped on the qualifying call — not posted publicly — because the work is bespoke to entity count, state footprint, and timeline.

01 — Diagnostic
PSI™ Diagnostic
A six-week scoring engagement that maps payroll exposure across the seven PSI™ dimensions, returns a composite 0–100 score, and produces a board-ready risk heatmap with quantified liability estimates by dimension.
When it fits: You need a quantified baseline. New CFO seat, board questions, or pre-raise readiness.
02 — Stabilization
PSI™ Stabilization Program
Structured remediation that closes the gaps the Diagnostic surfaced. Policy redesign, control installation, and system-of-record alignment, capped with a re-score to prove the work landed. Fixed-fee, scoped at engagement letter.
When it fits: The Diagnostic surfaced material findings. Now close them with documentation auditors, sponsors, and acquirers will accept.
03 — Pre-Diligence
Pre-Diligence Payroll Risk Audit™
A transaction-grade payroll review delivered against the buyer’s checklist — quantified exposure memo, counsel-ready schedules, recommended pre-close cleanup, and a PSI™ score for the data room. Built to absorb the diligence work before diligence starts.
When it fits: A sale, raise, or refinance is on the 12–18 month horizon. Or an LOI is signed and diligence kickoff is inside 60 days.
04 — Advisory
PSI™ Advisory Retainer
Continuous risk visibility between annual audits. Quarterly PSI™ re-score, monthly office hours with the CFO and controller, on-call guidance for new-state expansion, acquisitions, and comp-plan changes. Twelve-month minimum.
When it fits: You’ve completed a Diagnostic or Stabilization and want exposure managed, not rediscovered.
What’s Not Included

ValuGuard does not process payroll. We do not sell software. We do not take a back-end fee from the payroll provider. We are an advisory firm — paid by the company, accountable to the CFO, with no other party in the room.

Who We Serve

Built for High-Stakes Operators

ValuGuard works where payroll risk carries real financial and reputational consequence.

Private Equity Sponsors
Pre-acquisition due diligence, portfolio company monitoring, and pre-exit clearance. Payroll liability at the wrong moment destroys deal value — we prevent that.
Fortune 500 CFOs
Governance frameworks and ongoing advisory for finance leaders who need payroll risk treated as a financial control issue — not a back-office afterthought.
Get Started

Start with the PSI Diagnostic

Run your diagnostic now and know exactly where your payroll exposure sits — in minutes.

Launch PSI Diagnostic Schedule a Confidential Risk Review