ABOUT US
About Checks and Balances, Inc.
We make magic out of numbers. For us, that line isn’t marketing—it’s a family story. Long before spreadsheets and bank feeds, Katherine E. Gilbert grew up backstage in the “Magic Gilbert Girls,” the father–daughter show that performed at Santa’s Village. The wonder of turning something ordinary into something memorable never left her. In 1984, she founded Checks and Balances, Inc., and the company has been transforming messy books into clear decisions ever since.
A Legacy of Financial Expertise Since 1984
Building Trust Across Chicago
Our name is a promise and our logo is a legacy. The original 1984 checkmark—two steady lines beneath a bold tick—stands for accuracy you can trust, reports you can read, and follow-through you can count on. We still hold to the ABCs Katherine sketched years ago: Accurate work, Business-focused guidance, and Cost-smart solutions. Those three ideas shape everything we do, from monthly bookkeeping and payroll to tax preparation, planning, and accounting system setup.
We’re proudly local. From our office at 1275 North Clybourn Avenue, we serve the Near North Side and the neighborhoods that make Chicago hum—Gold Coast, Old Town, Lincoln Park, River North, and beyond. Clients choose us because the work is careful, the advice is plainspoken, and the relationship is personal. If you call, we pick up. Katherine keeps a bright red phone on her desk as a reminder that responsiveness isn’t negotiable.
More Than Numbers – An Enrolled Agent With Personality
We Make Magic With Numbers
Checks and Balances was built on relationships long before “client experience” became a buzzword. Katherine still loves the tangible touches—handwritten cards, postcards, and thoughtful check-ins—because numbers matter most when they help people feel seen and supported. That same spirit guides our day-to-day: we reconcile every account, explain what the financials actually mean, map out taxes before deadlines loom, and design systems you’ll be comfortable using after we leave the meeting.
After four decades, the work is still personal. Entrepreneurs on their first hire, established firms planning the next location, families navigating a complicated year—each story is different, but the goal is the same: turn complexity into clarity so decisions feel simple. That’s the magic we practice.
Simplifying the numbers so you can focus on the business.
Who We Serve
Chicago, the Near North Side, and beyond. From our office at 1275 North Clybourn Avenue, we partner with owners, professionals, and families across the Gold Coast, Old Town, Lincoln Park, River North, Lakeview, Wicker Park, and surrounding neighborhoods. Many of our clients also work with us remotely from elsewhere in Illinois and out of state; the service stays personal and the follow-through stays the same.
Business Owners
Business owners come to us when they want the numbers to support real-world decisions. We keep the books accurate each month, reconcile every account, and deliver clear financial statements you can actually use. We set up or clean up QuickBooks Online, design a chart of accounts that fits your operation, connect secure bank feeds, and establish workflows for invoicing, bills, and receipt capture. When payroll needs attention, we handle the runs, deposits, and filings so your team is paid correctly and agencies stay satisfied. For owners who want more insight, we dig into cost accounting and advisory—margin analysis by job or service line, budgets and rolling cash-flow forecasts, pricing and break-even reviews, and practical scenarios for hiring or expansion—so strategy isn’t guesswork. Throughout the year we plan taxes with you, calculate quarterly estimates, and prepare filings on time, minimizing surprises and keeping cash needs predictable.
Individuals & Families
Individuals and families rely on us for straightforward tax preparation and year-round guidance. We prepare accurate returns, explain your options in plain English, and map out estimated payments so April isn’t a scramble. If life changes—new job, side business, rental property, a move, or education expenses—we help you understand the tax impact before decisions are final. When notices arrive, we translate what they mean and help you respond. The goal is simple: fewer unknowns, fewer last-minute decisions, and more confidence that your financial picture matches reality.
Nonprofits & Organizations
Nonprofits and organizations trust us to pair mission with compliance. We establish or refine bookkeeping so board packets are clear and timely, maintain records that align with grant and program needs, and prepare the filings that keep you in good standing. When your team changes or capacity is stretched, we steady the back office and create processes your staff can maintain. The outcome is clean books, reliable reporting, and more time for the work that matters.
