The six requests at a glance
Six requests since Jul 1, state on Sep 28, 2026 Catering entity setup priced, waiting for the owner Work stopped until the owner decides
How Tallgrove Accounting Partners classified the six Pennock requests since July 1 that sit outside or near the fixed monthly fee, what the two accepted changes cost, and the one decision still open: whether the catering entity setup goes ahead as a priced change of $2,900. Prepared by Celeste Deverell, managing partner at Tallgrove Accounting Partners, for Desmond Vandermolen, owner of Pennock Hospitality Group, and the owner's office manager. Issued Thursday, October 1, 2026.
Each request is checked against the engagement letter and classified before anyone starts work. Three sit inside the fixed fee, two were priced as changes and accepted, and one is priced and waiting for Desmond.
How a request is classified
The service model is a fixed monthly fee with a quarterly advisory review. These rules decide where a request lands. Celeste Deverell makes the call and writes it down before work starts.
- In scope
- The request is part of the monthly close for the five entities, the review pack for each entity, the evidence request each month or the quarterly advisory review. No price is added and the hours are recorded.
- Priced as a change
- The request is new work, a new entity or a recurring report that the engagement letter does not list. Tallgrove writes an estimate and a price, and the owner accepts or declines before work starts.
- Absorbed hours
- Hours spent before a request is classified. They are recorded and shown on this note so the owner can see them. They are never hidden in the fixed fee.
- Decision owner
- Tallgrove decides the classification and the price. Pennock decides whether to accept a priced change.
- Timing
- Classification comes first. If work has started, it stops until the classification is made.
The six requests
Dates are the day each request was received. Prices are the agreed or proposed fee for the change. A request that is in scope shows no price because the fixed fee already covers it.
| Request | Received | Classification | Price | Client decision |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Re-run the July bank reconciliation at Saltmarsh Grill after a corrected statement | Jul 20 | In scope | Included | Not needed |
| Update the vendor payee list for the five entities | Aug 11 | In scope | Included | Not needed |
| Prepare the Q3 advisory review agenda from the owner's questions | Sep 3 | In scope | Included | Not needed |
| 13-week cash view | Jul 14 | Change, accepted | $2,400 | Accepted Jul 27 |
| Lender covenant schedule | Aug 18 | Change, accepted | $1,800 | Accepted Sep 2 |
| Catering entity setup | Sep 21 | Change, waiting | $2,900 | Waiting for Desmond |
Three requests were classified as changes. Two were accepted and one is waiting, as the block shows.
From request to decision
This is the route every request takes. A request reaches work only through "in scope" or through an accepted change.
Waiting on the owner: catering entity setup
"The 3 hours were spent before the question was asked. The fix is to ask first, so that Desmond sees the price before a senior accountant starts, not after."
Celeste Deverell, Managing partner, Tallgrove Accounting Partners
If Desmond accepts
Change accepted
Work. Tobias Rennert restarts the entity setup the day Tallgrove has the acceptance in writing. The fee for the change is $2,900 and is shown as a separate line on the next invoice.
Plan. The monthly close adds the catering entity from the first month after setup, and the evidence request list is extended to cover it. The fixed fee for the five existing entities does not change.
If Desmond declines
Change declined
Work. The setup stays stopped and the request is closed. The 3 hours stay recorded as absorbed hours.
Plan. Catering activity stays inside the entity where it is booked today. Celeste Deverell records the decline and the date, and reopens the request only if Desmond raises it again.
Acceptance steps
A priced change is accepted in five steps. The catering entity setup is at step three.
- Request received, Sep 21
- Classified as a change and priced, Sep 24
- Owner accepts or declines, by Oct 8
- Acceptance recorded and work starts
- Change shown on the next invoice
Before October 8
- Stop work on the catering entity setup. Owner: Celeste Deverell, done Sep 24done
- Price the setup as a change at $2,900. Owner: Celeste Deverell, done Sep 24done
- Send this note to the owner and the office manager. Owner: Tobias Rennert, done Oct 1done
- Accept or decline the catering entity setup. Owner: Desmond Vandermolen, Oct 8open
- Record the decision and restart or close the request. Owner: Celeste Deverell, Oct 9open
- Add the catering entity to the evidence request list for the first month after setup, if accepted. Owner: Tobias Rennert, Oct 9open
Who approves this note
- Desmond VandermolenOwner, Pennock Hospitality Group, accepts or declines each priced change
- Celeste DeverellManaging partner, Tallgrove Accounting Partners, classifies each request and sets the price
- Tobias RennertClient accounting manager, Tallgrove Accounting Partners, logs each request and keeps the note current