SAMGI uses Sage Intacct to streamline financial operations, strengthen controls, and support nationwide expansion with a lean accounting team.
As the longest-tenured corporate employee at Surgical Affiliates Management Group (SAMGI), Kathleen Cole has helped guide the company through many phases of growth. As Corporate Controller, she's also seen firsthand how that evolution created new financial complexity behind the scenes.
A few years after the pandemic, SAMGI experienced a major growth surge as recruitment stabilized and provider capacity expanded across its programs. However, with this expansion came new financial complexities: ones that SAMGI's existing ERP system could no longer handle.
"Nothing was working," Kathleen said. "Our systems were antiquated, and we were challenged on a daily basis with financial statements and customer invoices." Inefficient invoicing and limited system functionality created stagnancy when the company was scaling, leading Kathleen and her financial team to seek out a system better suited for the organization’s future needs.
When evaluating ERP options, leadership wanted a system that offered simplicity — something that would support future needs without being over complex or difficult to implement. The goal was to find a long-term solution that would scale alongside the company, rather than being quickly outpaced.
"When you outgrow a system, you start to ask, 'What's next for us? What's the best fit?'" Kathleen said. "Sage Intacct has been that for us and will continue to be as we grow."
SAMGI selected Sage for its intuitive design and powerful reporting capabilities. Unlike the previous system, Sage Intacct demonstrated the ability to expedite day-to-day financial functions while also being able to take on more advanced operational and financial tasks.
This balance of simplicity and scalability, along with the system's navigability and user-friendly interface, made it the clear choice for SAMGI during their next phase of growth. "Sage Intacct is so intuitive," Kathleen said. "We didn't want something too complex, and luckily Sage Intacct was something that our teams could grasp very quickly."
"Sage Intacct is so intuitive. We didn't want something too complex, and luckily Sage Intacct was something that our teams could grasp very quickly."
Kathleen Cole
Corporate Controller
After a smooth implementation process, SAMGI's accounting workflows quickly transformed. With the previous system, daily tasks as simple as duplicating invoices were a challenge. Now, Kathleen and her team can automate invoicing processes and move through daily financial workflows more efficiently.
"Importing data and financial attachments into Sage Intacct has been a game changer for us," Kathleen said. "It's made a big difference when it comes to our accountants being able to quickly and efficiently get their jobs done."
Another recurring roadblock transformed into a streamlined task was provider expense reimbursement processing. Teams replaced manual spreadsheet-based workflows by integrating Sage Intacct with Ramp, an expense management platform SAMGI had been using for years prior. Rather than taking time away from providers and accountants to manually report and enter expense data, the Ramp and Sage Intacct integration created a unified spend management process that eliminated tedious manual entry and better aligned finance and operational workflows.
SAMGI's unique, multi-state business structure proved to be an ideal fit for Sage Intacct. With multiple legal entities across different states, the organization needed more consolidated and flexible reporting capabilities. Luckily, Sage Intacct delivered just that.
With this improved flexibility and visibility, Kathleen said her team has stronger financial governance and audit readiness. She credits Sage Intacct's business controls for streamlining the financial review process and instilling greater confidence in the organization's audit procedures.
"Everything is set up so well in the system so that when I get a draft financial statement, I'm able to review it very quickly while still feeling confident [in the numbers]."
Reflecting on SAMGI's five years with Sage Intacct, Kathleen said she's most admired how the system has allowed the company to scale efficiency with having to expand accounting operations.
"That says a lot about the system — that we've been able to maintain a very small, five-person accounting team," Kathleen said. "Our people have been able to grow with the system and with the organization."
Even as SAMGI has expanded its multi-state entities, increased remote work, and broadened its reach across the healthcare industry, Sage Intacct has remained a consistent operational foundation. Time and time again, the platform has demonstrated its ability to support increasing financial complexity while helping the organization scale with confidence.
This resilience has shown Kathleen that Sage Intacct will continue to serve as the foundation for SAMGI's next phase of growth. "I'm constantly looking to see how we can improve," Kathleen said. "When I think of our partnership with Sage Intacct, that aligns with our goals to grow, become more efficient, and work smarter."
"When I think of our partnership with Sage Intacct, that aligns with our goals to grow, become more efficient, and work smarter."
Kathleen Cole
Corporate Controller
