Parley Labs develops secure, decentralized connectivity solutions designed for the most demanding environments. With deep roots in defense technology and decades of experience supporting unmanned systems, subsea networks, and complex military infrastructure, the company builds tools that perform where resilience matters most.
The Situation
Parley Labs engaged Optima to evolve accounting systems and procedures with company growth, focusing on creating solutions for present and future growth. As they shifted from solely a product-based model to offering a combination of product and service-based solutions for federal clients, the team recognized the complexity of government contracts and the need for accurate identification and allocation of expenses. Further, the team recognized the internal passion and need for accurate expensing of R&D for future products. Their current accounting system was not broken, but they wanted to ensure everything was set up correctly for future growth. This focus on creating a clean financial foundation has enabled Parley Labs to support accurate billing, long-term compliance, and the ability to grow without surprises.
Key Actions Taken
Optima worked alongside the leadership team to set up the company’s financial operations with
long-term success in mind.
Here’s what we tackled:
- Built a clean chart of accounts structured for direct, indirect, and job-related
costs - Created systems to track fringe, overhead, and administrative expenses for
federal billing - Established project-level job costing to ensure precise reporting and invoicing
- Implemented a payroll system aligned with contract work and compliance
standards - Launched ongoing reviews of revenue, expenses, and tax strategy to support
informed decision-making
The Results
- A proactive financial structure built to handle federal requirements
- Full visibility into job-level costs, margins, and billing details
- Accurate fringe and overhead rates to support compliant invoicing
- A proactive setup that prevents issues before they happen and supports
confident growth, all while keeping their Optima partnership cost-efficient, averaging
around $1,500 per month.
Thinking About the Next Phase of Growth?
The smartest time to build your foundation is before the complexity sets in.