Who we are

Who is Johnston Company?

James C. Johnston
Founder of Johnston Company CFO Services in 1986, Jim has 20 years of experience providing senior financial and strategic advice to businesses, with extensive experience working with companies in the technology sector. His manufacturing experience includes financial management positions with Cummins Engine Company Inc. and its Cadec Systems Inc. subsidiary. Jim has been CFO of technology companies including Tizor Systems, WaveMark Technologies, DSP Software Engineering and Granitar. He has served as an advisor to Boards and was also on the Board at Aurora Technologies. Jim earned an MBA from the University of Chicago and a BA, Economics from Princeton University. He is a member of the Editorial Advisory Board of CFO Magazine and an occasional columnist for Mass High Tech and Boston Business Journal. Jim has been published in Computerworld and CFO Magazine, and has had numerous teaching and speaking engagements.

Lois Desaulniers' Work for
Johnston Company Clients
Angel-funded litigation support services. Lois installed and set up the accounting functions, continues to serve as the consulting controller, and participates in the monthly financial review of this growing company. She prepares financial reports each month, offers insights and advice related to accounting functions, and supervises the bookkeeping.

Privately-funded CRM consulting. Lois set up the accounting procedures and has been overseeing the financial functions as consulting controller. She has developed cash management tools, spending analyses, and procedures for interfacing with various online resources and with overseas outsourcing partners.

VC-funded software developer. Lois supervised the set-up of the accounting functions, continues to serve as the consulting controller, and participates in the monthly financial review.

Angel-funded biotech research. Lois has been serving as consulting controller. She has supervised all accounting functions, prepared financial and cash analysis reports for the CEO, prepared financial materials needed for due diligence by new investors, and interfaced with the financial departments of research partners and funding partners. Angel-funded talent matching web site. Lois installed and set up accounting software, trained the office manager, supervised the entry of a year's worth of vendor invoices, produced financial statements and analysis, and created procedures for the monthly accounting cycle.

VC-funded purchasing service for universities. Lois installed and set up accounting software, created the cap table and shareholder records, produced monthly financial statements and analysis for the CEO and board, and maintained a sales pipeline and business modeling tool. She conducted the monthly review, with the management team, of financial results versus forecast, and generated 12-month "what if" scenarios interactively with the management team to support decision making.

Education and experience. Lois has over 18 years of accounting experience, most recently as the controller of an Internet marketing company for the furniture industry. In addition to holding management positions in accounting and human resources, Lois has also worked as a consultant in finance, technical writing, and software implementation. Her expertise includes establishing standard financial and human resources business practices for start-up organizations, development and implementation of reporting and financial control systems, and training and development of staff. Lois was a part-time faculty member at Cape Cod Community College for twelve years. Lois is a graduate of the Simmons College School of Management and also holds a master's degree from Boston University .