Netgain Solutions provides software that automates complex financial and accounting processes for companies using Oracle NetSuite, specializing in areas like lease accounting, fixed asset management, loan management, and month-end closing procedures. Pulse 2.0 interviewed Netgain Solutions founder and President Nathan Smart to gain a deeper understanding of the company.
Nathan Smart’s Background
What is Nathan Smart’s background? Smart said:
“I never set out to be an accountant. Originally, I wanted to be an engineer, but after taking time away for a two-year church mission, I returned to school and realized I had exhausted my options in advanced math courses. That led me to accounting—a field that still had the structure, logic, and balance that I enjoyed. From there, my career unfolded in ways I never expected.”
“I spent five years at EY as a professional auditor, gaining exposure to the intricate world of financial reporting. But in 2009, the financial crisis hit, and I—like many others—was laid off. Within two weeks, I landed a financial close role at a $12 billion healthcare organization, where I led an optimization project that reduced the company’s monthly close process from 15 days to just 5. That experience propelled me into Deloitte’s management consulting group, where I spent eight years helping companies streamline their finance operations.”
“For years, I was obsessed with making finance more efficient. But it wasn’t until I reconnected with my co-founder, Adam, that the idea for Netgain was born—a company built by accountants, for accountants, to eliminate manual finance work and bring clarity to financial operations.”
Formation Of The Company
How did the idea for the company come together? Smart shared:
“The idea for Netgain wasn’t born in a boardroom—it started during long, grueling commutes. Back when Adam and I were both at EY, we worked on a particularly miserable project. We were carpooling to work, logging 12- to 14-hour days, and in those car rides, we had a lot of time to talk about what was broken in finance. We saw firsthand how accounting teams were buried in spreadsheets, stuck in outdated processes, and fighting against inefficiencies that simply shouldn’t exist.”
“After EY, Adam went into controllership, and I went into consulting. But we both kept seeing the same problems: finance teams spent too much time chasing data and not enough time making strategic decisions. So, we took a leap. We built Netgain to give accountants the automation and insights they needed to spend less time fixing errors and more time driving business decisions.”
“Today, I focus on ensuring that Netgain stays true to that vision. Our tools are designed to make finance more efficient, accurate, and strategic—because accountants deserve better than being stuck in Excel.”
Favorite Memory
What has been your favorite memory working for the company so far? Smart reflected:
“One of my favorite moments came at a trade event dinner where I was sitting next to a longtime Netgain user. She looked at me and told me about how she loves Netgain because it’s intuitive – that it works the way she expects it to. That moment stuck with me because it validated everything we’ve been building.”
“Another highlight has been seeing our implementation team resonate with customers. We hire accountants to implement our software, not just generic consultants. That means our customers aren’t just getting a product—they’re working with people who understand their struggles firsthand.”
Core Products
What are the company’s core products and features? Smart explained:
“At its core, Netgain is about eliminating manual accounting work and giving finance teams more time to focus on strategic initiatives. We automate the financial close process, fixed asset management, lease accounting, and loan accounting, reducing the need for spreadsheet-based reconciliations and time-consuming manual adjustments.”
“What makes Netgain different is that it’s built inside the systems accountants already use, including NetSuite. Instead of forcing finance teams to juggle multiple platforms, Netgain works within existing workflows, creating a single, connected source of truth for financial data.”
“But it’s not just about automation—it’s about accuracy, visibility, and control. Accountants don’t just need to process numbers; they need real-time insights and a clear audit trail. Our platform delivers AI-powered financial analysis while ensuring every calculation is transparent and traceable, so teams can move beyond manual tasks and into more strategic roles.”
Challenges Faced
What challenges have Smart and the team faced in building the company? Smart acknowledged:
“One of the biggest hurdles in finance today is skepticism toward AI—and honestly, I get it. There’s a lot of hype, but not a lot of practical application. Accountants don’t trust black-box AI that spits out numbers without an explanation.”
“That’s why at Netgain, we take a different approach. Every AI-powered feature we introduce comes with full audit trails, so accountants can see exactly how every calculation was made. We don’t believe in replacing accountants with AI—we believe in using AI to empower them with better data and insights.”
“Another challenge is that the accounting workforce is shrinking. Fewer people are entering the profession, which means finance teams are being asked to do more with less. The only way forward is to automate the manual work that’s slowing them down, which is exactly why we built Netgain—to free accountants from repetitive tasks so they can focus on driving business impact.”
Evolution Of The Company’s Technology
How has the company’s technology evolved since launching? Smart noted:
“From the start, we set out to build automation tools accountants actually want to use—not just software designed by engineers unfamiliar with the realities of closing the books under pressure.”
“We began by solving key pain points like lease accounting and financial close but have since expanded into a comprehensive automation suite that eliminates manual work, reduces risk, and delivers real-time insights. Our approach to AI prioritizes transparency and control, ensuring every automated process is auditable and explainable.”
“As finance teams take on more strategic roles, our technology continues to evolve—freeing accountants from repetitive tasks so they can focus on analysis, decision-making, and driving business impact.”
Significant Milestones
What have been some of the company’s most significant milestones? Smart cited:
“One of our biggest milestones was seeing companies fully embrace automation as a necessary part of modern finance. When we started, many finance teams were still hesitant about relying on automation for critical accounting functions. Over time, that hesitation has turned into widespread adoption, and we’re now a trusted automation partner for some of the most forward-thinking finance teams in the industry.”
“Another defining moment was our expansion beyond lease accounting. Customers asked for more. That kind of organic demand led us to build a full suite of automation solutions, helping finance teams streamline their month-end close, asset management, and loan accounting.”
Customer Success Stories
When asking Smart about customer success stories, he highlighted:
“One of the most rewarding aspects of building Netgain is seeing finance teams break free from manual, time-consuming processes and operate more efficiently.”
“For example, Signifyd was managing ASC 842 lease accounting manually, a slow, error-prone process. After implementing NetLease, they cut lease management time by 50%, freeing their team for higher-value work. Mariani Premier Group, with 20 subsidiaries, centralized financial management using NetLease, NetAsset, and NetLoan, saving one subsidiary 208 hours annually on loan management alone. Cantaloupe, managing 1,000+ leases, streamlined compliance and audits using NetLessor and NetLease, significantly reducing complexity.”
“These stories highlight why we built Netgain—to eliminate inefficiencies, automate workflows, and help finance teams focus on strategic impact.”
Funding
When asking Smart about the company’s funding, he revealed:
“In 2024, Netgain secured a $35 million investment from Summit Partners, fueling our expansion into AI-driven automation and deeper financial insights. Since then, we’ve seen dramatic growth, driven by the increasing demand for accounting automation.”
Differentiation From The Competition
What differentiates the company from its competition? Smart affirmed:
“The biggest difference between Netgain and our competitors is that we are accountants first, technologists second. Many accounting software companies are built by engineers who see finance as a data problem. We see it differently—we know that finance is about trust, accuracy, and efficiency.”
“That’s why Netgain is built inside NetSuite, not as a disconnected third-party solution. Many of our competitors require integrations, manual data transfers, or additional platforms. Netgain eliminates that friction by keeping everything within NetSuite, turning it into a true single source of truth for finance teams.”
“We also take a pragmatic approach to AI. While competitors often throw AI buzzwords around, we focus on practical automation that actually helps accountants. Our AI tools come with full audit trails, ensuring that accountants can see exactly how every number is generated—no guessing, no black boxes, just real automation they can trust.”
Future Company Goals
What are some of the company’s future goals? Smart emphasized:
“At Netgain, we’re not just building software—we’re leading an accounting renaissance. Our vision is to continue to transform accountants from number-crunchers into strategic advisors.”
Additional Thoughts
Any other topics you would like to discuss? Smart concluded:
“The accounting workforce shortage is a growing challenge, and rising salaries reflect the demand for top talent. But with higher pay comes higher expectations—accountants are now expected to leverage modern tools, communicate insights, and contribute to business strategy.”
“In 2025, employers will seek professionals skilled in data visualization, automation, and even prompt engineering for AI-driven analysis. Adaptability and continuous learning will be key. The firms that embrace automation and upskill their teams will thrive, and that’s exactly where Netgain helps—eliminating manual work so finance teams can focus on strategic impact.”
