Civil Bookkeeping Texas star logoCivil BookkeepingFOR TEXAS WATER DISTRICTS

HOUSTON-AREA WATER DISTRICTS

A district perspective.
A clearer financial picture.

Careful bookkeeping. Useful board reports. Records that tell the whole story.

Founded by a water district civil engineer, Civil Bookkeeping is being built for the people responsible for a district’s financial decisions.

Discuss your district Explore our approach

Preparing for a January 2027 launch

A FAMILIAR WORLD. A FOCUSED PRACTICE.

District finances deserve
attention to every detail.

Behind each board meeting are invoices, bank statements, project costs and decisions that need a clear record. We are building a bookkeeping practice that treats the supporting work with the same care as the report on the table.

Our focus is Houston-area municipal utility districts, with defined responsibilities, organized records and communication that helps boards and consultants understand the month.

WHAT WE ARE BUILDING

The monthly work,
clearly defined.

Each engagement will set out the recurring services, responsibilities and fixed monthly fee in writing.

01

Bookkeeping & board reporting

Transaction records and monthly reporting packages that bring cash, proposed payments, budget activity and supporting schedules into view.

02

Payables & reconciliation

Organized invoices and pay estimates, proposed payment schedules, and bank and investment-pool reconciliations for review.

03

Budget tracking & audit support

Actual activity against the adopted budget, explanations of differences, and organized schedules for the district’s independent auditor.

04

Thoughtful transitions

A defined plan for records, opening balances, reporting needs and recurring deadlines before service begins.

Civil Bookkeeping

Ryan Schilhab, PEFOUNDER · TEXAS CIVIL ENGINEER

WHY CIVIL BOOKKEEPING

An engineer’s perspective.
A leap of faith.

Working in the water district industry, Ryan Schilhab saw how much depends on reliable financial information—and an opportunity for a new bookkeeping practice that could make that information easier to follow.

As a licensed professional civil engineer in Texas, he understands the district environment: the projects, the consultants and the decisions that come before a board. He decided to take a leap of faith and build Civil Bookkeeping to help fill that need.

The aim is straightforward: bring an engineer’s attention to detail to bookkeeping, with clear reports, organized supporting records and accountable review.

Ryan’s engineering background informs his perspective. Civil Bookkeeping’s services are bookkeeping and related nonattest reporting support. Audit and assurance services remain with the district’s independent CPA.

FROM SOURCE TO BOARD PACKET

A clear path through
each month.

Our planned process keeps evidence, review and responsibility connected.

  1. 01

    Start with the source

    Collect the statements, invoices and supporting records in the district’s designated workspace.

  2. 02

    Prepare & reconcile

    Organize the activity, compare records and identify missing information or differences.

  3. 03

    Review & explain

    Bring the month’s activity and unresolved items into a clear board package, with an accountable review process.

  4. 04

    Preserve the record

    Keep the issued report and its supporting evidence together for future questions and annual audit requests.

Payment approval and release remain with district-authorized people under the district’s procedures.

LET’S START A CONVERSATION

What does your district
need from its bookkeeper?

We welcome conversations about reporting expectations, service scope and transition timing as we prepare for a planned January 2027 launch.

Please keep initial inquiries general. Do not send bank details, resident information or confidential financial records.