Case Study: Zest AI achieves 60% annual accounting cost savings and a 33% faster monthly close with Sage Intacct

Rapid-growth AI pioneer turns to Sage Intacct amidst SaaS pivot, saving 60% annually

Zest AI, a California-based AI pioneer that turned its underwriting models into a SaaS offering, faced growing complexity managing high-volume financials across 11 entities on a heavily customized QuickBooks. The company needed scalable processes, ASC 606–compliant revenue practices, and reduced reliance on costly outside consultants as revenues doubled and the business prepared for growth and investment.

Zest implemented Sage Intacct for core financials and revenue management, standardizing a single chart of accounts, automating workflows, and integrating with Bill.com, Expensify, Paylocity and Brex. The change shortened the monthly close by 33%, cut annual accounting contracting costs by 60%, supported 100% year‑over‑year growth without adding finance headcount, improved subscription billing and KPI visibility (ARR, LTV), and streamlined due diligence for a $15M funding round.

Zest AI

Walter Luceno

Director of Accounting