About Our Wilmington Accounting Company
Founded in 2014, Breakwater Accounting + Advisory serves as a protective buffer between business leadership and the turbulent complexities of day-to-day transaction processing, cash management, compliance, and financial reporting.
A protective barrier built out into a body of water to shelter harbors, coastlines, and vessels from the damaging impact of incoming waves.
Every organization faces surges of opportunity that can strain cash reserves, undercurrents of payroll complexity, and ripples of uncertainty around taxes. We act as your breakwater—absorbing the shock of paperwork and compliance so your leadership steers through calm, navigable waters.
Our Philosophy
"Great people first, technology-forward thinking second." We believe that software creates speed and accuracy, but human integrity, empathy, and personal relationships create lasting leadership.
Our Approach
Highly personalized and built on trust. We become a welcome extension of your team—communicating proactively, asking the right questions, and taking full responsibility like one of your own.
Our Style
We are genuine, we are upbeat, and we are 100% professional. Accounting doesn't need to be dry or intimidating; we make financial management clear, approachable, and empowering.
Our History & Vision
After years in the corporate financial world beginning at DuPont, founder Lee Podolsky noticed a persistent vulnerability: small business owners, startup founders, and nonprofit executive directors were spending nights and weekends drowning in manual ledgers, disconnected spreadsheets, and payroll errors.
In 2014, she brought together high-caliber accounting talent and early-generation cloud accounting platforms to launch Breakwater Accounting + Advisory Corp. What began as a dedicated local practice in Wilmington, Delaware has expanded into a 55+ person advisory firm supporting hundreds of commercial enterprises, 501(c)(3) nonprofits, and high-net-worth private clients from coast to coast.
Today, Breakwater celebrates 7 consecutive years on the Inc. 5000 list of America's fastest-growing private companies under the Cultivate Brands umbrella and serves on the national Gusto Partner Advisory Council (GPAC).
Breakwater's Three-Tier Team Model
Unlike solo bookkeepers or anonymous overseas offshore pools, Breakwater structures its 55+ person firm into three specialized, collaborative tiers to ensure complete accountability.
The Plan Formulators
The strategic leadership team that meets with you to diagnose operational bottlenecks, evaluate financial workflows, and craft a tailor-made financial roadmap.
Formulators assess your technology readiness, define clear internal controls, and handpick specific Implementors whose industry experience matches your culture.
- Lee Podolsky: Founder, President & Chief Executive Officer
- Lindsey Helmick: Chief Operating Officer (COO)
- Amy Marshall: Director of Growth & Client Strategy
- Lori Yoder: Client Services & Strategic Solutions Lead
Leadership Spotlight
Guiding organizations through economic shifts with visionary financial strategy and grounded execution.
Lee Podolsky
Delaware Today Women in Business honoree and Gusto Partner Advisory Council member. Lee launched Breakwater in 2014 to champion small businesses and nonprofits with human-centric accounting.
Lindsey Helmick
Directs operational scaling, client matching methodologies, and internal workflow efficiency, ensuring Breakwater maintains intimate boutique quality while scaling nationwide.
Colleen Smarr
Leads seamless transition protocols, chart of accounts migrations, and software integrations to guarantee clients experience zero disruption during their switch to Breakwater.
Partner Endorsement
“Breakwater always has thought about things I haven’t thought about. They have a joy for what they do, and they really make a difference for our team.”
Kurt Foreman
Chief Executive Officer, Delaware Prosperity Partnership