We had the good fortune of connecting with Jessica Jones and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jessica, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I started my business based on the idea that the businesses that needed me most – startups, solopreneurs, and small-but-growing businesses couldn’t afford to pay the “big guy” consulting firms for advice. I was interested in these types of clients, but the large CPA firm I was at had other ideas.

A mentor of mine at the firm brought up that I could be more successful, and likely more happy, if I were working for myself and could take on the types of clients I wanted, rather than being assigned to a project that didn’t interest me.

Going out on my own was a huge risk, and I didn’t really have a safety net, but I had a feeling. I knew I could do it. I served as CFO for so many companies, and I had a knack for management, so I stepped out on the limb and had faith in myself and my ability to succeed!

That was 5 years ago and I’ve just hired my 4th staff member – an executive assistant. I’ve begun focusing on becoming the face of the business and the “partner” instead of the one-woman shop!

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
My business is the business OF BUSINESS. I serve as a management consultant, CFO-for-hire, and provide a bookkeeping team for clients to entrust the day-to-day finance management of their business to a team that LOVES the numbers.

My clients are those who started a business because of their passions, and guess what?! That passion isn’t managing the back office of a business. My team allows them to focus on their passions and spend their most limited resource – time – on MAKING money for their business, instead of tracking it!

I started in 2017 after working in both the Consulting department of a large CPA firm and in industry roles. It’s been a tough but rewarding road, especially with the pandemic crippling much of the small business landscape of our country.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If I were going to advise an out-of-town friend of how to make the most of a New Orleans visit, I’d tell them to come in the fall. The air has started to turn cool, all the most amazing festivals make their return, and most importantly, the bugs have returned to hell where they belong!

I’d take them to the “festival of the week” and indulge in the most decadent Crawfish Beignets and a daiquiri to wash it down.

During the week, I’d take them to the French Quarter. I know what you’re thinking…but trust me. The French Quarter is filled with so much beauty, history, and fabulous shopping that you miss out on if you don’t check it out during the day. This absolutely includes hitting up the French Market Open Air Vendor Market for all their offerings. You’d have the perfect opportunity to get all your souvenirs!

For dinner, we’d hit up Frank’s on Decatur and watch the boats go down the Mississippi River.

We’d absolutely have to make a day of Magazine Street for the best Tee Shirts and Vintage shops, and take a trip to Metairie for Bobby Hebert’s Restaurant.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There are SO MANY people who helped me reach where I am, and it’s nearly impossible to narrow this down to just one person. But if I had to shoutout just one….I’d have to say it’s Todd Giustiniano.

Todd was my mentor and a partner at the CPA firm I was working at prior to venturing out on my own. We had many conversations surrounding my goals, the goals of the firm, and how those things were different and how they were similar.

Todd counseled me regarding my potential for success and empowered me with the belief that I could run my own business. I could start my own firm and really make a difference for small business owners!

Website: www.JessicaJonesAccounting.com

Instagram: @jessicajonesaccounting

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/jessica-jones-accounting-services

Facebook: @jessicajonesaccounting

Other: Podcast available wherever you listen: Get POWERED Up with Jessica Jones

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.