Meet Erik Fernandez: Accountant and Entrepreneur

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

Hi Erik, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
My parents started there own business when I was young. It didn’t realize it at the time that this was a novel concept. My thinking had always been, find something you are interested in and build a business around that. I didn’t realize how naïve I was at the time but I believe that helped me by giving me the confidence to start a business. A job interview seemed more daunting to me then starting your own business.

What should our readers know about your business?
I’m a Partner at Compass Accounting LLP. We provide the usual bookkeeping, accounting, and tax services to clients, While dealing in debits and credits can seem pretty dry and boring, we view these as the tools we use to accomplish our true goal of providing valuable and timely information to the business owners so they can make important decisions for the health and growth of their business. We work with our clients long-term and think of ourselves as valued members of their team to help them grow their business. Growing a business larger then the sum of it’s parts is the exciting part, the accounting tools we use to track and inform aid us in that mission.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’m older now then I was when I first moved to LA so my answer now is probably a lot more low key and relaxed then it would have been 17 years ago. The beach would be my first stop. Los Angeles has now shortage of great spots to relax but I’m partial to Manhattan and Hermosa beaches. Grabbing dinner at the strand house would be great as well. Grabbing coffee at one of the many local coffee shops is something I haven’t been able to do in a while but am looking forward to getting back to that when businesses open back up, as well as a beer at Simmzy’s or chicken sandwich at Hermosa Beach Brewing Co. This would be a much more lowkey but relaxed LA visit for sure.

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?
I’d have to start and give a shoutout to my wife, who has shown extraordinary love, patience, and support for all of the countless windmills I’ve chased down. Her council has served me well more times then I can count. I’ve also been fortunate to be a part of some fantastic networking groups that inspire me with their actions and accomplishments. I’m part of a roundtable of executives that helps keep me accountable to my goals. I’ve also got a couple of mentors that I can call upon when I’m wrestling with business decisions whose guidance is extremely helpful. I was raised with a big believe in continuous learning and having a growth mindset, (thanks Mom and Dad!), so I started working with a business coach for myself and our entire firm as well this year. She has been a big help to me and our team.

Website: https://www.compassnumbers.com/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/compassaccountingllp/?viewAsMember=true

Image Credits
Photography by John D. Russell