Meet Jessica Smith of Tax Savvy Jessica in El Cajon

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Smith.

Jessica, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
My journey to becoming a self-employed tax accountant working with entrepreneurs wasn’t a straight shot. I’ll spare you the tedious details, but I dropped out of college several times and even tried law school for a bit. It took a significant life shakeup for me to study accounting seriously: I was newly divorced and facing my new reality as a single mom. I buckled down and went to school at nights and on weekends for three years, in addition to working a full-time job. It was a lot, but I graduated college with my B.S. in Accounting, passed the Special Enrollment Exam, and was granted my license as an Enrolled Agent (EA). An Enrolled Agent is someone who is authorized to represent taxpayers before the IRS and state tax authorities, meaning we prepare taxes and specialize in tax representation.

After graduation, I found smaller bookkeeping gigs on my own. I worked side jobs to make ends meet until I found a full-time job at a well-known tax representation law firm. It was an eye-opening experience during my five years there, and I learned a lot from mentors and other professionals in the industry. I have more than a decade of experience helping entrepreneurs overcome their biggest tax problems and regain their livelihood. I’m thrilled to be 100% dedicated to my own business now.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Besides the turbulence of my journey outlined above, one significant speed bump stands out to me. One paradox you face as an entry-level in any career is that companies want to hire you for minimum wage, but also want you to have 5 to 7 years of experience under your belt. It just doesn’t make sense!

There weren’t any secure job matches during my time after graduation, despite the countless interviews I had. Balancing part-time accounting gigs with other side jobs, all while being a single mother, was very difficult. I’m very grateful to be where I am now: gainfully self-employed and helping my dream clients!

Please tell us about Tax Savvy Jessica.
I LOVE to build genuine relationships with my entrepreneurial clients. One of my favorite things clients tell me is that they look forward to their routine calls with me! This means a lot since accountants get the reputation of being a robot. I’m far more than that—I’m a real person with lots of experience, and I thrive when I get to know my unique clients!

My primary focus is working with my clients to organize their financial records. I also help entrepreneurs increase their profits through budgeting, cash flow management, and tax planning.

What sets me apart from other tax professionals is that I have a more holistic approach because of my years of experience working in tax representation. Most tax professionals prepare a tax return then wipe their hands clean and work with their next client. Because I’ve been on the scary side of tax compliance—the auditing side—I come from a knowledgeable place where I can get them out of tax trouble. A lot of people in my industry don’t have that experience.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.taxsavvyjessica.com
• Phone: (619) 494-1040
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: @taxsavvyjessica
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/taxsavvyjessica

Image Credit:
Meg Marie Photography

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