Meet Jenny: Founder & Master Numbers Nerd (Literally)
I've been in math all my life; we were the family that talked math around the dining room table growing up. My two real passions were always horses and numbers, and when it came time to pick a career, I had to choose one. Accounting won out, and I've been working in accounting and bookkeeping for 20 years. I opened Hot Mess Bookkeeping in September 2019.
The "numbers nerd" part isn't a bit: I have a minor and an associate's degree in accounting, a bachelor's in mathematics, and a master's in applied mathematics. I'm a QuickBooks Online ProAdvisor (Level 2) and a Charter Member of the Digital Bookkeeper Association.
Outside of work, I live on a small farm with my husband, our three kids, and a menagerie of horses, cats, chickens, and ducks (so yes, I have followed both passions, the horses just ended up as a hobby). In my free time, you'll usually find me studying the Bible, reading fantasy novels, or cross stitching, which is as close as I get to being artistic. And fair warning: if we're on a call together, don't be surprised if a kid or a cat wanders into frame. That's just how we roll here.
Why This Work Matters to Me
Years ago, I watched a lovely woman who owned a coffee and art shop have to close her doors, in large part because of decisions made on bad bookkeeping information. That stuck with me. Businesses that survive past five years are rare, and good financial information is a big part of what separates the ones that just survive from the ones that actually thrive. I want to help my clients get there, and that starts with knowing your numbers.
Why "Hot Mess"?
Because that's exactly how most of my clients describe their books before we start working together, and I want them to feel comfortable saying that out loud. If you're behind, overwhelmed, or embarrassed about the state of your finances, you're not going to get a lecture from me. I've almost certainly seen worse, and my only job is to get you caught up.
How I Work
I find mistakes. I don't care who made them or how. I care about fixing them and making sure they don't happen again. I'm a problem solver first, which means I'd rather spend my energy on the solution than dwell on the problem. I'm direct, sometimes more blunt than people expect, and it always comes from wanting to actually help, not from judgment.
Some clients love that. A few don't. I've found there's not much in-between, and I'm okay with that. It usually means we're a good fit or we're not, and we figure that out fast.
My Focus
I specialize in cleanups and catch-ups for growing businesses: companies with 1-25 employees and $500K-$5M in gross revenue who've outgrown their own bookkeeping process. You know you need to understand your numbers to keep growing, but you haven't been able to make it happen on your own. That's exactly where I come in.