A&J Bookworks here to help you

Jess Blinebry

Toledo has been growing with new businesses and A & J Bookworks is here to help just in time. With tax season right around the corner, Jess Blinebry can help you get your taxes in order. With her experience and education, she is up to date on the current tax code and can explain all the changes that have occurred.

Jess might be new to Toledo, but she is not new to the bookkeeping world. "I started my business in Longview/Kelso in 2015 and moved it to Vader when my husband and I purchased our home there," she said. "I moved my company to an office in Toledo in 2022 because I really like the feel of the city and I wanted to be more accessible to established and potential clients." Toledo has always been a great little city, now it has another business to help its residents and surrounding cities.

When it comes to doing your taxes, you want someone with experience. Jess continued, "I have almost 20 years of experience in bookkeeping and about 15 years of tax work. I have four Degrees. They are: Bachelors of Accounting, Associates of Accounting, Associates of Marketing, and Associates of Business Management. Industries I have worked with include but are not limited to -construction (many trades), truck driving both owner operated as well as companies, heavy equipment operating, restaurants, retail stores, non-profits, consultant firms, antiques stores, consignment, municipal airport, agriculture, landscaping, real estate, partnerships, nonprofits and many more!"

Experience is key when working with the IRS. She stated, "As a young single mother I worked full time at a Resort and Spa but still needed some extra money to make ends meet, I started bookkeeping for a small concrete company in North Bonneville in 2004, seeing the difference in his company and improvements I had made around the office, he recommended me to his father who owned a local sand and gravel company that also did some heavy equipment work. I learned more about the construction industry and realized that I could make this type of work a career. I enrolled in college to further meet that goal. I graduated with an Associate in Accounting and started what I thought was my dream job at a bookkeeping and tax office in SE Portland where I had clients from all different industries, restaurants, stores, construction trades, truck drivers and even franchises. While there I learned taxes as well, but wondered why we didn't offer to help these small businesses with more than just their books and payroll? I went back to college and earned a degree in marketing and another in small business administration. In 2015 I decided that I wanted to start my own company and to expand my services to better meet my clients needs - many of my clients are small businesses that are just starting out with a skill that they know they can make money doing, but no good idea of how they could get started. Through the years I have learned about many industries and am quite comfortable in helping clients run their businesses and gain a better financial understanding of what it takes to own and operate a business. In 2020 I again went back to school to earn a Bachelors in Accounting to gain more credibility in hopes of sitting for the CPA exam. I earned this degree in June of 2022 while continuing to build my own business and to help others achieve their dreams as well." Jess has gone above and beyond to get the education she needs to help her clients.

Since tax time is here, Jess offered a bit of advice to clients in the area, she stated, "My best advice is to get organized and ask questions. The more organized you are the more information your tax preparer has to work with and the better advice they can give you. More organization also helps to plan for the future."

You also do business accounting, what is the most important part of business accounting each company should know?

The most important thing to know about business accounting is to find a bookkeeper or accountant that you can trust and who will communicate with you. It isn't "just like" household bills and not everyone "gets it" and that's OK! I tell people all the time, "you are really good at what you do and I am really good at what I do". That's a dream partnership in my book!

What services do you provide?

Current services are Bookkeeping, Taxes (Individual and Business) & Payroll Processing, Business Start up, and entity selection. Marketing and Business administration is something I freely give my clients in addition to the other services that I provide. My company has many levels of service options; we can do a lot or a little depending on each clients' individual needs.

Jess has made her home in South Lewis County, she continued, "I live in Vader and have been there since 2021. My husband and I chose it because we were looking for quiet and comfortable living."

A company today must be all about providing customer service, she stated, "My company is client focused. To put it simply, we've got your back. We like to think your success is ours too! We take on the bookkeeping so you can stay focused on what YOU do best!" Jess has the right attitude to help you with whatever you need! Jess continued, "I take after hours appointments for those that haven't got the time during normal business hours. Please call and schedule ahead to be sure I can be available. I have years of non-profit service (The music boosters of Kelso Schools Treasurer for 5 years, community outreach in Kelso/Longview treasurer for 2 years. I am the current treasurer of South Lewis County Chamber of Commerce. Tax prep can be done in a few different ways - You can make an appointment and I will do them at that time, or you can drop off your information and I can work on them and get back to you with questions and final approval before signing, or a combination of the two - we can also complete the entire process electronically and you never need to come in person.

Jess is married, she stated, "I am married and have four wonderful grown children, I enjoy quiet time at home with family and of course our two giant dogs."

To get a hold of Jess contact A&J Bookworks, LLC, at 401 Cowlitz in Toledo. She is also available by phone at (360) 609-4098 or Email at jess@ajbookworks.com.