Jazmin Cortez is a Partner and co-founder of Connect Accounting. Jazmin's expertise includes non-profits, restaurants, retail, new business startups, and real estate. Her roles include client advisory services such as, implementing financial systems, strategies, processes, and controls to enhance efficiency and financial performance. She is also experienced in preparing financial statements in accordance with GAAP, training and educating in-house accountants and management, and serving as a liaison between clients and external professionals such as bankers, attorneys, and CPAs.
In her role, Jazmin especially enjoys working directly with clients to consult, collaborate, and get to know their businesses. She finds it very fulfilling to help them meet their goals and is dedicated to making clients feel confident with their accounting processes and reporting. A true people person, Jazmin values the relationships she builds and enjoys working closely with her team at Connect.
Jazmin began her career in public accounting, where she oversaw income tax return preparation, general ledger management, accounts receivable and payable, and fixed-asset accounting in line with GAAP standards. She then transitioned to the private sector, working as the Controller for a fast-growing grocery store chain for five years before co-founding Connect Accounting. Jazmin earned her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting from Cal Poly in 2005. In 2008, she completed the Building a High-Performing Minority Business program at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth through the Tuck-MBDA Partnership.
Jazmin serves as a guest speaker for programs supporting new business startups, such as Women’s Economic Ventures and the Women’s Business Center.
Jazmin lives in Santa Maria with her husband and three sons. In her free time, she enjoys reading a good book with some coffee. She also enjoys spending time with family and friends.