In his own words: Accountant and consultant Jerry Jones

Northern Nevada Business Weekly: Tell us about your firm and the duties of your position.

Jerry Jones: My firm, Jerry Jones, CPA is a tax and business consulting business, working with small- to medium-size clients, high income individuals, real estate transactions, boomers and seniors. Being a sole proprietor, I do it all, from meeting with clients to doing the work to taking out the trash. My clients work with me directly and no one else.

NNBW: How did you get into this profession?

Jones: A high school counselor said many years ago, "Go into accounting; somebody will always need someone to count the money!"

NNBW: What is the most important thing you have learned in your career?

Jones: No two clients are alike, and you need to learn how to work with many different personalities and styles.

NNBW: What has changed about your job with the recession?

Jones: I have to be more keen on watching out for clients and helping them make tough decisions, such as closing down the business, potential bankruptcy, etc.

NNBW: Why did you decide to go into accounting?

Jones: I have always liked numbers and working with people.

NNBW: What was your first job?

Jones: I grew up working in a grocery store from the time I was 12 years old.

NNBW: Tell us about your dream job. Why aren't you working it?

Jones: Playing on the Senior PGA tour. Why am I not working it? Easy, I am great CPA, but an OK golfer.

NNBW: What are your favorite hobbies and pastimes?

Jones: Taking trips with my wife, and of course playing golf. I also like to do puzzles; in fact, I have a puzzle table in my office to work on and let clients work on.

NNBW: Have you any advice for someone who wants to enter your profession?

Jones: The three most important things for any accountant are to get the job done right the first time; bill the job; and collect. If you can master those three things, you will be successful.

NNBW: Tell us about the most fun you have had on the job?

Jones: It took me six years and four IRS auditors, but I turned around a $200,000 tax liability into a $800,000 refund. Now that does not sound like much fun, but it was.

NNBW: If you could live your life over again, what one thing would you change?

Jones: Nothing. I have had an interesting life with some disappointments, but also many achievements. I just gotta keep learning from the mistakes.

NNBW: What can you do that someone else can't?

Jones: Being left-handed and using a calculator right handed without looking, I used to be able to add 10 columns of numbers up and down faster than you could with a calculator. Try that one!

NNBW: If you had enough money to retire right now, would you? Why or why not?

Jones: I probably wouldn't retire. I like my job, and my wife and I take as many trips as we want to. I also get to play golf anytime I want to, so why give up the good life?

NNBW: What's the last concert or sporting event you attended?

Jones: The last concert was Benise at the Eldorado. The last sporting event was the last UNR home game.

NNBW: Where's your perfect vacation spot?

Jones: Stowe, Vermont in the fall. And any golf course in the spring and summer.

NNBW: Why did you choose a career in northern Nevada? What do you like most about working here?

Jones: In 1994 my wife and I got tired of the rat race in Southern California and decided to move. She asked me where did I want to move to, and I said Reno. Why? It had four seasons and sounded like a nice place to live. What do I like most? Four seasons, golf almost 12 months a year, great walking weather and nice people!

The basics:

Name: Jerry Jones, owner, Jerry Jones CPA

How long have you been in this job? 25 years

How long in the profession? 37 years

Education: BS in Accounting

Last book read? "Steve Jobs" by Walter Isaacson

Favorite flick? Tombstone

What?s on your iPod? Van Morrison, Jerry Jeff Walker, Country and Jazz

Spouse/kids/pets? Wife Valory, an aesthetician and life coach, and Sophie, our black Lab mix.

Know someone whose perspective you want to share with NNBW readers? Send contact information to: rsabo@nnbw.biz or call (775) 850-2146.