Kelli Gonzalez, CPA

by Jodi Varnado

Over the past two years, our lives have been interrupted with a weary season of unexpected changes. Amid all of our financial demands, the last thing we want to worry about is taxes. Where do we start with so many changes in new tax laws and programs? A trusted Certified Public Accountant can be a blessing during this tricky time!

Kelli Gonzalez, CPA, has been independently serving the Rome community for nine years. “We started our office in December 2012 in a small, two-room office in Garden Lakes. The business grew and we were able to move into our current location in October 2018,” said Gonzalez. If you find yourself in need of individual and business tax support, and or payroll and accounts payable preparation, Kelli Gonzalez is eager to come along beside you and provide support with knowledge, confidence, and kindness.

For Gonzalez, the practice of accounting began as an unaware familiar association and evolved into a nurtured talent. “I chose to pursue accounting because I loved math. I don’t think I actually knew what an accountant actually did besides taxes. Little did I know, my late grandfather was a retired accountant from GE. I guess it was truly in my blood. While still in high school, my grandmother went to see her accountant to get her taxes done and mentioned that I was going to school at Shorter to be an accountant. The rest is just history,” said Gonzalez. “I started working as an intern for a local firm while in school, and continued working there for twelve years before I opened my own office.”

Although small businesses have faced unparalleled uncertainty over the last year, Gonzalez has remained faithful to her community of clients. “We have been extremely blessed to see our business continue to grow during 2021. We have been able to help so many more

new clients, help our current clients with ways to help grow their businesses, and sadly, had to help others find resources to use to help keep their doors open during the pandemic,” said Gonzalez.

A strong sense of community is established from Gonzalez’s business approach, as her clients are treated with personalized attention and care. “Most of my clients have now become some of my closest friends. When you come to my office, you see me. Most of the time, when you call the office, you get me on the other end of the line,” said Gonzalez. “I want to make sure that people know that I am here to help, and I am available if they need me.” Gonzalez also shows support throughout the Rome community, serving as a member of the Rome Noon Optimist Club, Coosa High School Local School Governance Team, and a founding member of the Floyd County Landlord’s Association.

As we enter into a new year, now is the time to get ahead of a new tax season. Here are some helpful tax tips from your trusted CPA: 1) Do not wait until the last minute! That goes for planning for the next year, as well as getting everything into Gonzalez for tax preparation. 2) Keep up to date on tax law changes and how they directly affect you. 3) If something is going to change in your tax situation (i.e., marriage, children, new job, sale of an asset), come in before the end of the year and see Gonzalez. Let her make sure you are doing everything you can now to avoid any surprises when you go to file.

Set up an appointment with Kelli Gonzalez today! You can call Gonzalez at (706)-528-4159 or email her at kelligonzalezcpa@yahoo.com. Gonzalez’s office is located at 2518 Shorter Avenue, Rome, GA 30165, and is open Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m. Gonzalez will also accommodate meeting times throughout the workweek and on weekends by appointment. You can follow Gonzalez on Facebook @KelliDGonzalezCpa to stay up to date on new tax information!

A Thank You Note from Your Local CPA

“Words don’t seem adequate to say thank you to my clients for the support over these last nine years. My business has grown because of my clients. So many of my clients have come from referrals. The phrase “A referral is the highest honor a business can receive from a customer” is so true. I am so grateful for the trust that my clients have put in me. When my clients go and tell their friends and family about me, it tells me that I am doing something right. I want to make sure when my clients leave my office, they are happy and know they got the best service they could have wanted,” said Gonzalez. “I also want to say a huge thank you to my husband. He has been the driving force and support for my office since day one. He comes in and helps out wherever he can. That includes helping out with clients, answering phones, translating for my Spanish speaking clients, keeping my office looking beautiful, and anything else that he finds to do. He is my rock and I am so grateful for all he does.”