Hi, I’m Josh O’Donnell
CPA and founder of Bay Area Bookkeeper
I grew up in Sacramento, graduated from Jesuit High School, and earned a degree in Economics and Accounting from UC Santa Barbara. I started my career as an auditor at Ernst & Young in San Francisco, where auditing public companies like Castlight Health and Okta gave me a strong foundation in financial reporting.
I then joined Tray.ai, an AI-powered integration and workflow automation startup. Over four years there, I got an inside look at the Bay Area startup world and learned how accounting supports strategic decisions in a fast-growing company. After that, I spent two years at GoFundMe, working with high-volume transaction data, payment processing, and financial operations at scale.
Why I started my firm
I valued my time at larger companies, but I wanted to work directly with entrepreneurs. So I started my own firm with a simple goal: to give small and mid-sized business owners the financial support and expertise usually available only to larger organizations.
Once I began meeting with owners, the same challenges came up again and again: books that were behind, uncertainty about cash flow, and tax bills they didn’t see coming. With so much else to juggle, bookkeeping tends to fall to the bottom of the list, and that stress makes it harder to focus on growth.
That’s the burden I want to take off your plate. With accurate, up-to-date financials, you can focus on your customers and grow with confidence. I aim to be a trusted partner who helps you understand your numbers and make informed decisions. Watching clients gain clarity and peace of mind is the most rewarding part of what I do.
Outside of work
When I’m not working with clients, I’m usually chasing our toddler around with my wife, Arianna. We love getting outdoors, exploring new places, and trying new restaurants together. I also enjoy surfing and training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Both keep me active and remind me of the value of patience, discipline, and lifelong learning, which I try to bring to my work with clients.
Let’s get your books in order
Book a free consultation to talk through your business and see how I can help.
Schedule a free consultation