Meet Jennifer Barnes, the Founder & CEO of Optima Office. She graduated with a Finance and Marketing degree from the University of Arizona. Then went on to earn an MBA from San Diego State University, and completed the Becker CPA coursework. Before Optima, Jennifer spent 15 years as a Controller for numerous companies and non-profits throughout San Diego before starting her first company in 2012. It was the 5th fastest-growing company in San Diego in 2016 and made the Inc 5000 in 2017 and 2018.
Jennifer Barnes has won numerous awards as the CEO of the two companies she founded. Her favorite is the best place to work because having high retention and happy staff is what drives her. Both of her companies have made it into the Inc 5000 and SDBJ’s fastest-growing companies list. Furthermore, between 2021-2023, Jennifer was named Woman of the Year by SDBJ, receiving the top corporate citizen award. Additionally, she made it in SD’s top 500 most influential leaders, and the top 50 Women of Influence in Accounting and Finance for two years in a row. Jennifer was also recognized as a finalist for the Entrepreneur of The Year 2024 Pacific Southwest program.
While having sat on many boards in her career, Jennifer currently sits on the board of The Better Business Bureau, NuFund Venture Group (formerly Tech Coast Angels), Junior Achievement, and a publicly traded company, Presidio Property Trust (SQFT). She volunteers her time at SDSU and the REC at Miramar College by participating in mentor programs and as a judge in various student competitions. She is currently a member of Rotary 33, Vistage International, Entrepreneurs Organization (EO), Young Executives Council, and Social Venture Partners.
Optima Office provides outsourced accounting, fractional CFO and human resources services. Optima serves close to 300 companies across the United States but are mostly focused on the West Coast. At least half of the work we do is onsite at our clients, although many of our team members work remotely at least half of the time. We bill on an hourly basis for our time. Optima Office attracts extraordinary employees and allows them the flexibility to work the hours they desire so they achieve an ideal work-life balance. Optima’s motto is Happy Staff = Happy Clients.