Jacqueline has been in the public and private accounting field for over 37 years. Early on, she was very fortunate to have a great mentor who nurtured her and helped her through the beginning of her career. She worked for a public accounting firm for 13 years, specializing in divorce litigation, business management, bookkeeping, payroll, and tax preparation, starting off as a Staff Accountant and later advancing to an Account Manager position. In addition, she also assisted other accountants in doing books by hand, which was an eye-opening experience.

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Through her career journey above, she realized that being in the accounting arena was her calling in life. Jacqueline had a dream to reintroduce excellent customer service. She realized that while people want someone who knows their stuff, they also want someone who takes the time to listen, has integrity, utmost professionalism, and the ability to be flexible.

Jacqueline started as a bookkeeping consultant in 2001 and quickly built a small practice.  In 2005, Souza & Associates was started with her husband, Michael Souza.  The first year was amazing, and another Associate was added in 2006.  The same year, Jacqueline joined BNI (Business Networking International), which gave her the opportunity to assume several leadership roles, including Visitor Host (2008/2009), Membership Committee (2009/2010), Secretary/Treasurer (2010/2011), and Vice President (2011/2012).  She also assisted in founding the BNI Calabasas Chapter called Premier Alliance in 2007.  Jacqueline was in the Woodland Hills Chapter called Synergy through October 2012.  In November 2011, she was honored as “Member of the Month” by the San Fernando Valley BNI.

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In 2008, Souza & Associates incorporated. The firm now has five employees and continues to grow.

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In 2009, Souza & Associates, Inc. joined the Calabasas Chamber of Commerce. This was a decision that has proven to be very rewarding for Jacqueline, both personally and professionally. In 2010, she was accepted as a Deputy with the Chamber of Calabasas, and in January 2012, she was honored to be elected to serve on the Board of Directors and as Sheriff.  Jacqueline was elected as the First Vice Chair of the Chamber of Calabasas in 2013 and 2014.  In November 2014, Jacqueline assumed the position of Acting Chairman.  She was elected to the position of Chairman in January 2015 and served proudly for the businesses within the Chamber for one year.

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In 2013, Jacqueline became one of the founding board members of Calabasas High School Coyote Football, Inc., a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.  She served as the Treasurer from 2013 through 2016.

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With the love of her community and staying true to her beliefs, she wanted to stay involved locally.  In 2015, Jacqueline joined the board as Treasurer of Spotlight the Arts Foundation, another 501(c)3 in Calabasas.  In 2016, she was appointed as a Commissioner to the Public Safety Commission for the City of Calabasas and served for four years.  In addition, she is very proud to announce the completion of all the requirements and achieved the designation of Certified Public Bookkeeper.

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In her free time, Jacqueline loves being with her family and friends.  She is committed to supporting various charitable organizations that assist children and animals in need, including the Muscular Dystrophy Association, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, the American Cancer Society, and The Los Angeles Zoo.  She also enjoys completing challenging puzzles and playing thinking games with her husband and children.

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Jacqueline’s journey continues…

Michael is an integral part of Souza & Associates!  He and Jacqueline established the sole proprietorship in 2005.  He became Vice President when Souza & Associates was incorporated in 2008.  His responsibilities are varied.  He handles the nitty, gritty of Operations, including Tech Support and Document Procurement.  He manages Accounts Receivable and assists with clients’ online payments to IRS, EDD, etc.   In addition, Michael coordinates the Marketing of Souza & Associates and has been instrumental in its growth.   Michael is hands-on and always willing to assist staff and clients as needed.

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Michael has a degree in Music from Pierce College.  For over 11 years, he held Information Technology (IT) positions with various companies, including CompUSA, TuneUp Masters, and other computer/electronics businesses.  Besides spending time with his family, he enjoys golf and playing guitar in a classic rock band.

Deanna has been with Souza & Associates, Inc. since April 2006.  Prior to that, she worked in the private accounting sector for 30 years, handling all aspects of Accounts Receivable, Collections, and Payroll.

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Deanna has significant experience interfacing with clients.  Whether training on QuickBooks, handling difficult issues, designing, and documenting procedures, or working with programmers to code and debug complex invoicing programs, Deanna handles it all. 

 

Her knowledge and attention to detail have made her an incredible asset to Souza & Associates, Inc. and especially to the clients that she works with on a day-to-day basis.  In her free time, Deanna enjoys reading, camping, gardening, and Sudoku puzzles.

Anna joined Souza & Associates in January of 2023. 

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With a strong foundation in Finance, holding a Bachelor's degree in the field, Anna efficiently handles various bookkeeping tasks, maintains meticulous records of financial transactions, reconciles accounts, and oversees many diverse administrative tasks. She has a strong grasp of accounting software and tools, leveraging technology to streamline processes, improve accuracy, and enhance overall efficiency.

 

In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two children, and reading fantasy novels.

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Cyndi started working for Souza & Associates in May 2018.  Prior to that, she took 22 years off to raise her three sons and has returned to the workforce with renewed vigor.  She’s very excited to be part of this amazing company.

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Cyndi started working at an early age at her father’s nursery as a cashier and wrapper, helping out every weekend and holiday.  She began her professional career in retail sales for Robinson’s Department Stores.  After 11 years in different areas of the company, she left as a buyer of Junior Collections and Swim/Activewear.  Cyndi moved to the wholesale sector for Applause Inc., the gift company.  After a year, she had a great opportunity to move to Hanna-Barbera and their retail endeavors.  Her last position was with Paramount Parks as the VP of Merchandise, coordinating all the corporate purchases, design, and store development, and interacting with all their licensing properties. 

 

At every step along the way, she has been involved with finance, bookkeeping, and merchandise.

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Cyndi loves scrapbooking, knitting, and musical theater and is an avid Dodger/sports fan.

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Vickie joined Souza and Associates in April of 2019.  She has 10+ years of experience as a legal secretary for a business litigation firm and 13+ years of experience in the financial industry. She worked as an office manager in a large accounting firm as well as in small boutique firms doing business management.  She has also worked for a large insurance company as their licensing coordinator and was responsible for the hiring process of financial advisors.  Her knowledge of various industries has enabled her to be a valuable asset to our firm.

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Vickie enjoys spending time with her family, in addition to cooking, gardening, and traveling. Vickie is originally from Honolulu and travels there to visit her family yearly.

Jilene Wagner brings both precision and dedication to her role as a Staff Bookkeeper, backed by a strong background in business administration and accounting. After earning a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Accounting, she built a solid foundation in financial reporting, account reconciliation, and organizational efficiency.

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Working with a variety of clients across industries, Jilene is known for being highly organized, dependable, and detail-oriented. She takes pride in maintaining accurate records, streamlining processes, and supporting the financial health of each business she serves.

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Known for staying calm under pressure, Jilene is a trusted resource for financial clarity and consistency. Passionate about continuous learning and process improvement, she is excited to grow with the team and contribute to the success of every client.

Bella's expertise in organization, communication, and tech-savviness ensures that nothing slips through the cracks. She's adept at managing accounts, reconciling financial statements, and ensuring your financial records are impeccably maintained.

 

While pursuing her full-time studies at the University of San Diego, Bella dedicates her part-time hours to ensure the smooth operation of various tasks.

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