About Financial Foothold
Dedicated to Helping You Grow
Financial Foothold is an end-to-end back-office solution. From bookkeeping to CFO-level advisory services to sales tax returns, we want to provide a complete picture of your business and transform your back office into a cohesive process that works for you! We are passionate about helping business owners succeed. We deliver insightful guidance and financial clarity all while you, the business owner, is doing what you do best, making money.
Meet The Team
Julianne Autry
About The Founder
Hi! I’m Julianne Autry. I have over 30 years of experience as a corporate financial analyst and as a financial manager. I got laid off in 2008 which changed my life. I founded my first business, Southwest Bookkeepers to meet the financial and bookkeeping needs of business owners. After 11 years, I made the natural move to offer higher-level services like CFO advisory services and consulting services. The new company Financial Foothold was born. I graduated in 1993 from Chico State University with a BS in Accounting. After becoming a widow at a young age, I relocated to Lakeway, Texas where I currently live with my family. In my free time, if I’m not traveling, I’m relaxing by the pool or on the lake spending time outdoors with friends and family.
Jay Patel
COO
As chief operating officer, Jay is part of the executive team responsible for overseeing Financial Foothold’s strategic, financial and operational direction. In addition to managing the firm’s fiscal responsibilities, he leads other special projects.
During his distinguished career, Jay has served as either comptroller or chief financial officer for companies in several industries, while also expanding his skill set to include software consulting and website design.
Jay earned his undergraduate degree in accounting from Northeastern University and is licensed in Texas and Illinois as a certified public accountant.
Stephen Brown
CFO
Stephen Brown is a seasoned M&A and private equity professional with extensive experience in driving growth through strategic acquisitions and investment evaluations. He holds an M.B.A. from Georgia College and State University and has certifications in quantitative modeling and financial markets from both UPenn and Yale.
As Director of M&A at Big Brand Tires, Stephen leads acquisition strategy, due diligence, and deal execution to support the company’s expansion. Previously, at HomeRiver Group, he managed due diligence, financial forecasting, and integration activities for transactions at Director of M&A. He also served as a Senior Research Associate at Altera Investments and a Private Equity Analyst at Heritage Growth Partners, where he contributed to numerous successful ventures.
John McKendrick
Controller
Coming soon.
Donna Walker
Business Development
Donna is a seasoned finance and program executive with over 30 years experience in financial management, business strategy, and transformation. She has successfully led multiple organizations through complex business transformations.
Her passion lies in transforming business results, improving operational efficiency and driving innovative and quality client experiences. Donna’s experiences span multiple domains including finance, operations, consulting, support and training through roles with The Walt Disney Company, PricewaterhouseCoopers, IBM and Kyndryl. Donna holds a BBA in accounting from the University of Texas at Austin.
Luciana Armesto
Executive Assistant
Luciana is an Executive Assistant and Operations Specialist who helps leaders turn complexity into clarity. With a foundation in psychology and extensive experience working remotely, she brings organization, foresight, and structure to fast-moving environments.
She is known for being proactive, resourceful, and dependable. From managing executive priorities and coordinating operations to building systems and workflows, Luciana focuses on creating efficiency while maintaining a strong human-centered approach.
Outside of work, she values creativity, meaningful connections, personal growth, and moments of quiet balance with her family and pets.