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
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
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.
Chesley Tyler
Assistant Controller
Chesley is an accomplished accountant with 18 years of full-cycle accounting experience across diverse industries, including non-profit, restaurant, and community association management.
Throughout her career, she has specialized in building accounting departments from the ground up, developing efficient workflows, and implementing accountability metrics to ensure transparency and accuracy. Chesley’s expertise allows the businesses she supports to gain full visibility into their financial positions, empowering leaders to make informed decisions. Known for her strategic approach and attention to detail, she is dedicated to fostering strong financial foundations that drive organizational success.
Donna Walker
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.
Diana Brown
Accounting Manager
Jonah Colina
With over six years of HR experience, Jonah Colina is a results-focused professional who delivers talent acquisition and HR admin processes. She helps companies hire great people and harness the full power of their most valuable asset – their employees.
She is committed to providing quality service to companies and has the heart to go the extra mile in serving and helping people.
Outside the professional world, Jonah spends her time traveling, trying out different foods, going to the beach and/or mountains, doing extreme activities, and spending time with her dog. She is definitely an adventurous person!
