Jackie Williams, CPA

"You have to be doing something you enjoy. That is a definition of happiness: Complete use of one's faculties along lines leading to excellence in a life affording them scope. It applies to women as well as to men. We can't all reach it, but we can try to reach it to some degree." – Jackie Kennedy

As CFO, Jackie oversees the firm's finances and operations.  While Jackie has supported Atty. Adam Williams in a bookkeeping capacity since he began his practice, she formally joined Rust Belt Business Law as Firm Administrator in 2019 to dedicate her skills to assisting in growing the law firm and learn from the opportunities and challenges that such growth presents.

During the pandemic, she was overjoyed to build systems to help small businesses obtain and keep funds available through the Payroll Protection Program and Employee Retention Tax Credit with Rust Belt Business Law.  Pennywise Tax Strategies will keep that momentum going for small business clients by helping them proactively strategize and document their tax positions consistent with the tax code. 

Jackie is an Erie native and a graduate of Clarion University of Pennsylvania, where she majored in finance and accounting.  While generally a Straight-A student, she did earn a B in her one-credit Tennis class.  

Jackie began her career as an auditor at KPMG, LLP's Pittsburgh office, auditing several financial institutions.  As a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), she continued to grow her accounting career at PNC Bank.   For nearly 10 years, she excelled as a mainly remote employee within PNC's Accounting Policy Department working from home in Erie 75%-80% of her work week and commuting to Pittsburgh one day a week.   In her time at PNC, she assisted in implementing new accounting standards, consulted within the bank regarding the appropriate accounting for a variety of business transactions and industry requirements, and acted as the controller of executive and equity-based compensation.  She brings her understanding of accounting policies to benefit both the firm and its clients.

When she is not geeking out about finances, Jackie serves on the Finance Committee of Emma's Footprints, enjoys running and Barre workouts, putting together a great outfit, singing karaoke, and driving her convertible (with a 6-speed).  She is a self-proclaimed self-development junkie and enjoys traveling and spending time with her husband, Atty. Adam Williams; children, Royce and Penny; and Weimaraner, Camber.