Blueprint CFO’s Jim Downes was honored by LA Times Studios as an Orange County Executive Leadership Award nominee for his contributions to client service and fractional CFO expertise across Southern California.
LOS ANGELES, CA – GHJ, a national advisory, tax and accounting firm, is proud to announce that Blueprint CFO’s Jim Downes has been named a nominee of the Orange County Executive Leadership Awards by LA Times Studios. This recognition spotlights founders, business owners and executives contributing to enhancing Orange County’s business community.
“Jim has built a practice that prides itself on being embedded with founders, CEOs and executive teams to operate as clients’ trusted advisors rather than an outside consultant,” said GHJ’s Advisory Services Practice Leader Anant Patel. “Blueprint CFO has an unmatched reputation for helping companies improve financial visibility, strengthen cash flow and align financial strategy with long-term growth objectives.”
Jim founded Blueprint CFO, which merged with GHJ in 2025, to deliver high-impact outsourced CFO services to growing and transitional businesses. Over the course of his career, Jim has worked with more than 200 companies to optimize their finance function. The Blueprint CFO team today continues to provide capital strategy and cash management, strategic planning, expense and profitability management, and fractional CFO services.
“I am proud of the service and level of support our team brings to leading businesses and entrepreneurs across Orange County and beyond,” Jim said. “Throughout my time at Blueprint CFO, I have worked with enthusiastic, brilliant clients growing their businesses, and it has been my pleasure to support them through financial insight and strategy.”
ABOUT JIM DOWNES
Jim, CPA, CTP, is a tenured CFO services advisor, specializing in fractional CFO services and turnaround consulting for clients across the middle market. He hosts episodes of the Future Focused Entrepreneurs podcast series to explore entrepreneurs’ leadership journeys and is also a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the Association for Corporate Growth (ACG).
Committed to providing a well-rounded, client-centric approach to service delivery, Jim leverages his experience in financial leadership and strategic foresight to support clients through growth, restructuring and performance optimization.
ABOUT BLUEPRINT CFO
Blueprint CFO, backed by the strength of GHJ’s comprehensive suite of services, is a trusted collaborator for growing businesses seeking financial clarity and strategy without the cost of a full-time CFO. The fractional CFO team works with clients throughout Southern California and the country. Further, Blueprint CFO has been recognized nationally by Accounting Today as a Best Small Firm to Work For and a Best Place to Work in SoCal by Best Companies Group.
The LA Times Studios awards this year recognize the region’s most influential executives, advisors and entrepreneurs leading business impact in Southern California.
About GHJ
GHJ is a national independent advisory, tax and accounting firm that partners with businesses and nonprofit organizations to deliver clarity and confidence. Since 1953, GHJ has combined deep industry expertise with an entrepreneurial spirit to help leaders achieve their strategic goals.
GHJ is headquartered in Los Angeles and serves clients nationwide, backed by its own dispersed workforce. With nearly 300 professionals and 25 partners, the Firm provides senior-level expertise with deep industry capabilities in food and beverage, media and advertising, entertainment and nonprofit.
GHJ is a top-ranking firm in the U.S. and member of HLB International. Through this global network, GHJ offers seamless access to resources in over 150 countries while remaining fiercely focused on client success.
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