Meet Saafir Malik: Chief Financial Officer& Tax Expert

We had the good fortune of connecting with Saafir Malik and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Saafir, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
My thought process behind starting my business ,was being independent and having control over my professional and financial growth.I realized early in my career that the higher the corporate ladder you go, politics ruled over potential and merit and I did not want to gamble my personal success based off the traditional corporate politics especially when I did not come from a family or circle of highly connected people.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Jones Accounting Group LLC is an accounting firm that specializes in assisting taxpayers in solving their tax problems. Our firm represents individuals and businesses before the Internal Revenue Service and the State of Alabama as well as other states. The thing that set us apart from others is the fact there are one of the very few accounting firms that specializes in taxation. Most CPA,s and Accountants avoid taxation due to the frequent changes in the tax laws that requires a real commitment to continuous learning and interpreting such changes. Tax Resolution is very complex and I am an Enrolled Agent which means I can represent my clients before the IRS in all tax matters and that sets us apart because of our indepth knowelge in the area of tax resolution. I am most proud of the fact that I have saved my cleints several thousands of dollars, I have saved marriages from divorce and clients homes from being seized by the IRS. The IRS can be very intimidating to taxpayers and for the most part they do not have any compassion. It very satifysing to assist a client in solving their problem and reducing thier debt and saving them from financial ruin. I got where I am in business by studying and rereading any and everything related to my chosen specialization, and by the help of my mentors Thomas Bass and Karen Thomas. It was not easy because most people are not willing to share information for fear of you becoming their competition so I am thankful for these two individuals. I overcame my challenges by surounding myself with people that encourage and believed in me and then paying that forward to help others starting out in the field. The lessons I have learned along the way are that you have to believe in yourself at all cost and not everyone is going to believe in your dream. The thing that I want people to know about our brand is that we are highly qualified and we truly care about assisting people in resolveing their tax problems with the IRS, It is very rewarding to stand up to the IRS to resolve a client problem and we affectionately refer to ourselves as the “Tax Doctor” because we want to make sure our clients are financially fit!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If my best friend came to visit, we would take the first day and keep it kind of light so we can catch up. I don’t like to get up early and I hate to have every minute of the day planned. Day 1, we would start our day around mid day, because I already know we will be up late the night before catching up on life. We would get our day started by having lunch at a local wing spot. I don’t really drink but he can have a few beers. Then later that night, we would go to a local chill spot called the Boardroom for some live music and social fun. The next day, we would plan to visit some of the historical landmarks in the city such as Dexter Avenue King Baptist Church, The Rosa Park museum, The Legacy Museum, and perhaps The Civil Rights Memorial Center. That night, I would light up the grill and plan to watch some football or basketball depending on what season it is. Day 3, we would make a trip over to Atlanta to catch a game either the Braves or the Falcons depending on the season and finished the day at the Yu Bar. Day 4, we would not plan anything so my friend could re-coup for the travel the next day. Whatever we did that day would be of his choosing.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would like to give honor to my mother, Lillie Jones for teaching me how to lean and trust the MOST HIGH, GOD to direct my path and to be my source of strength. I would also like to thank my Aunt Ida Foreman who stepped in and became a mother to myself and my brother when our mother passed. I also have to thank my mentor, Thomas Bass who gave me my first job as a Boookeeper and Tax Preparer, which served as a catalyst for me to go to college and major in accounting. Thomas really walked me thorugh the process of thinking outside of the box as an accountant and more strategically like a business owner. He and I have been friends over 20 years. Next, I would like to shout out Mario Brown, who mentored me in the development of my spirituality to truly trust the MOST HIGH, GOD especially when I was in a very dark place in my life. Mario and Thomas inspired me not to dwell in that place and pushed me to trust where the MOST HIGH, GOD was taking me in my life. Last but not least,Karen Thomas, a mentor and friend whom I met through Thomas really help me to develop more in the technical aspect of accounting especially in taxation, I have known her for about ten years. We calloborate often on strategies to assist our clients. Undoubtedly, I would not be the personal and business success I am today if it were not for the influence and encouragement of each of these people.

Website: www.jonesaccountinggroup.com
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