A Bit of History
The name Thornley & Knight has a rich history that is hundreds of years old (Early 1797). It is the family name of our founder Francesca Thornley, and the moniker of her grandfather’s company in England that painted carriages in the 1800s — including those for the royal family. This business was a way to protect the well being of the family, and he poured all of his hard work and dedication into it. Always known as a “people person,” he believed in fostering trusted business relationships, pacting with honesty and treating all people with respect. This approach kept Thornley & Knight thriving, even after World War Two had devastated the country. Eventually, the business ran its course and closed its doors, after 180 years in business.
Looking to preserve this precious piece of family history, Francesca adopted the company name for her own accounting, planning and financial management firm as an homage to the legacy of Thornley & Knight.
Our Founder
Francesca Thornley was born and raised in Worcester, England and has been living in California since 2006. After earning Associates in Science degrees in Business, Business Administration & Accounting, and a Certificate in Bookkeeping from Monterey Peninsula College, she started her own company while also growing her family. Over the past several years, Thornley & Knight has expanded to employ other women who are also raising children, while providing stellar accounting, planning and financial management services. Francesca is passionate about sharing a flexible work environment that allows her staff to meet both the needs of their clients and their families, without sacrificing either one! In her downtime, you will find Francesca running on the trails near her house, or adventuring in South Lake Tahoe with her children.
What Our Clients Say
Krista Stiver
Stiver Financial Services
“Our accounting team, Brittany & Kelli have been absolute game-changers for our business. Their expertise, attention to detail, and proactive approach have provided us huge peace of mind, allowing us to focus on what we do best. We couldn’t be more impressed with their dedication and efficiency!“
Steve Rodhouse
Rodhouse Construction
“I can not say enough about Francesca and her bookkeeping services. She is by far the best bookkeeper we have ever worked with. She is thorough, responsive, supportive, and very professional. I never feel like we are putting her out when we have questions or need additional support. We highly recommend Francesca and her team.”
Peter J. Kozak
Gorman & Kozak
“My accountant really likes your bookkeeping work. My tax returns were done very quickly and ahead of schedule and her bill was very small. That tells me you did all the tedious work for her and made her job easy.”
Dan Green
OMG Media Group, Inc.
“I have worked with Thornley & Knight, Inc. since their inception, and we continue to receive the same excellent service today that brought us on board all those years ago. Their friendly staff, and exceptional attention to detail makes them so easy to work with. I don’t ever have to be concerned about a payroll issue or rent being delivered on time. We outsource all of our accounting needs to them and have been very happy with the result. It’s one less thing, as a small business owner, to keep me awake at night!”
“Brittany and Kelli are incredibly responsive to my needs, and inquiries! If something is wrong, they jump on correcting it even if it is not their doing! Over the past 16 months Brittany and Kelli have become an extremely valuable part of our team and we consider them part of Anatra Fire Protection, Inc. When you find a service that invests in your success and tries to do more than what you expect to make your life easier you sign up for the service!“
Lisa Hansen
Harbor Creative Group, Inc.
“Thornley & Knight has been integral to the infrastructure of my business from day one. Not only does she help the agency run efficiently on a monthly basis, she protects our finances by thinking ahead. I can trust her and the Thornley & Knight team to keep our partners and vendors up to date, and communicate directly with my clients if needed. Her collaborative approach and practical workflow make me highly grateful for the partnership we have in Thornley & Knight.”
Ready to set up a meeting? Let’s find a time on our calendars.
