A Seattle CPA You Can Actually Talk To
Shay James, CPA
TITLE
Principal
HOMETOWN
Seattle, WA
YEARS OF EXPERIENCE
22
EDUCATION
“Anything that just costs money is cheap.” – John Steinbeck
Shay James is a straight-talking CPA who believes profitable businesses deserve more than cookie-cutter advice. With over 14 years in public accounting and 25+ years working with small and medium businesses, Shay specializes in helping serious business owners cut through financial clutter so they can understand their numbers and use that data to make smart decisions.
Shay’s path to accounting was unconventional. After graduating from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo with a highly marketable English literature degree, she and her now-husband found themselves the proud owners of a retail bike shop. Somebody had to do the numbers, so she learned the ins and outs of small business accounting (with the help of a very patient CPA mentor). After selling the bike shop and bouncing around the West Coast, she received her Masters Degree in Accountancy from San Jose State University and received her CPA license soon after.
She specializes in working with creative agencies, specialty trade/construction companies, and real estate developers/investors. Shay’s direct style entrepreneurial mindset is well suited for working with business owners who want an advisor that tells them what they need to hear, not just what they want to hear. Whether it’s navigating complex tax planning, building sound financial systems, or acting as a sounding board for big strategic moves, Shay’s focus is always on results that improve profits, processes, and serve people.
Shay is excited to be at Dark Horse where she can be surrounded by other accountants who get as excited about this work as she does. When she’s not dissecting financial statements or wrangling tax returns, Shay enjoys family time, reading, going for walks, list making, and doing puzzles.
Specialties
Forecasting and Budgeting
Entity Structure Analysis
Business Tax Strategy
Individual Tax
Strategic Tax Planning
Industries
Construction
Marketing & Advertising
Real Estate
Professional Services
Trade Businesses
Software
Your Seattle CPA for Tax Strategy and CFO Advisory
Seattle’s thriving economy—driven by technology, professional services, real estate, and small business growth—brings both opportunity and financial complexity. Whether you’re building a business, growing your investments, or planning for the future, your dedicated Seattle CPA, Shay James, is here to help.
As a Principal at Dark Horse CPAs, Shay specializes in tax strategy, accounting advisory, and Fractional CFO services for individuals and business owners across the Pacific Northwest. She helps clients minimize tax liability, structure their finances strategically, and manage cash-flow for growth and stability. With a proactive, hands-on approach, Shay delivers year-round guidance and financial clarity—so you can make confident decisions and keep more of what you earn.
SHAY JAMES, PRINCIPAL
You might be sprinting to scale, buried in accounting tools, or just ready to stop winging it on taxes and investments. Wherever you’re starting, this is the right place. I keep it real about money—clear strategy, tight execution, and zero fluff. Think of me as your on-call CFO: we’ll stabilize cash flow, sharpen reporting, and plan taxes before they become emergencies. No lectures, no judgment—just practical steps that move profit, not paperwork.
80%
Net Promoter Score
The average NPS for accounting firms is 38%. At Dark Horse, 80% of our clients would recommend us to a friend.
Net Promoter Score
Companies use this metric to gauge how happy their customers are with their services. It's calculated by taking the percentage of "promoters" minus the % of "detractors. "The average NPS score for the accounting industry is 39%, less than the DMV! We believe it's important to share that we have successfully fulfilled our promise to WOW clients and consistently monitor this metric to ensure we continue to deliver on the highest level.
550+
5-Star Reviews
Our Google and Yelp reviews speak for themselves. Our goal is to provide 5-star service to every client, every time.
5-Star Reviews
When someone shares their experience with us online, we find it extremely valuable to know where we've exceeded expectations and where we can improve. Many of our clients decide to engage with us as a result of reading about other Dark Horse clients’ experiences. Even when things do not go as planned, we do everything we can to make it right.
90%
Retention Rate
We're all about creating long-lasting, value-added relationships.
Retention Rate
This is the frequency of repeat business from our clients that work with us. This means that 9 out of 10 clients use us for subsequent years. That shows us that people enjoy working with our CPAs, are pleased with the work, and want to continue with Dark Horse over the long term.
The Dark Horse Blog
The Dark Horse Blog, where we share expert insights on tax strategy, compliance updates, outsourced accounting, fractional CFO services, and more. Our content is tailored to small and medium-sized businesses as well as high-net-worth individuals.
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