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Profile

James is a tax partner at our firm with over 25 years of experience in public and private accounting.  With a background in auditing and private accounting, James has spent the last 19 years in the tax world working with small businesses and individuals to meet their tax compliance and consulting needs.  While he has clients in a variety of industries, he serves a large number in the service industries, particularly in the professional services area such as attorneys, consultants and investment advisors.  He has extensive experience in working with partnership ownership changes and the related IRC Section 754 basis step-ups as well as with hedge fund reporting and disclosures for his high wealth individual clients.  He is also a 2017 graduate of Leadership Winston-Salem.

Education

Appalachian State University – Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (Cum laude)

Professional and Civic Memberships

  • Winston-Salem Estate Planning Council (former Board member)
  • American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)
  • North Carolina Association of Certified Public Accountants (NCACPA)
  • Winston-Salem Rotary
  • Downtown Winston-Salem Partnership (former Treasurer)

NC License #25294

Outside the Office

  • James enjoys spending time with his wife and kids.  One of the things they enjoy doing together is taking road trips.  They have taken multiple trips out west where they enjoy visiting National Parks and locations where National Lampoon’s Vacation was filmed. His favorite National Park was Zion in Utah and his favorite “Vacation” filming location was Cousin Eddie’s house in Boone, Colorado.
  • James also loves playing golf with his oldest daughter.  She plays on the club team at Carolina.
  • He is a student of history, especially enjoying the Revolutionary War period as well as the history of taxation.  In addition, he is an avid genealogist, having personally researched and documented his Connolly lineage to the original immigrant from Ireland to Virginia in 1703.
  • Born in Elizabeth City, he grew up in Statesville and has made his home in Winston-Salem for almost 25 years