Named Leading Partner in February 2025, Jim has been shaping the direction of Haefele Flanagan since joining in 1997 — well before advisory-first became an industry trend. He was among the first to recognize that the real value an accounting firm could offer its clients wasn’t compliance. It was perspective. And that insight has guided how he has built his practice, and how he leads the firm today.
Jim advises owners, executives, and families across a wide range of industries on tax strategy and compliance, business valuation, succession planning, M&A transactions, and strategic business planning. He is deeply experienced in the acquisitions and dispositions of corporations, partnerships, limited liability companies, and sole proprietorships, and has a long track record of helping clients negotiate financing and explore alternatives with financial institutions. What sets him apart isn’t any single specialty — it’s his ability to see across disciplines and apply what he’s learned in one situation to the challenges another client is facing.
That cross-industry curiosity isn’t incidental. It’s what Jim says he loves most about his work: in a world of narrow specialization, he still does a little bit of everything — and keeps finding new ways to help clients achieve the goals that matter most to them.
Outside of work, Jim serves on the Board of Directors at Century Savings Bank and is actively involved in a number of professional and charitable organizations, including BCA Philadelphia and The Legacy Foundation, which supports Legacy Treatment Services. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Finance from Villanova University.
When he’s not advising clients or leading the firm, you’ll find him on the golf course — or with his wife, Kara, and twins Ryan and Sarah.
What Drives Jim
“It is incredibly rewarding to help someone grow and strengthen their business so that, someday, they have real options — whether that means selling the company, transitioning it to family or key employees, creating financial security, or building a legacy that extends beyond them. Those moments are meaningful because the work is not just about numbers. It is about helping people protect what they have built, create opportunities for the next generation, and make their business and life better.”