Dark Horse CPAs, an accounting and tax firm serving small businesses across the United States, has promoted Chris Ries, CPA, from Associate Principal to Principal. Ries completed the firm's Principal Accelerator Program and now joins a growing group of Principals who operate independent practices within the Dark Horse platform. The promotion reflects the firm's model of providing infrastructure and support while allowing CPAs to shape their own client work and growth.
Ries's transition to Principal involved a deliberate shift from pure client service to active practice ownership. Dark Horse supplies administrative support, sales training, lead generation, and operational resources, but Ries noted that the Principal bears the responsibility of defining their practice. "There's a lot more that goes into running a practice than just serving clients' tax and accounting needs," he said. "The first few months required a lot of soul-searching and getting clear on what kind of work I actually wanted to do, instead of just taking on everything that came my way. That process was challenging, but it's also what made it rewarding."
Ries emphasized the value of the firm's leadership and peer community as a key differentiator from traditional partnership structures. "Running your own practice can be lonely, especially in a profession where no one person can realistically know everything," he said. "Here, leadership is focused entirely on supporting Principals and Accelerators, not splitting their attention across client work. That changes everything. When Principals are supported, clients are better served. On top of that, the community of Principals and Accelerators is genuinely collaborative. People want to see each other succeed, and they show up to help."
During the Accelerator Program, Ries discovered that lead flow was not the primary challenge he had anticipated. Instead, the real work involved identifying his ideal clients and services. "I worried there wouldn't be enough opportunities coming in," he said. "Instead, the real work was figuring out who I wanted to serve and how I wanted to serve them. Learning to say no to opportunities that didn't fit was something I didn't expect, but it's what allowed me to build a practice aligned with my goals." Ries appreciates the autonomy that comes with Principal ownership, noting there is no pressure to chase arbitrary growth targets. His focus is on building a practice that fits his life and priorities.
Chase Birky, CEO and co-founder of Dark Horse CPAs, recalled initial skepticism about Ries's candidacy due to his years in public accounting. "When our Chief Revenue Officer, Justin Kurn, brought Chris to a third-round interview and told me how long he'd been in public accounting, I told him to cancel it because I thought there was no way he could be ready for this job at this point in his career," Birky said. However, after meeting Ries, Birky changed his mind. "It was immediately apparent that he knew his craft and had great mentors that invested in him along the way. On top of that, he had a certain level of emotional intelligence and mature way of presenting himself that I moved from trying to cancel the interview to making certain we got him to sign the offer letter." Birky added that the experience taught him that not all public accounting experience is created equal, and that well-supported individuals can grow exponentially.
Dark Horse's Principal Accelerator Program is designed for entrepreneurially minded CPAs who want to build a scalable book of business without the traditional sacrifices of starting from scratch. The program provides resources, technology, and operational support, along with training on the firm's proprietary tech stack, sales coaching, and access to professional staff. Upon completion, participants can become equity Principals. Interested CPAs can learn more at abetterway.cpa. Dark Horse CPAs serves small businesses and individuals nationwide, offering tax, accounting, and CFO services. More information is available at darkhorse.cpa.
