In 1991, after nearly ten years at Arthur Andersen LLP, Jim formed what is now Kieckhafer, Schiffer & Company LLP.  KS&Co was formed primarily based on Jim’s desire to be more involved in his clients business structure, strategy, acquisition and disposition planning.  Jim’s ambition was to build a firm that focused on providing business expertise as well as traditional tax and attest services.  As the founding partner, Jim has continued to provide service to clients in a vast array of industries while also running his own business.

Jim has over twenty-six years experience providing tax, accounting services and consulting to the real estate, construction, manufacturing, distribution, health care, agriculture, and service industries.  His specialties include closely held business planning, partnership taxation, private placements, business acquisitions and/or dispositions, estate planning, and business succession planning.  Jim's special projects have included litigation support, including expert testimony and numerous special investigation projects.  

Since forming KS&Co, Jim has focused on building teams in the firm to focus on service lines.  These teams include attest services for mid market companies and also employee benefit plans and tax services for high net worth individuals, mid market companies, and large corporations.  Jim has also formed and oversees a wealth management team.  The formation of these specialized teams has allowed Jim to focus on providing his clients with business strategy, and consulting.  This includes Jim being significantly involved with his clients' major transactions.  As a result of Jim’s significant involvement in his cl’s business transactions, Jim has significant experience with the review of contracts as well as legal structure of transactions and entities.

Jim started as a staff accountant with Arthur Anderson LLP in 1982 and worked his way up to senior tax manager.  In 1986, he became a California Certified Public Accountant.  Jim was a member of Arthur Andersen LLP’s Southern California Real Estate Services Group (RESG), specializing in homebuilders and developers from 1987-1991.  He was also responsible for overseeing the individual income tax practice in Arthur Andersen LLP’s Irvine Office.

Jim grew up in West Bend, Wisconsin.  He attended Marquette University, graduating in 1982 with a Bachelor of Science degree, majoring in Accounting.  Jim also holds his life insurance license and securities license.

Jim spends his personal time at home in San Juan Capistrano with his wife, Lia, and their four children, Alexis, Will, Natasha, and Zane.  He also enjoys golfing at Marbella Country Club.