Jim is Vice President of Commonwealth Trust Company.  He has over 35 years experience in tax, trust services, general business consulting, business valuation, forensic accounting, litigation support, mergers and acquisitions and work-out services.

Jim holds a BS in Accounting, a law degree, an MBA in Finance, an Honorary PhD in Business Administration and is a certified public accountant.  Jim is also a Diplomate and Certified Forensic Accountant with the American College of Forensic Examiners, a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Delaware Society of Certified Public Accountants, a former member of the State Board of Accountancy in Delaware, the National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts, the Institute of Business Appraisers, the Alliance of Merger and Acquisition Analysts from which he holds the CM&A designation, and the American Board of Disability Analysts.

Jim is a former chairman of the Forensic Accounting Board. He has published numerous articles in The Forensic Examiner and has presented papers and lectured for the American College of Forensic Examiners on topics such as “How to Market a Forensic Accounting Practice” and “Asset Protection Trusts.”  He has also taught valuation courses for the National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts and has written over 100 articles and brochures.

Jim is one of an elite group to achieve the designation of Business Valuator Accredited for Litigation (BVAL) from the Institute of Business Appraisers (IBA). The accreditation is designed to recognize the skill, expertise and competence of the business valuation professional in litigation support. Jim has served as a consultant and expert in various cases encompassing lost profits, damage claims and numerous other issues. He has been appointed to the Delaware Economic and Financial Advisory Council which sets the limit of expenditures for the State of Delaware and is treasurer of the Governor’s election campaign.