Apex Cpas & Consultants

What Apex Cpas & Consultants does

Apex CPAs & Consultants, Inc. is a privately held accounting and business advisory firm founded in 1998 by James N. Chakires and operating from headquarters in St. Charles, Illinois with a regional office in Scottsdale, Arizona. The firm serves closely held, growth-minded business owners and high-net-worth individuals across two metro markets, delivering integrated services across three core pillars: tax (business, personal, state and local, credits and incentives, cost segregation), accounting (controllership and client accounting services, QuickBooks advisory, reviews and compilations), and business advisory (outsourced CFO, ERP implementation, scaling, succession planning, M&A advisory, and buy/sell due diligence). The firm differentiates from transactional CPA practices by positioning itself as a strategic consulting partner, with documented multi-year client engagements across SMB verticals including salon services, landscaping, manufacturing, and resource services.

Underlying technology consists of QuickBooks ProAdvisor certification across the entire team, a cloud-based client portal built on NetSolution NextGen, Egnyte for secure document exchange, and standard productivity tools — none proprietary. The firm's distinctive service architectures are KAIROS, a four-step strategic planning methodology targeting businesses up to $50 million in annual revenue, and Apex Flex, an outsourced accounting department offering launched in 2024 with a stated 25% cost reduction claim. Internal operations are supported by Apex Academy, a structured professional development program delivering 40 hours annually per team member. No AI/ML capabilities, patents, proprietary models, or data assets are disclosed.

Apex generates revenue exclusively through professional services engagements on a quote-based, customized basis with no publicly disclosed pricing tiers or fee schedules. The go-to-market motion is sales-led and relationship-driven, with client acquisition primarily via referrals, community presence, and employer branding reinforced by Best Places to Work in Illinois recognition (2022-2025). The firm has no disclosed external investors, no funding rounds, and no parent organization; leadership consists of founder James N. Chakires (Managing Partner, CEO) and Lucas Vandewoestyne (Partner, COO). Distribution occurs through in-person consultations at both office locations plus virtual delivery and a secure client portal.

Name

Apex Cpas & Consultants

Legal name

Apex CPAs & Consultants, Inc.

Website

https://apexcpas.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Apex CPAs & Consultants is a privately held accounting and business advisory firm serving closely held, growth-minded SMBs in Illinois and Arizona with integrated tax, accounting, advisory, and proprietary KAIROS strategic planning and Apex Flex outsourced accounting services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Accounting & Business Advisory Services

NAICS

Offices of Certified Public Accountants (541211), Management Consulting Services (54161)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Financial Reporting & Technical Accounting Advisory (GAAP/IFRS) (BPAHABAF)

Keywords

• Business tax services
• Outsourced accounting services
• Business advisory consulting
• Outsourced CFO services
• Succession planning services

Headquarters

HQ city

St. Charles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Tax Services: Comprehensive tax preparation and planning services including business tax, personal tax, state and local tax, tax credits and incentives, and cost segregation studies.
2. Accounting Services: Controllership and client accounting services, financial statement reviews and compilations, QuickBooks advisory, bookkeeping, and payroll processing.
3. Business Advisory: Strategic advisory services including outsourced CFO, ERP system implementation, business scaling, succession planning, mergers and acquisitions, and buy/sell due diligence.
4. Apex Flex (Outsourced Accounting): Full accounting department outsourcing service marketed as Apex Flex, providing complete day-to-day accounting function management.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Apex CPAs & Consultants is a private accounting and business advisory firm that delivers tax preparation and planning, outsourced accounting and controllership, and strategic business advisory services (including outsourced CFO, ERP implementation, succession planning, and M&A advisory) to closely-held, growth-minded business owners. The firm operates two proprietary branded programs, KAIROS (a 4-step strategic planning methodology for businesses up to $50 million in revenue) and Apex Flex (a fully outsourced accounting department offering), supplemented by industry expertise across manufacturing, retail, technology, restaurants and hospitality, and other verticals.

Product overview

Apex CPAs & Consultants is a traditional accounting and business advisory firm offering a comprehensive portfolio of services organized into three core areas: Business Advisory Services, Accounting Services, and Tax Services. The firm also operates two proprietary branded programs—KAIROS (a 4-step strategic planning and measurement methodology) and Apex Flex (outsourced accounting services). Business Advisory includes Outsourced CFO, ERP System Implementation, Scaling Your Business, Succession Planning, Mergers & Acquisitions, and Buy/Sell Due Diligence. Accounting encompasses Controllership & Client Accounting Services, Reviews & Compilations, and QuickBooks Advisory. Tax Services covers Business Tax, Personal Tax, State & Local Tax, Tax Credits & Incentives, Cost Segregation, and Tax Prep Checklist. The firm also maintains Apex Academy, an internal professional development program for staff training and CPE tracking.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Kairos: Proprietary 4-step strategic planning, implementation and measurement program for growth-minded businesses up to $50 million in annual revenues.
• Apex Flex
• Apex Academy

Products and services

• Business Advisory Services

Quantifiable outcome

• 25% cost reduction in finance function for outsourced accounting clients
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Upstream AcademyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerManagement training provider available to Junior and Senior Level team members, offering live and web-based management training programs.
• Dr. Al SpicerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeadership development partner offering customized one-on-one coaching, professional assessments, and tools to increase self-awareness and strengthen leadership effectiveness for eligible Senior team members.
• CASA Kane CountyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit organization serving children in foster care. Managing Partner Jim Chakires serves as Vice-Chairman of the Board. Firm supports through Luggage of Love charity initiative.
• Arizona Small Business AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional association. Managing Partner Jim Chakires serves as Finance Chair, providing business expertise and advisory support.
• Elgin Youth Symphony OrchestraminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal arts organization. Partner Lucas Vandewoestyne serves on the Board of Directors as Treasurer.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Anders CPAs + Advisors: Mid-market CPA and advisory firm with similar integrated tax, accounting, and business advisory services for closely held businesses. Strong cultural and service-model overlap with Apex's growth-minded SMB focus.
• Baker Newman Noyes: Regional CPA and advisory firm offering tax, accounting, and business consulting to closely held companies and high-net-worth individuals — strong service-model and client-type overlap with Apex.
• Porte Brown: Illinois-based regional CPA and advisory firm serving closely held SMBs with tax, accounting, and business consulting services — directly comparable size, geography, and service mix to Apex.

Broad incumbents

• Plante Moran: Large U.S. accounting and business advisory firm with Midwest roots and comprehensive advisory, tax, and outsourced accounting services for closely held and growth-oriented businesses comparable to Apex's core market.
• Wipfli LLP: Top-20 U.S. accounting and advisory firm with a similar SMB/mid-market advisory value proposition, including outsourced accounting, CFO services, and M&A support — broader geographic footprint and scale than Apex.
• Eide Bailly LLP: Large U.S. accounting and advisory firm with significant presence in the Midwest and Mountain West (including Arizona), offering tax, advisory, and outsourced CFO services comparable to Apex's offerings.
• CliftonLarsonAllen (CLA): Major U.S. accounting firm delivering integrated tax, advisory, and outsourced accounting services to private businesses and middle-market clients — directly comparable service portfolio to Apex at greater scale.
• Crowe LLP: Major U.S. public accounting and advisory firm with a strong Chicago-area presence and full-service tax, advisory, and outsourced accounting offerings serving middle-market and closely held businesses.
• RSM US: Global mid-market-focused audit, tax, and consulting firm providing outsourced CFO, M&A advisory, and succession planning services — closely parallels Apex's growth-minded closely held business strategy at a larger scale.

Emerging players

• Pilot.com: Tech-enabled outsourced accounting firm targeting SMBs with bookkeeping, CFO, and tax services at lower price points — represents the disruptive competitive threat to Apex's Flex outsourced accounting offering.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/ApexCPAs
• Facebookfacebook.com/apex.cpas.and.consultants
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/apex-cpas

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Apex Cpas & Consultants