Dark Horse CPAs hires Jesse Lilligren for Principal Accelerator program

Dark Horse CPAs has hired Jesse Lilligren as an Accelerator in its Principal Accelerator Program to build an SMB accounting and advisory practice in Salida, Colorado. The move highlights the firm’s push to help entrepreneurially minded CPAs launch scalable practices with ownership potential.

Why it matters: - Dark Horse CPAs is using the Principal Accelerator Program to recruit CPAs who want ownership and a faster path to building a practice. - Lilligren’s hire adds another advisor focused on small and lower-middle-market businesses that need financial guidance but may not be ready for a full-time finance leader. - The model is designed to help business owners turn accounting data into decisions, not just reports.

What happened: - Dark Horse CPAs hired Jesse Lilligren as an Accelerator in the firm’s Principal Accelerator Program. - Lilligren will establish an accounting and advisory practice in Salida, Colorado. - The practice will focus on helping business owners understand financial information and use it to make better decisions. - The announcement was made on August 28, 2026.

The details: - Lilligren began his career in internal audit at a large healthcare company. - That experience shaped his approach to leadership and client service. - Lilligren said he wanted a practice large enough to have impact without losing depth of service. - He said Dark Horse offered ownership, a path to growth and freedom over how the work is built. - Lilligren said many owners either do not capture the right financial information or cannot use the data effectively. - His advisory approach centers on identifying where financial information stops being useful and translating numbers into plain English and action. - Lilligren also wants clients and teams to understand the thinking behind recommendations so they can become stronger decision-makers. - Chase Birky, CEO and co-founder of Dark Horse CPAs, said Lilligren wants to get close enough to the business to see where owners are making decisions without the right information or context.

Between the lines: - Dark Horse is positioning the Accelerator Program as an alternative to starting a firm alone or joining a traditional firm with less autonomy. - The program appeals to CPAs who want to build a book of business without bearing all the personal and financial risk upfront. - The firm is also betting that advisory services will resonate with owners who need strategic guidance more than compliance work.

What's next: - Lilligren will complete the firm’s training on technology, sales and practice-building before developing his own book of business. - He will receive one-on-one coaching and access to full-time and fractional professional staff as he grows. - If he meets the firm’s ownership requirements, Lilligren may become an equity Principal at Dark Horse CPAs. - The Principal Accelerator Program is still accepting new Accelerators. - Interested CPAs can learn more at abetterway.cpa or by emailing info@darkhorse.cpa.

The bottom line: - Dark Horse CPAs is expanding its ownership pipeline by pairing seasoned CPA talent with a structured path to practice growth and eventual equity.