 To hear Jim tell it, fate was hard at work the day a University of
Massachusetts - Dartmouth professor told him that an area CPA firm was looking
for someone to work with them "for a couple of weeks." I initially jumped at
the opportunity, knowing the firm had a good reputation, and figuring that it
would look good on my resume. As it turned out, I never needed a resume! The
firm made Jim an offer as soon as tax season was over. He didn't need much time
to consider it. Naturally, I had given thought to the other opportunities
that were out there, but I liked the firm, the diversity of its clients and the
people I worked with day-to-day. I figured that you spend so much of your life
at work, you want it to be in an environment that you really enjoy. I really
did, and so I stayed.
Jim attributes much of where he is
today to his education at the University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth. My
alma mater prepared me well for the "real world." The University has been taken
for granted for too long. The quality of education and caring shown by my
professors will be with me for the rest of my life. My involvement in
representing our firm as a Sponsor for the University’s Family Business Center
is a way to give back some of what I feel the University gave to me.
Jim has also participated in various firm-sponsored seminars and has been a guest
lecturer at the University. As Jim’s career in the firm grew,
he found himself drawn toward tax matters. Jim completed his Masters in Taxation
from Bryant College in Smithfield, Rhode Island. In our firm, associates are
encouraged to develop an area of emphasis. We are all involved in a variety of
activities, but we also like to develop individual strengths. I really enjoy
taxes and tax law, and the firm encouraged me to pursue it. It meant a lot of
nights at school instead of at home, but that’s an investment that sometimes has
to be made to do the kind of job you like to do for your clients. Born and raised in the Southcoast
area, building a career here is particularly satisfying to Jim. He has made
improving the community a part of his life. Jim has been a Board member of the
Downtown New Bedford, Inc. organization for several years. He also has served as
the Treasurer of the town of Marion Recreation Committee and has been involved
in various Chambers of Commerce including New Bedford, Fall River and Plymouth.
Most recently, Jim has played a major role in the Volunteer effort for New
Bedford’s Summerfest. The spirit of Summerfest is what community should be
all about – people working together for the good of the community. And the
spirit that you find when you are involved in an effort like this – it’s just so
energizing. In the sixteen years Jim has been in
practice, he has been involved in various consulting and tax matters. He was one
of three CPA’s from around the country profiled in a March 1996 article in Small Business Magazine entitled "Don’t Make the Mistake of Using Your
Accountant Only at Tax Time."
Jim and his wife, Michele reside in South Dartmouth,
Massachusetts with their twin sons, Ian and Tyler. Jim enjoys running,
basketball and playing golf, where he is known to "hit the ball often." Jim also
enjoys travel to the CaribSbean and Europe.
Jim's direct line is (508)
990-1368
E-mail: JPratt@hpacpa.com | 
