In 1972, John Kaiser co-founded Cray Kaiser with Jim Cray, whom he met while the tax manager of a large Chicago CPA firm. As entrepreneurs and practitioners, they set out to distinguish their firm from the pack by fostering authentic, long-term relationships with customers. A testament to their conviction, Cray Kaiser’s client roster today includes some of the same companies and people who engaged the firm on day one.

For John, public accounting is more than a professional discipline. It’s a vocation—a means to help people turn personal and professional goals into realities. Under his stewardship, Cray Kaiser earned a long-standing reputation for the highest standards of integrity, service and professionalism.

As the founding tax Principal, John has helped innumerable clients make critically important financial decisions to improve their business and tax practices alike. In more recent years, he has directed his attention toward giving back to the industry to which he’s devoted his career. Fostering the next generation of professionals, he cultivates new talent at Cray Kaiser and delivers seminars on tax and business finance topics at various organizations.

A lifelong Chicagoan, John attended DePaul University and earned a Master’s Degree from Northwestern University. His community involvement has included membership on the Joliet Diocese School Board, for which he served as President, and membership with the DuPage County Estate Planning Council. He currently serves on the Board of Trustees and the Audit, Financial Operations and By-laws Committees of the DuPage Foundation.

John also sits on the board of Sharing Connections, having served a six-year term as its President. The 501(c)(3) nonprofit provides furniture, clothing and household goods to low-income families.

A CK Principal since 1994, Jim Slager delivers on Cray Kaiser’s promise as a full-service public accounting practice, providing a vast scope of services pertaining to audits, accounting and tax planning and preparation. Having joined Cray Kaiser in 1986, his accumulated wealth of knowledge spans industries and competencies.

Jim is one of three leaders at the firm with accreditation as a Certified Valuation Analyst. His expertise lies in valuations related to gift tax, divorce, shareholder dispute, buy-sell and estate planning. In the latter case, he works with clients to ensure that they maximize the transfer of wealth to heirs while minimizing tax-related expenses.

In addition, Jim leads the firm’s offering in the heavily regulated area of employee benefit plan audits. As the Department of Labor steps up its requisites in this sphere, Jim’s specialty fills a need not many other firms can.

In more recent years, Jim has turned his attention to the next generation of leaders. He aims to give the current crop of junior talent the same opportunities he had as a 27-year-old new hire. With an open-door policy, he inspires Cray Kaiser’s staff accountants to deepen their skills at every turn. By fostering talent within the firm today, he’s passing on the highest standards of integrity and professionalism for tomorrow.

Jim holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business and Economics from Calvin College.

Community: Former Treasurer/Board Member, Will County Habitat for Humanity. Graduate: Joliet Region Chamber of Commerce Community Leadership School.