
A North County San Diego CPA You Can Actually Talk To

Your North County CPA for Tax, Accounting and CFO Advisory
North County San Diego is home to a diverse economy—ranging from biotech and healthcare to real estate, hospitality, and a thriving small business community. To succeed in such a competitive market, you need CPAs who can provide proactive tax strategy and executive-level financial insight. That’s where Suzi Drennen and Mike Madden, your dedicated North County CPAs, come in.
As Principals at Dark Horse CPAs, Suzi and Mike deliver more than compliance. They specialize in tax planning, accounting advisory, and Fractional CFO services tailored to the needs of North County entrepreneurs, professionals, and families. From minimizing tax liability and ensuring accurate financial reporting to providing strategic budgeting, cash flow management, and long-term growth planning, they bring both clarity and confidence to your financial decisions.
With Suzi and Mike, you gain trusted partners who combine proactive tax expertise with CFO-level advisory—helping you navigate today’s complexities while positioning your business and family for lasting success across San Diego’s North County.

SUZI DRENNEN, PRINCIPAL
Collaboration in this industry is one of the most important elements of our profession. The industry, the tax code, the requirements...they are always changing. Having resources to get in front of those changes has been invaluable. Being able to provide a direct, 1-to-1 relationship with clients is extremely important to me. Leveraging the expertise of so many specialized CPAs to provide value back to my clients is what originally drew me to Dark Horse and what continues to wow both me and my clients.
Accounting Solutions for Businesses.
The Problem: Business owners aren't getting timely, accurate and actionable data from their financials. Even worse, they're not receiving tax planning advice from their, "tax pro," which is costing them untold amounts of money. This is just plain wrong. We believe you deserve a better small business accounting firm.

SUZI DRENNEN, PRINCIPAL
“It is critical to find a "partner" in your business for a full range of accounting services. Popping in and out once a year does nothing to support a business client. Your CPA needs to have deep understanding of your accounting needs. If you separate your Tax person and your Accounting person, you are missing a valuable piece of the puzzle.”


Tax Services for People.
The Problem: It’s not until you file your personal tax return that you feel the sting of your tax situation. Whether it’s an unwanted surprise in the amount owed or refunded, or the realization that you left significant tax savings on the table, the sting hurts. We believe in No Surprises, especially the bad kind. This is why we work collaboratively with our clients to ensure they plan for and reduce taxes wherever possible. We make sure every engagement requires a level of Tax Planning with your CPA, period.

SUZI DRENNEN, PRINCIPAL
“Availability is extremely important to me. I know that everyone's tax situation can change throughout the year. When that comes up, my clients come directly to me. My favorite part of Tax Preparation is actually Tax Planning. Mitigating risk and reducing your tax burden PRO ACTIVELY is the most important activity that I can do for my clients.”


Blogs and Pods
Whether you prefer the written word or the spoken word, we've got meaningful commentary that will help you focus on what's important when it comes to your financial situation and taxes.
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Blog
Why It's So Hard to Find a Good Accountant and Who is Taking on New Clients?
VLOG
Transforming the CPA Landscape: Darkhorse CPA’s Innovative Model for Growth and Success
Podcast