Dark Horse CPAs
Education
University of Tennessee, Knoxville BS Business Administration, Accounting and Logistics, 2011 
Credentials
Your Charlotte CPA for Tax Planning and Advisory Services
Charlotte is a fast-growing hub for finance, real estate, healthcare, and small business innovation, making it essential to have a CPA who understands both the local economy and complex tax strategy. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, investor, or family looking for proactive financial guidance, your dedicated Charlotte CPA, Wayne Eager , is here to help.
As a Principal at Dark Horse CPAs, Wayne goes beyond traditional tax prep. He delivers forward-looking tax planning, personalized accounting advisory, and business solutions designed to help Charlotte professionals and companies grow with confidence. From compliance and tax filings to strategic financial insight, Wayne is a trusted partner committed to your success in the Queen City.
Wayne Eager, CPA, Principal
When I first learned about Dark Horse, what caught my attention was how they approached outsourced accounting and fractional CFO services. As I dug deeper, I discovered a firm that isn’t just solving the challenges clients face in managing their finances — they’re doing it in a way that delivers clarity, strategy, and lasting impact. Dark Horse puts its greatest asset — its people — first, equipping them with the tools, support, and freedom to build strong client relationships and deliver exceptional results. The outcome of this model is clear: clients get proactive, high-level financial guidance, and our team members get to thrive both professionally and personally.
The average NPS for accounting firms is 38%. At Dark Horse, 80% of our clients would recommend us to a friend
Companies use this metric to gauge how happy their customers are with their services. It's calculated by taking the percentage of "promoters" minus the % of "detractors. "The average NPS score for the accounting industry is 39%, less than the DMV! We believe it's important to share that we have successfully fulfilled our promise to WOW clients and consistently monitor this metric to ensure we continue to deliver on the highest level.
Our Google and Yelp reviews speak for themselves. Our goal is to provide 5-star service to every client, every time.
When someone shares their experience with us online, we find it extremely valuable to know where we've exceeded expectations and where we can improve. Many of our clients decide to engage with us as a result of reading about other Dark Horse clients’ experiences. Even when things do not go as planned, we do everything we can to make it right.
We're all about creating long-lasting, value-added relationships.
This is the frequency of repeat business from our clients that work with us. This means that 9 out of 10 clients use us for subsequent years. That shows us that people enjoy working with our CPAs, are pleased with the work, and want to continue with Dark Horse over the long term.
The average NPS for accounting firms is 38%. At Dark Horse, 80% of our clients would recommend us to a friend
Companies use this metric to gauge how happy their customers are with their services. It's calculated by taking the percentage of "promoters" minus the % of "detractors. "The average NPS score for the accounting industry is 39%, less than the DMV! We believe it's important to share that we have successfully fulfilled our promise to WOW clients and consistently monitor this metric to ensure we continue to deliver on the highest level.
Our Google and Yelp reviews speak for themselves. Our goal is to provide 5-star service to every client, every time.
When someone shares their experience with us online, we find it extremely valuable to know where we've exceeded expectations and where we can improve. Many of our clients decide to engage with us as a result of reading about other Dark Horse clients’ experiences. Even when things do not go as planned, we do everything we can to make it right.
We're all about creating long-lasting, value-added relationships.
This is the frequency of repeat business from our clients that work with us. This means that 9 out of 10 clients use us for subsequent years. That shows us that people enjoy working with our CPAs, are pleased with the work, and want to continue with Dark Horse over the long term.
Fractional CFO Services in Charlotte, NC
Charlotte's financial services, technology, and real estate industries are growing at a pace that is creating strong demand for senior CFO leadership at the mid-market level. Dark Horse CPA provides outsourced CFO services for Charlotte businesses that need strategic financial oversight without the full-time cost.
Our Charlotte fractional CFO engagements cover monthly financial management, cash flow and liquidity planning, board reporting, and strategic advisory for growth, financing, and ownership transition decisions.
Wayne Eager, CPA, Principal
Most business owners review their financials after the fact, to see what happened. A CFO mindset flips that. You're looking ahead, modeling scenarios, and making decisions before the cash problem shows up. That shift from reactive to proactive is what fractional CFO support brings.
Tax Strategy & Compliance for Charlotte Locals
The Problem: Filing your personal tax return shouldn’t be the moment you discover an unwanted surprise. Yet many Charlotte taxpayers feel the sting, whether it’s an unexpected balance due, a smaller refund than anticipated, or realizing they left valuable tax savings on the table.
At Dark Horse CPAs, we believe in No Surprises, especially the costly kind. That’s why we take a proactive approach, working collaboratively with you throughout the year to reduce liabilities, maximize savings, and keep you fully compliant with federal and North Carolina tax laws. Every engagement includes personalized tax planning and compliance strategies with your CPA, ensuring you don’t just react at tax time, you plan ahead.
Wayne Eager, CPA, Principal
The U.S. tax system is complex, and IRS letters often create fear. I love helping clients move from fear to confidence, knowing they’re compliant and using the tax code to their advantage. Serving as a trusted advisor to small business owners and individuals through that process is deeply rewarding.
Tax Strategy & Accounting Solutions for Charlotte Businesses
The Problem: Too many Charlotte business owners make financial decisions without timely, accurate, and actionable data. On top of that, many aren’t receiving the strategic tax guidance they need to stay compliant and reduce their tax burden. The result? Missed opportunities, higher risk, and avoidable tax bills.
At Dark Horse CPAs, we solve this by combining bookkeeping, tax compliance, and proactive tax strategy for Charlotte businesses of every size. With accurate financial data and CPA-level insights, you can make tax-savvy, growth-focused decisions year-round, not just at filing time. Our Advisory-First approach ensures you get forward-looking strategies that minimize risk, maximize savings, and position your business for long-term success.
Wayne Eager, CPA, Principal
Small business owners often juggle a CPA for taxes, a bookkeeper for records, and their own financial analysis, leaving gaps and overwhelm. A holistic approach that combines tax preparation, planning, and financial strategy with the owner’s goals is simply a better way.
Outsourced CFO means your company gains access to a senior financial executive on a part-time or contract basis. For Charlotte businesses, this typically means monthly financial reviews, strategic modeling, and access to CFO-level counsel without the cost of a full-time hire.
Yes. Charlotte's banking and financial services sector is one of the largest in the US. We work with financial services businesses, RIAs, and fintech companies in Charlotte that need CFO-level financial oversight and regulatory-aware financial strategy.
We serve Charlotte businesses across technology, healthcare, real estate, professional services, and financial services. Charlotte's position as the second-largest banking center in the US creates demand for CFO-level financial expertise across the companies that support that ecosystem.
Engagements are structured as monthly retainers scoped to complexity and hours. Contact us to discuss your company's specific needs and receive a scope-based estimate.
A full-time CFO carries significant overhead in salary, benefits, and equity. A fractional CFO from Dark Horse CPA provides senior-level financial leadership at a fraction of that cost, scaling up or down as your needs change without the commitment of a full-time hire.
I’m very satisfied with the service provided by Mark Kuca. I don’t usually leave business reviews (I’m basically a review hermit), but their effort and professionalism were exceptional. If you’re a small business owner looking for honest, reliable, high-quality service, I highly recommend him.
After years of feeling underwhelmed by every tax professional I worked with, we finally found Chris Ries at Dark Horse. We did a wide search for a CPA who could handle both our business and personal needs. Chris stood out from the start. He's not just deeply knowledgeable about tax law - he's genuinely thoughtful and strategic in how he applies it to your specific situation. What truly sets Chris apart is how responsive and engaged he is throughout the entire year. Our strategy sessions allowed us to get ahead of issues long before tax season, which made the whole process significantly smoother and less stressful.
You won’t find a more reliable, honest, or trustworthy CPA to work with than Mark. I would give this company more than five stars if I could. Highly recommend him and his services.
Chris is exceptional. He is far more professional, clear in his communication, and knowledgeable than any CPA I’ve worked with. He has expertly managed both my personal and business tax needs and consistently goes above and beyond—helping me make informed, strategic decisions well in advance of future tax filings. I cannot recommend him highly enough.
Earlier this year, I was presented with the opportunity to purchase a company in San Francisco and needed a highly qualified business and tax accountant to guide me through the process. After many interviews, I was introduced to Chris and the Dark Horse team—and I’m extremely glad I was. Chris has been consistently responsive, deeply knowledgeable in corporate taxes, and generous with his expertise. He’s taught me a great deal, always looks out for my best interests, and approaches his work with both professionalism and integrity. I am 1000% satisfied with his services—and on top of that, he’s genuinely a great human to work with. My experience with Dark Horse was so positive that I also hired a fractional CFO through them, Susan Snowden, who has been equally impressive. I highly recommend Chris and the Dark Horse team. If you’re looking for smart, trustworthy professionals who truly know their stuff and care about their clients, you won’t go wrong with Chris or Susan.
Provides great service. Very professional. Very responsive to questions and inquiries. Very punctual, I would highly recommend their services.
I’m very satisfied with the service provided by Mark Kuca. I don’t usually leave business reviews (I’m basically a review hermit), but their effort and professionalism were exceptional. If you’re a small business owner looking for honest, reliable, high-quality service, I highly recommend him.
After years of feeling underwhelmed by every tax professional I worked with, we finally found Chris Ries at Dark Horse. We did a wide search for a CPA who could handle both our business and personal needs. Chris stood out from the start. He's not just deeply knowledgeable about tax law - he's genuinely thoughtful and strategic in how he applies it to your specific situation. What truly sets Chris apart is how responsive and engaged he is throughout the entire year. Our strategy sessions allowed us to get ahead of issues long before tax season, which made the whole process significantly smoother and less stressful.
You won’t find a more reliable, honest, or trustworthy CPA to work with than Mark. I would give this company more than five stars if I could. Highly recommend him and his services.
Chris is exceptional. He is far more professional, clear in his communication, and knowledgeable than any CPA I’ve worked with. He has expertly managed both my personal and business tax needs and consistently goes above and beyond—helping me make informed, strategic decisions well in advance of future tax filings. I cannot recommend him highly enough.
Earlier this year, I was presented with the opportunity to purchase a company in San Francisco and needed a highly qualified business and tax accountant to guide me through the process. After many interviews, I was introduced to Chris and the Dark Horse team—and I’m extremely glad I was. Chris has been consistently responsive, deeply knowledgeable in corporate taxes, and generous with his expertise. He’s taught me a great deal, always looks out for my best interests, and approaches his work with both professionalism and integrity. I am 1000% satisfied with his services—and on top of that, he’s genuinely a great human to work with. My experience with Dark Horse was so positive that I also hired a fractional CFO through them, Susan Snowden, who has been equally impressive. I highly recommend Chris and the Dark Horse team. If you’re looking for smart, trustworthy professionals who truly know their stuff and care about their clients, you won’t go wrong with Chris or Susan.
Provides great service. Very professional. Very responsive to questions and inquiries. Very punctual, I would highly recommend their services.
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