A Raleigh CPA You Can Actually Talk To
Matthew Lynch, CPA
TITLE
Principal
HOMETOWN
Raleigh, NC
YEARS OF EXPERIENCE
10
EDUCATION
You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take
— Wayne Gretzky
To be successful in public accounting, one must adopt the mindset of a marathoner versus that of a sprinter. The sprinter will take an early lead but they fail to account for the remaining 26 miles in front of them. Eventually, they burn out within the first couple of miles and are passed by those who are playing the long game. Accordingly, it’s no surprise that someone who runs as a hobby would understand this innately. And it’s no surprise that they would be around for the long haul. At the risk of stating the obvious, such is the case of Matt Lynch.
Matt began his career at a construction company. And, no, he wasn’t wearing a hard hat but rather a green eyeshade visor, metaphorically speaking anyway. There, he learned a lot about not just construction but small business in general. There, he was able to apply his education to the real world. And there, he discovered a love for and proclivity toward problem solving. Thereafter, he moved into public accounting, earned his CPA and increased his exposure to a wide variety of SMBs.
When he’s not problem solving or training for a mental or physical marathon, you’re likely to find Matt in the great outdoors…either golfing, backpacking, camping, or exploring nature. It’s this connection to the world outside his office that renews his mind, body and spirit and allows him to continue to play the long game. He’s also got a pretty good short game too, pun intended.
Specialties
S-Corp
Partnerships
Multi-State Filings
Real Estate & Cryptocurrencies
Tax Planning
Industries
Construction
Real Estate
Motor Sports
e-Commerce
Retail
Tax Advisory & Wealth Advisory in Raleigh, NC
Raleigh’s tech, healthcare, and small-business growth create real opportunity—along with complex tax questions around equity comp, multi-state income, real estate, and changing life events. The last thing you need is a surprise bill in April. You deserve a CPA who plans with you year-round so filing day is simply a formality.
As your local Principal at Dark Horse CPAs, Matt Lynch, CPA delivers proactive tax advisory built around a No-Surprises philosophy. He pairs North Carolina–savvy planning with regular check-ins, mid-year projections, and clear action items—so you always know where you stand. From optimizing deductions and credits to timing income, managing estimated taxes, coordinating business/owner taxes, and aligning retirement, real-estate, and estate objectives, Matt turns complex rules into a practical, forward-looking plan.
MATT LYNCH, PRINCIPAL
“You’ve built something worth protecting. My role is turning numbers into strategy—minimizing tax, protecting cash flow, and aligning every decision with your long-term goals. For founders and high-net-worth families, I’m your year-round partner for clarity and no surprises at tax time. For years I watched firms provide no real value—so I decided to do something about it.”
80%
Net Promoter Score
The average NPS for accounting firms is 38%. At Dark Horse, 80% of our clients would recommend us to a friend.
Net Promoter Score
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.
550+
5-Star Reviews
Our Google and Yelp reviews speak for themselves. Our goal is to provide 5-star service to every client, every time.
5-Star Reviews
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.
90%
Retention Rate
We're all about creating long-lasting, value-added relationships.
Retention Rate
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.
Tax Strategy & Accounting Solutions for Raleigh Businesses
The Problem: Many Triangle business owners aren’t getting timely, accurate, actionable financials—nor the strategic tax planning needed to grow. Beyond federal rules, North Carolina adds complexity: corporate income (phasing down) and franchise taxes, sales & use tax, NC-5/NC-3 payroll filings, and county business personal-property listings. Missed planning leads to cash-flow strain and avoidable tax.
The Solution: As a Principal at Dark Horse CPAs, Matt Lynch, CPA delivers integrated bookkeeping, tax compliance, and forward-looking tax strategy for Raleigh companies. He provides clean monthly closes, KPI dashboards, and CFO-level cash-flow/budgeting, while managing NC corporate/partnership returns, elective PTET planning, sales & use tax, payroll filings, and personal-property listings. With our Advisory-First approach and proactive estimates/projections, you get clear numbers and a plan—so you can make confident, tax-smart decisions all year in Wake County and across North Carolina.
MATT LYNCH, PRINCIPAL
“As your CPA, I’m in the trenches with you—turning daily numbers into a clear plan. I deliver clean monthly books, proactive tax strategy, and regular check-ins so there are no surprises at filing time. My focus is simple: protect cash, reduce tax, and help Raleigh small businesses grow with confidence.”
Tax Advisory & Compliance for Raleigh Locals
The Problem: As wealth grows, so do the moving parts—K-1s, equity compensation, real estate, multi-state residency, trusts, and sizable estimated taxes. Without year-round planning, high earners in Raleigh face avoidable liabilities, missed opportunities, and April surprises.
The Solution: As a Principal at Dark Horse CPAs, Matt Lynch, CPA runs a No Surprises playbook: year-round planning, proactive check-ins, and mid-year withholding/estimate reviews so you know where you stand before filing day. Matt optimizes retirement and investment taxes, coordinates real estate (primary, rentals, STRs), and handles multi-state/residency questions—keeping you compliant and confident.
MATT LYNCH, PRINCIPAL
“I’m available year-round—not just before deadlines—to guide small businesses and families through major financial moves and life events. With proactive planning and clear check-ins, tax filing becomes a formality—not an unpleasant surprise.”
Porscha D.
Working with Mike Connelly has been great! We had some complicated things to get through but it was not a problem for him. Other accountants I’ve worked with seem overwhelmed and it reflects in their work. Mike specifically mentioned Dark Horse being very supported as a contrast to other places he worked. My experience with Dark Horse and especially Mike has been very positive and we recommend him to other business.
T.K.
Mike Connelly is an absolute superstar! My wife and I both own small businesses and work full time jobs. Our taxes can get pretty overwhelming fast. Mike helps us navigate the complexities we don't quite understand with ease and does so with a patient, friendly demeanor. We've been using him for almost a decade and would highly recommend his services, you won't be disappointed!
Troy D.
I've enjoyed working with Mike this past year and look forward to many great years ahead!
The Dark Horse Blog
The Dark Horse Blog, where we share expert insights on tax strategy, compliance updates, outsourced accounting, fractional CFO services, and more. Our content is tailored to small and medium-sized businesses as well as high-net-worth individuals.
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