John Hunter is the Managing Partner and founder of Trailbreaker Accounting and has diverse professional experience in accounting, auditing, internal controls, and financial analysis.
He holds a Bachelor of Science and Master of Accountancy degree and is a registered CPA in multiple states. John worked for eight years at Deloitte in New York City, Seattle, and Boise, where his clients included large SEC registrants, construction, timber, high tech, retail, manufacturing, and employee benefit plans. John also worked on several consulting engagements, including a year-long arbitration support project that grew into a new client. He was one of the top instructors in Deloitte’s training program and was invited to join the national training team. He also revitalized the employee benefit plan (EBP) audit practice at Deloitte, which improved both its quality and profitability.
After reaching the senior manager level at Deloitte, John decided to take a turn “owning” the numbers. Progressive roles in compliance, training, and financial reporting led to vice president, controller and CFO positions for both public and private companies in the Northwest. This exposure to various industries, practices, and people has facilitated John’s well-rounded background in business. John also understands what it feels like to be audited. That perspective drives him to be both efficient and understanding when performing your audit.
John has been actively involved in creating and improving processes and teams throughout his career, including successfully leading a large, multi-national company through implementation of complex rules required by Sarbanes-Oxley legislation and then increasing the company’s efficiency 60 percent through process improvements. He also enjoys helping clients improve their processes and increase their profitability.
John moved back to public accounting with Cooper Savas ten years ago when invited by Phil Cooper, the founder and managing partner, when he wanted to grow their audit practice. This move was based on John’s desire to work with and help clients improve. His focus on customer service and responsiveness helped more than triple this business. It was this same desire that drove John to found Trailbreaker Accounting.
John loves helping others improve and learn. He was one of the top instructors in Deloitte's training program and was invited to join the national training team.
He also loves building strong teams and developing the individual team members. John now carries that same passion to his clients and hopes to work with them to improve processes and reporting.
Throughout his career, John has endeavored to give back. He served on the University of Idaho's Accounting Advisory Committee and was heavily involved in Big Brother Big Sisters and Second Harvest.
When not working, John’s passions include disc golf, remodeling, anything in the outdoors and visiting his children and grandchildren as much as possible.
