By Leslie Kilgore EBS STAFF
David Benson, owner and founder of Big Sky’s newest accounting firm, Slopeside CPAs & Advisors, is a seasoned finance professional with over 20 years of experience. Having served as CFO for multiple private equity-backed companies, Benson is now applying his skills locally by serving Big Sky’s local businesses and residents through his new firm, Slopeside CPAs & Advisors. Founded with a simple dream—to own his own business, ski 50 days a year, and call Big Sky home—Slopeside blends Benson’s financial expertise with a community-focused approach to accounting and advisory services.
Explore Big Sky spoke to Benson, who shared his background, his approach to driving financial success for business owners, and his plans for supporting the Big Sky community in the years to come.
This series is part of a paid partnership with the Big Sky Chamber of Commerce. The following answers have been edited for brevity.

Explore Big Sky: What initially brought you to Big Sky and Montana?
David Benson: My wife and I moved to Big Sky in 2017. We came up for a ski trip and just fell in love with it. I grew up in Colorado and officially moved up here in September of last year. And what I love about Big Sky and Montana is that it’s a little bit prettier than Colorado and there are far fewer people.
EBS: That’s for sure. Can you tell us what prompted you to purchase Knaub & Company accounting and what that has entailed over the past year?
DB: I’ve been a CPA for over 20 years, but I spent most of my career in corporate accounting with private equity firms, and I just kind of got burned out on the cutthroat nature of private equity. But what I enjoyed most about it was working with the small business owners whose companies we were buying. So, after my last CFO job at a private firm, and when my kids graduated from college and left the house, I decided to start picking up clients of my own, by doing their taxes and helping them with their books, and I just loved it. My wife and I were thinking about what we should do next and saw this opportunity in Big Sky, when Marjorie Knaub was selling her firm, and thought it’d be perfect for us. And it’s just been awesome so far.
EBS: What has been the best part about having a business in Big Sky?
DB: I think the best part is working with the clients and the small business owners, and helping them grow their businesses. I have most of Marjorie’s client base, so I would say about 60 to 70% of our clients are in Big Sky, and the rest are mostly in Bozeman which we’ve picked up. I would consider remote clients anywhere, but my emphasis is helping business owners in Big Sky.
EBS: Can you give us a brief overview of the services you offer, what you took over for Knaub & Company, and anything you’re doing differently since you purchased the business?
DB: We offer tax services, bookkeeping services, and all other accounting services other than audits and reviews. What I’ve started to focus on more is that I’m trying to help our clients automate some of their processes with specific software that assists in paying their bills, collecting bills from clients, and other things to make regular tasks much easier for them. I’ve also hired a couple of remote workers in Kalispell and in Denver, and that gives me more flexibility to take on more clients.
EBS: How have you been engaging with the local community? Has it changed since you bought the business?
DB: I moved up here to buy the business, but I think one of the coolest opportunities the job offers is my ability to meet so many different people, so I feel like even though we’re new to town, I already know a lot of folks that live in the area.
EBS: In what ways do you think you can help more business owners in the community?
DB: What I think I can offer is not only tax services, but also help clients sell their business or buy a business, or help with bettering the profitability of their business. Things that I’ve done for many years before I got into doing a lot of taxes.
EBS: What do you think is the biggest challenge for business owners here?
DB: Seasonality is a huge challenge. Cash flow, going through winter into spring and summer into fall, when you’re so busy that you can’t keep up, and then shoulder seasons when there’s really no one here, learning how to manage your cash to get through those slow times. That’s a huge challenge.
EBS: What do you think are some of the best things about owning a business in Big Sky?
DB: I get to ski all the time. But also, it’s a small community, and like I said, I know so many people here already. It’s honestly something that I underestimated, but walking up and down the streets in Town Center or when I’m in a restaurant and I see people or clients, it feels like we are a part of the community and it makes me feel like it’s my responsibility to help them succeed even more. There’s a very personal community here, and in business too.
EBS: What is some of the best business advice you’ve ever received?
DB: Keep your employees and clients happy, and everything else will work.
EBS: What is your perfect day in Big Sky?
DB: A bluebird day with fresh snow, and I can get up first thing in the morning and ski for a couple of hours and then come into the office and work and help clients. That’s a great day!
EBS: We couldn’t agree more! See you out there this winter.
DB: Looking forward to it very soon.