About VICI Financial
Built for the businesses larger firms overlook.
VICI Financial is a small accounting practice for owner-led businesses — big enough to have real financial questions, small enough that they land on the owner's desk.
Where we work
VICI Financial is rooted in Central New York and works with clients across the United States. Joe meets local clients at their place of business; everyone else by video and phone. Documents move through a secure portal.
Why the practice exists
The name is the intent.
Vici— “I conquered.” The name describes the client, not the firm: the owner ends up in command of the numbers rather than braced for them.
Joe started VICI after watching owner-led businesses treated as low-priority accounts: return filed, questions unanswered, strategy never discussed. That gap is why the practice exists.
What we hold ourselves to
- Tell you early if we are not the right fit
- Explain the reasoning, not just the result
- Work ahead of deadlines instead of behind them
- Be specific about what is included and what is not
- Keep sensitive information in systems built for it
How the work runs
Understand, organize, advise, plan.
Most accounting relationships are reactive — the work happens after the year is closed and the decisions are already made. This is the opposite order.
- 01
Understand
How the business makes money, what is hard now, where you want it next year.
- 02
Organize
Books accurate and current, so every decision after starts from numbers you trust.
- 03
Advise
Numbers turned into decisions on pricing, hiring, cash, structure, and tax exposure.
- 04
Plan
Tax and cash decisions made while they can still change the outcome.
The team
Who you actually work with
Joe Dunaway
Founder
Joe served in the Marine Corps, then went into accounting and built VICI Financial for owner-led businesses bigger firms treat as an afterthought. He runs every client relationship and reviews the work.
Carisse
Staff Accountant
Carisse handles the day-to-day accounting — reconciliations, categorization, and the monthly rhythm that keeps client books accurate.
Danielle Shatraw
Office Manager
Danielle runs operations and scheduling at VICI Financial. For most clients, she is the person who keeps the work moving.
Being straight with you
What we are, and what we are not.
What we do
- Bookkeeping, payroll, and the operating rhythm underneath
- Business and individual tax preparation, plus year-round planning
- Advisory and fractional CFO support for real decisions
- Entity setup guidance and sales-tax compliance
What we are not
- Not a law firm — no legal advice; we say when something belongs with an attorney
- Not an audit or attestation practice
- Not investment or insurance advisors
- Not able to promise a specific tax outcome — anyone who does is guessing
Let's find out if we are a fit.
A short, direct conversation. If VICI is not the right answer for your situation, we will say so.