Jim was born and raised in Steubenville. He received his Bachelor of Science from West Liberty University. Jim taught accounting and business at the Jefferson County Vocational School until 1979. In 1985 Jim and Pete Wallace came together as Wallace, Padden & Company, PC where Jim was a partner. In July, 2011 Wallace, Padden & Company merged with D'Anniballe & Company, Inc.

Jim is a member of the Ohio Society of Certified Public Accountants and the American Institute of CPAs. He is a member of the Board of Trustees of Trinity Health Systems and the Jeffco Workshop in Steubenville and was a member of the Board of Trustees for Valley Hospice, Inc. for 24 years.

Jim is an adjunct professor of accounting in the graduate program at the Franciscan University of Steubenville.