Jim Burton joined Grant Thornton in 1989 and has held a variety of roles with the firm, including international business center director for the firm's central region, professional standards partner for the Dallas office, audit practice leader for the greater San Francisco Bay area office, audit improvement task force chairman and European liaison manager in the London office. Burton was CFO for a privately held semiconductor materials and services company in 1997.

Burton serves on the Board of Trustees for St. Mary's Academy, the board of the Metro Denver Sports Commission, and on the finance committee of The Wildlife Experience. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Colorado Society of Certified Public Accountants and is involved with the Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation and the Colorado chapter of the National Association of Corporate Directors.

Burton holds an MBA in taxation and a BSBA in accounting from San Jose State University.