James Alex is the U.S. public policy and government affairs leader at RSM US LLP. He helps middle market businesses understand and respond to evolving federal and state policy developments. His decades of experience span the intersection of tax policy, regulation and government leadership, translating complex developments in Washington and state capitals into practical business considerations for clients.
James is driven by the challenge of helping businesses anticipate policy change and make informed decisions in an increasingly complex regulatory environment.
In his role, he engages with policymakers and industry stakeholders while strengthening RSM’s voice in public policy conversations that affect the middle market. His work connects policy outcomes to real-world business implications across tax, advisory and consulting services.
Prior to rejoining RSM, James served as state tax commissioner for the Commonwealth of Virginia. He oversaw the collection of more than $30 billion in annual state revenue and advised the governor and senior officials on evolving tax policy.
James also served as a senior advisor in the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Office of Tax Policy. In that role, he coordinated tax reform implementation across the Treasury Department, the Internal Revenue Service, the IRS Chief Counsel’s Office and the Office of Management and Budget. He also helped redesign the federal tax regulatory development process.
For his work implementing the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, James received the U.S. Treasury Department’s Meritorious Service Award.
Earlier in his career, James held senior leadership roles in the private sector, including serving as a partner or principal at a Big Four accounting firm and previously leading tax growth efforts at RSM. James started his career in policy and litigation leadership roles for the state of West Virginia. Across these roles, he developed a reputation for bridging public policy, regulatory execution and business strategy to help organizations navigate change with confidence.
