Job Title: Senior Manager / Full-time
Department: Tax and Accounting
Reports To: Partner
FLSA Status: Exempt, does not qualify for overtime pay
Prepared Date: 2025 HR Job Code: SM_FT
SUMMARY
Responsible for overseeing and managing a team of tax professionals while handling more complex tax issues and strategies for clients. Duties include reviewing tax returns, providing tax planning and compliance advice, managing client relationships, and ensuring adherence to tax laws and regulations. Advise clients on tax-saving strategies, mergers and acquisitions, and other high-level tax matters. Mentor and train junior staff, allocate resources effectively, and assist in business development efforts to bring in new clients. Leadership, advanced technical expertise, and strong communication skills are essential for this role.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES and RESPONSIBILITIES include, but are not limited to, the following:
Project Management
? Serve as the primary client contact and partner’s main support on all assigned engagements.
? Lead client engagements, ensuring alignment with clients' needs and firm expectations.
? Maintain and track timelines, budgets, and schedules for all projects to ensure on-time delivery.
? Conduct weekly status updates with partners, including assessments of engagement progress.
? Document and track key engagement details and notes within firm systems.
? Manage and mentor members of the tax team, providing coaching as necessary.
? Deliver projects to clients within timelines and budgets, with minimal review needs from partners.
? Maintain compliance with tax laws and firm policies on all client engagements.
Technical Expertise
? Conduct final reviews of tax preparation work, including individual and business returns, tax planning, projections, and compliance with federal and state tax laws.
? Provide feedback to staff on technical work, compliance issues, and ensure high standards.
? Research and apply relevant tax regulations and strategies, document implications, and advise clients and partners.
? Proactively identify tax planning opportunities and manage the technical quality of tax advice.
? Resolve IRS and state tax authority issues, communicating resolutions clearly to clients.
Client Relationship Management
? Develop and maintain relationships through regular meetings to understand clients' evolving business and personal situations.
? Provide proactive service by anticipating client needs, identifying risks, and advising accordingly.
? Communicate complex financial and tax concepts in a client-friendly manner.
? Guide clients on broader business challenges, advising on growth, planning, and financial strategy.
? Maintain high client satisfaction with clear, consistent communication and timely delivery.
? Deliver value-added insights and strategic planning advice to clients, resulting in a strengthened relationship with the firm.
Firm Development
? Collaborate with firm partners to refine and improve workpaper standards and software use.
? Contribute ideas for operational efficiencies, enhanced team training, and improved client service.
? Support tax team members by ensuring they feel supported, mentored, and trained to improve their technical skills.
? Ensure team is prepared and organized, facilitating smooth project reviews and finalizations.
QUALIFICATIONS
To perform this job successfully, an employee must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE
Bachelor’s degree and 5+ years of related experience and CPA, EA, or LLM/JD in tax designation
LANGUAGE SKILLS
Ability to read and comprehend financial reports, instructions, short correspondence, and memos. Ability to write process documentation and identify control weaknessess. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from managers, employees, clients and vendors.
MATHEMATICAL SKILLS
Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts and percentages.
REASONING ABILITY
Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, and diagram or schedule form.
ADDITIONAL KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES
1\. Technical Tax Knowledge
a. Deep understanding of federal and state tax laws, tax return preparation, tax planning, and compliance.
b. Strong research skills to interpret and apply tax law accurately, ensuring all advice is sound.
2\. Project and Time Management
a. Skilled in project management, prioritization, and scheduling to keep engagements on track.
b. Able to manage multiple priorities and deadlines, ensuring consistent, on-time project delivery.
3\. Leadership and Mentorship
a. Proven ability to mentor and develop tax staff, fostering technical growth and confidence.
b. Adaptable to individual learning styles and team dynamics, ensuring a positive team environment.
4\. Client Relationship Management
a. Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to anticipate client needs and proactively address them.
b. Skilled in explaining technical information in a client-friendly manner, enhancing client understanding and satisfaction.
5\. Problem Solving and Strategic Thinking
a. Ability to assess client issues holistically, providing strategic solutions beyond tax compliance.
b. Creative thinking for business challenges and client conflict resolution.
6\. Communication
a. Excellent communication skills (written and verbal) across email, telephone, and video, tailoring messages for client understanding.
b. Comfort in conveying complex tax and financial strategies to clients in a clear, accessible way.
CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS
CPA, EA, or LLM/JD in tax
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit at a desk, use arms, hands, and fingers to enter data into computer system and talk or hear on the telephone or while communicating with others. The employee is occasionally required to stand and walk around an office. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, and ability to adjust focus.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions.