Tax Director POST NUMBER: 308818

ole Title: Senior Tax Accountant / Client Manager (Hybrid Review & Strategic Advisory)

Industry: Public Accounting / Professional Services

Employment Type: Full-Time

Position Overview

The client is seeking a seasoned Senior Tax Accountant / Client Manager with 5 to 7 years of small-firm public accounting experience to manage a dedicated client portfolio. This role requires a shift away from pure transactional "doing" toward high-level tax review, client advisory, technical research, and portfolio oversight.

The ideal candidate will manage a balanced workload comprised of roughly two-thirds individual tax (including high-net-worth) and one-third corporate/business tax. Operating within a forward-thinking, tech-forward firm, this professional will actively participate in ongoing AI implementation while delivering high-touch advisory services to clients.

Key Responsibilities

• Client Portfolio Management: Serve as the primary point of contact for a dedicated book of business (~1,800 clients), ensuring strong ongoing relationships, clear communication, and high-quality, timely deliverables.
• Tax Preparation, Review & Compliance: Review, prepare, and file complex federal, state, and local tax returns across diverse entity structures:
  • Individual: Form 1040 (High-Net-Worth and complex filings)
  • Corporate & Business: Form 1120, Form 1120-S, and Form 1065
  • Exempt & Estate/Gift: Form 990 (Non-Profit) and Form 709 (Gift Tax)
  • International & Specialty: Form 5471, Form 5472, and 1031 Tax-Deferred Exchanges
• Strategic Advisory & Tax Planning: Proactively consult with individual and business clients on tax minimization strategies, financial planning, regulatory shifts, and structured transactions.
• Technical Research & Consultation: Act as a subject-matter expert on complex technical tax inquiries, providing clear research, written memos, and actionable advice to clients during quarterly/annual planning sessions.
• Audit Representation & Authority Support: Assist clients in resolving inquiries, audits, and notices from federal (IRS), state, and local tax authorities.
• Technology & AI Integration: Leverage cutting-edge tax software and participate in the adoption and implementation of new AI-driven accounting tools to optimize firm operations.

Must-Have Requirements & Qualifications

• Dedicated Public Accounting Track Record: 5–7 years of continuous, full-time tax experience within a small-to-midsize CPA firm (Big 4 or large national firm experience is not aligned for this role).
• Review Experience: 1–3 years of direct experience reviewing complex individual and corporate tax returns, transitioning away from pure prep work into quality control and advisory.
• Balanced Entity Exposure: Proven experience handling both individual (1040) and business/corporate returns (1120, 1120-S, 1065) with a general breakdown of ~67% individual and ~33% corporate.
• Career Pathing: Dedicated career trajectory in tax accounting from the start (candidates who transitioned into tax after years in general finance/corporate accounting will not be considered).
• Employment Stability: Demonstrated history of tenure and career longevity (no freelance, short-term contract, or sporadic project history).
• Technical Research Skills: Strong ability to research complex tax code, interpret regulations, and translate technical findings into clear client recommendations.
• Tech-Savvy & Adaptable: Advanced proficiency in modern tax software and enthusiasm for adopting new AI tools and workflow automations.
• Credentials: CPA or Enrolled Agent (EA) license is a significant advantage, but non-credentialed candidates with the exact required public accounting depth are encouraged to apply.

By submitting to this position, you are agreeing to be included in our talent pool for future hiring for similarly qualified positions.

EEO Notice

Vaco by Highspring is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race (including but not limited to traits historically associated with race such as hair texture and hair style), color, sex (includes pregnancy or related conditions), religion or creed, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, status as a veteran, union membership, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, political affiliation, or any other protected characteristics as required by federal, state or local law.

Vaco by Highspring and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries are committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, Vaco by Highspring and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact HR@vaco.com.

Vaco by Highspring also wants all applicants to know their rights that workplace discrimination is illegal.

Representation Notice

By submitting to this position, you agree that you will be giving Vaco by Highspring the exclusive right to present your as a candidate for the foregoing employment opportunity. You further agree that you have represented information about yourself accurately and have not affirmatively misrepresented your qualifications. You also agree to maintain as confidential, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any information you learn from Vaco by Highspring about the position and you will limit disclosure of information about the position only to the extent necessary to perform any obligations in furtherance of your application. In exchange, Vaco by Highspring agrees to exercise reasonable efforts to represent you through all solicitation, job screening and resume dispersal.

For residents of Ontario, Canada: Based on Highspring’s discussions with its Client, Highspring’s understanding is that this position for employment is a current vacancy (either through Highspring as a contractor or with the client directly).

Privacy Notice

Vaco by Highspring and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries (“we,” “our,” or “Vaco by Highspring”) respects your privacy and are committed to providing transparent notice of our policies.

• California residents may access Vaco by Highspring HR Notice at Collection for California Applicants and Employees here.
• Virginia residents may access our state specific policies here.
• Residents of all other states may access our policies here.
• Canadian residents may access our policies in English here and in French here.
• Residents of countries governed by GDPR may access our policies here.

Additionally, submissions to this position are subject to the use of AI to perform preliminary candidate screenings, focused on ensuring minimum job requirements noted in the position are satisfied. More details about Vaco by Highspring’s use of AI can be found here (https://www.highspring.com/ai-use-notices/). Further assessment of candidates beyond this initial phase will be conducted by recruiters and hiring managers. Vaco by Highspring does not know and cannot opine on if its client’s use of AI products in hiring.

Pay Transparency Notice

Determining compensation for this role (and others) at Vaco by Highspring depends upon a wide array of factors including but not limited to:

• the individual’s skill sets, experience and training;
• licensure and certification requirements;
• office location and other geographic considerations;
• other business and organizational needs.

With that said, as required by local law, Vaco by Highspring believes that the following salary range referenced above reasonably estimates the base compensation for an individual hired into this position in geographies that require salary range disclosure. The individual may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses.