Deputy Tax & Accounting Leader

About the role

Ardvark Tax Advisors seeks a Deputy Tax & Accounting Leader to join a rapidly growing AI-native tax practice. This role will involve owning complex engagements, leading the practice's people, quality, and operating cadence, and integrating acquired firms.

Responsibilities

• Own client relationships on complex tax matters, including planning, compliance, and consulting.
• Lead the preparation and review of complex returns for corporations, partnerships, individuals, trusts, and estates across federal, state, and local jurisdictions.
• Deliver tax planning that goes beyond compliance; identify savings, restructure positions, and advise clients on the impact of legislative changes.
• Stay current on legislative changes and preemptively translate them into specific, actionable guidance.
• Ensure every return that leaves the practice meets the standard you'd put your own name on.
• Lead, mentor, and develop managers and tax professionals across the practice.
• Set expectations, give direct feedback, and hold people accountable.
• Partner with the Head of Tax on performance evaluations that are specific and useful.
• Help shape the direction of the practice while identifying opportunities to expand services with existing clients.
• Monitor and manage tax risk for the practice and for clients.
• Position taken should be defensible. Fix the entire process when the same issue keeps showing up across returns or clients.
• Partner with technology, product, and the Head of Tax to translate tax delivery problems into practical platform improvements.

Requirements

• An active CPA or EA credential.
• 12+ years in public accounting or tax, with real depth in compliance, planning, and advisory across individuals, partnerships, and small-business entities.
• Proven experience managing and developing tax professionals—not just assigning work, but building people.
• Strong technical knowledge of federal, state, and local tax regulations, including complex returns and multi-entity planning.
• Direct client relationship experience. Managed a book of business, juggled competing deadlines, and kept clients informed.
• Proficiency in professional tax software (UltraTax, Axcess Tax, Lacerte, or similar).

Preferred

• A Master's degree in Taxation, Business Administration, or a related field.
• A track record of growing client relationships and expanding practice areas through business development.
• Experience improving workflows, standardizing processes, or building quality systems in a tax delivery environment.

Work Environment

Hybrid: Santa Cruz, Cupertino, or Pleasanton, CA. Extended hours during peak tax season and as needed to meet client deadlines. Occasional travel for client meetings or practice events. California Salary Range: $170,000 - $220,000. Benefits include Medical, Dental, Vision, 401(k) with match, Basic Life, LTD.