Tax Manager

Strong tax judgment. A talent for developing people. An eye for better ways to work. The role Good tax managers connect the details to the bigger picture. They understand the return, recognize what matters to the client, and help their team deliver work they can stand behind. We’re looking for a Tax Manager who enjoys that combination. You’ll lead engagements, build client relationships, review technical work, and coach staff. You’ll also help us improve the processes and systems behind the work. Interested in business development? There’s room for that. Prefer to focus on client service, technical work, and leading delivery? We value that, too. We’ll discuss how your strengths and interests fit the role, with clear expectations about what you’ll own. RDB is growing. You’ll have opportunities to shape how we work, contribute ideas, and take on new responsibilities as your skills and interests develop. What you’ll actually do Lead the tax work and the client relationship Own your engagements. Manage tax compliance and planning for individuals and closely held businesses, with trust, estate, real estate, and other assignments appropriate to your experienceReview with purpose. Review returns and workpapers for accuracy, completeness, and sound technical conclusions. Complete complex preparation when needed and give staff clear, actionable feedbackFollow the financial trail. Understand how related entities and owner returns connect. Review financial statements, reconciliations, journal entries, basis, fixed assets, and other book-to-tax items. Recognize when the accounting needs attention before the return can move forwardBring recommendations. Research unusual issues, document the facts and authority, and explain your conclusions. Know when a significant position or unresolved question needs partner inputMake the client experience better. Explain tax results, planning opportunities, and information requests clearly. Help clients understand what matters and what happens nextManage scope and fees. Monitor engagement budgets, identify additional services, and coordinate approval before making new commitments about work, fees, or timing. Handle billing responsibilities for assigned engagements under firm proceduresSee the process through. Coordinate with accounting, advisory, and client-service teammates on information gathering, extensions, estimates, e-filing, secure delivery, and outstanding items Develop people and keep projects moving Delegate thoughtfully. Match assignments to experience and capacity, explain expectations, and give people enough context to do the work wellMake review useful. Explain the reasoning behind your notes, recognize patterns, and help staff become more capable and independentKeep the work visible. Maintain clear project status, ownership, deadlines, and open questions. Raise capacity concerns before the team is in a deadline-day scrambleContribute to the team’s growth. Participate in hiring, onboarding, training, and performance discussions in coordination with firm leadershipImprove how we operate. Help document processes, strengthen review standards, and prioritize practical improvements alongside client responsibilities Use technology like you mean it We want someone who understands the work well enough to make the systems better. Make Excel earn its keep. Build and review traceable workpapers, analyze financial information, and use formulas, lookups, pivot tables, and data cleanup appropriatelyKnow what went into the software. Understand and validate current-year activity, carryforwards, fixed assets, and other tax data. Experience with UltraTax CS is helpful; strong experience with a comparable professional platform is welcomeLearn the broader workflow. Our work involves systems such as Practice CS, Workpapers CS, SurePrep, SafeSend, SharePoint, Notion, Missive, QuickBooks, and Double. You don’t need to arrive knowing every platform. You do need to be comfortable learning and using themUse AI thoughtfully. Look for responsible ways to improve research, documentation, analysis, and repetitive workflows. Use firm-approved tools, protect client information, verify outputs, and remain accountable for the final workHelp others adopt better methods. Test practical improvements, document what works, and coach the team on using tools effectively without weakening accuracy or controls How you work You communicate before people have to ask. Clients and colleagues know where things stand. You surface missing information, risks, scope changes, and deadline concerns early. You’re inquisitive with a purpose. You ask why, trace issues to their source, and turn what you learn into a practical recommendation. You own your work. Mistakes happen. You speak up, correct them, and apply what you learn to the next engagement. You set that example for your team. You combine technical depth with practical judgment. You care about the right answer and its implications. You weigh risk, effort, and value when recommending a path forward. You care about service and teamwork. You follow through, pitch in when needed, and recognize that making teammates chase you is nobody’s love language. You take feedback seriously. Managers keep learning, too. You ask thoughtful questions, apply coaching, and give others direct, respectful feedback. You handle change constructively. Processes evolve, technology moves, and the perfect workflow may not exist yet. You help build something better. What you’ll bring At least five years of public accounting experience, including tax return preparation and reviewA CPA license, EA credential, or CPA eligibilityA bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, economics, or a related field, and/or an advanced degree in accounting or taxationExperience reviewing and/or approving tax returns and supporting workpapersExperience managing client relationships and coordinating multiple engagementsExperience developing staff and providing useful technical feedbackExperience with client billing, time tracking, engagement budgets, and explaining the value of servicesA secure, professional remote workspace, dependable internet, and availability for Pacific Time collaboration during agreed working hoursProfessional references from prior employers, supervisors, or clients Hours and performance expectations Public accounting has demanding stretches, and we want to be direct about them. During the heaviest filing-deadline periods, typically within February through April 15 and September through October 15, the role may require 55+ hours per week. Those hours should describe peak stretches rather than the regular year-round schedule. Managers balance billable client work with staff development, project management, and firm responsibilities. We’ll discuss annual work and billable-hour targets, how time is categorized, and seasonal scheduling during the interview process. Success includes accurate work, timely delivery, strong client relationships, a developing team, and sound engagement financial results. Clear timekeeping and early communication about workload are part of the job. What we offer Salary of $110,000–$175,000, based on experience, credentials, and agreed responsibilitiesRemote work within approved U.S. states and localities, with a casual Seattle office optionFirm-provided computer and standard technology equipment22 vacation days per calendar year, prorated based on your start date and subject to applicable firm policy and scheduling requirements10 paid holidays: six scheduled and four floatingPaid sick and safe time using Seattle’s requirements as the firm’s minimum standard, with more protective requirements applied where applicableTwo paid volunteer daysMedical, dental, and vision benefits, with the firm currently paying 100% of employee premiums. Dependent coverage is available at the employee’s cost. Coverage begins the first day of the month following your start date, subject to plan termsA 401(k) match up to 3% of eligible pay, subject to plan termsContinuing education and growth opportunities, including reimbursement for approved certification, licensing, and professional membership expensesOptional participation in the firm’s cell-phone plan under firm policyPersonal tax preparation software access and reasonable guidance from firm principals, subject to firm policy Who we are R.D. Barnett PLLC provides accounting, tax, and advisory solutions to private companies, individuals, trusts and estates; specializing in the real estate, veterinary, technology, medical, retail, and professional services industries. While currently a small public accounting firm, our big, audacious goal involves an ambitious growth strategy that will land us in the top 300 U.S. public accounting firms by 2030. Three qualities define our approach: entrepreneurial, proactive, and no bullshit. We ask questions, look ahead, and give clients clear answers, including when the answer is complicated or uncomfortable. We take the work seriously, enjoy the people we work with, and are proud to be tax nerds. Interested? Send us your resume. We’d like to hear what you want from your next role and what you’d bring to RDB. A brief introduction or a specific cover letter is welcome. Tell us about an engagement you led, someone you helped develop, or a process you made better. We notice thoughtful follow-up. A friendly LinkedIn message or direct email to a member of our team after applying is welcome and can help us get a feel for your interest and how you communicate. Keep it human, specific, and concise. A nice hello goes a long way. Equal Opportunity and Accommodation R.D. Barnett PLLC is an equal opportunity employer. We consider qualified applicants without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, citizenship or immigration status, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, disability, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law. We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations throughout the hiring process. Applicants who require an accommodation may contact info@rdbpllc.com. Powered by JazzHR CF7BM5Tika