Tax Strategist - CPA

About the role

The Firm seeks a seasoned, client-facing Tax Strategist - CPA to lead sophisticated tax advisory, planning, compliance, and controversy work for individuals, business owners, high-net-worth clients, fiduciaries, partnerships, corporations, and other complex taxpayers.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and review complex federal and state tax returns for individuals, business entities, trusts, estates, partnerships, S-corporations, C-corporations, and high-net-worth clients
• Support tax planning and advisory work for individuals, business owners, families, fiduciaries, and business entities
• Analyze client tax issues and help develop practical, well-supported tax strategies
• Conduct tax research and apply federal, state, and local tax rules to client-specific issues
• Assist with IRS, Franchise Tax Board, CDTFA, and other state or local tax authority notices, correspondence, audits, and inquiries
• Evaluate tax resolution options, including installment agreements, offers in compromise, penalty abatement, compliance cleanup, and collection alternatives
• Review client financial information, tax records, notices, transcripts, statements, and supporting documentation to identify issues, risks, options, and next steps
• Communicate with clients regarding tax issues, documentation needs, deadlines, notices, planning opportunities, and resolution strategies
• Cook up with attorneys, tax professionals, accounting staff, and administrative team members to move client matters forward
• Prepare clear workpapers, documentation, calculations, summaries, and written explanations supporting tax positions and recommendations
• Manage client deadlines, filing obligations, notice response dates, and other time-sensitive tax matters
• Support tax controversy, tax compliance, tax planning, business advisory, and forensic accounting-related matters as needed
• Maintain accurate records in the Firm’s systems regarding client communications, tasks, deadlines, documents, and matter status
• Provide guidance to junior staff or administrative team members on tax documentation, return preparation support, client follow-up, and workflow as appropriate
• Maintain strict confidentiality and exercise sound judgment when handling sensitive client, financial, legal, and tax information
• Contribute to a professional, collaborative, detail-oriented, and client-service-focused work environment

Qualifications

• Active CPA license required
• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Taxation, Finance, Business, or a related field required
• Master’s degree in Taxation, Accounting, Business, or a related field preferred
• Minimum of 5 years of tax experience required; 7+ years preferred
• Public accounting, law firm, tax controversy, tax advisory, or professional services experience strongly preferred
• Experience preparing and reviewing complex individual, business entity, fiduciary, and/or multi-state tax returns
• Experience with high-net-worth individuals, partnerships, S-corporations, C-corporations, trusts, estates, and closely held businesses preferred
• Experience responding to IRS, FTB, CDTFA, or other tax authority notices, audits, inquiries, or collection matters preferred
• Familiarity with tax resolution options, including installment agreements, offers in compromise, penalty abatement, liens, levies, and collection alternatives preferred
• Strong tax research, analytical, documentation, and problem-solving skills
• Strong verbal and written communication skills with clients, attorneys, tax professionals, staff, and outside agencies
• Ability to explain complex tax issues in a clear, practical, and client-friendly manner
• High attention to detail and commitment to accurate, timely, and well-documented work
• Ability to manage multiple client matters, deadlines, and priorities in a professional services environment
• Proficiency with tax software and professional office technology
• Experience with Lacerte, CCH, ProSystem, GoSystem, Drake, QuickBooks, BNA, Canopy, or similar tax and accounting tools preferred
• Commitment to confidentiality, ethical integrity, professional judgment, and continuous learning