Client-Facing Tax & Accounting Advisor
We are an established Southern California tax and accounting practice (~20 years, 12 staff) dedicated to delivering exceptional service to small businesses with 20 or fewer employees and individuals with complex tax needs. We're looking for an experienced, detail-oriented, and client-focused Tax & Accounting Advisor to join our team.
This is not a traditional bookkeeping role. As AI and automation take over repetitive processing, we need an advisor who can focus on what matters most: helping clients make better business decisions, delivering proactive tax planning, and developing junior staff into skilled professionals. You'll oversee the accuracy of client financials, review work completed by junior staff and AI-assisted processes, and serve as a trusted advisor across tax, profitability, and business operations.
Flexible hours. 40 hours per week outside of tax season. 50+ hours per week during tax season (Feb 1 – April 15).
What You'll Do
Client Satisfaction & Advisory
- Serve as the primary accounting and tax advisor for assigned clients, building year-round relationships — not just at tax time.
- Prepare and review tax returns for individuals, small businesses, and trusts, ensuring full compliance and identifying opportunities that benefit the client.
- Review financial statements with clients via phone or Zoom, explaining business results and translating complex accounting issues into clear, actionable guidance.
- Identify profitability trends, cash flow concerns, and operational opportunities that help clients improve their business.
- Recommend improvements to clients' accounting systems and business processes.
- Design and maintain meaningful job costing systems, analyzing profitability by job, project, department, location, or service line.
- Help clients use financial data to improve pricing, identify margin erosion, and strengthen profitability.
Tax Planning & Compliance
- Monitor year-to-date profitability and projected tax liabilities for business clients throughout the year.
- Identify proactive tax planning opportunities well before year-end rather than reacting at filing time.
- Coordinate with the tax department to ensure clients are prepared for estimated payments and year-end planning.
- Oversee timely and accurate payroll processing, sales tax e-filing, and 1099 preparation.
Managing Firm Resources & Efficiency
- Manage multiple client accounts simultaneously, prioritizing work to meet deadlines without sacrificing quality.
- Leverage Karbon workflow, QuickBooks, Xero, ACS, UltraTax, and other firm technology to keep projects on track and reduce bottlenecks.
- Use AI and automation to reduce manual bookkeeping, developing standardized workflows and procedures that increase capacity across the firm.
- Continuously improve efficiency through technology adoption, process redesign, and collaboration with the team.
Staff Development & Quality Control
- Review and refine financial statements and work product prepared by junior bookkeeping staff, providing constructive feedback that raises the team's skill level over time.
- Coach staff on accounting principles, best practices, and effective use of AI tools while maintaining professional judgment.
- Reduce review corrections through consistent training and mentoring, with the goal of developing junior staff who can independently produce accurate financial statements.
- Share knowledge of tax law updates, software best practices, and client communication techniques across the firm.
Performance Expectations
The right candidate will consistently deliver accurate, decision-ready financial statements; identify tax planning opportunities before year-end; use AI to eliminate repetitive work; develop junior staff into independent accountants; and ensure clients understand the financial drivers of their business.
Key Performance Indicators
- Client satisfaction: ≥95%
- Client response time: same business day
- Financial statements requiring material corrections: <2%
- Month-end closes completed on time: ≥98%
- Proactive tax planning delivered to 100% of assigned clients
- Unexpected tax liabilities due to missed planning: zero
- Job costing implemented for 100% of applicable clients
- Karbon tasks completed on time: ≥98%
- Review corrections trending down with measurable quarterly improvement
- Minimum 1 significant process or AI improvement per quarter
Skills & Qualifications
- CPA or EA (Required)
- In-depth knowledge of federal and California tax laws, regulations, and deadlines
- Proficiency with UltraTax (required) and familiarity with other common tax preparation software
- Proficient in QuickBooks and QuickBooks Online (Xero and ACS a plus)
- Proficient in Microsoft Excel
- Comfortable navigating IRS and state agency online platforms for return submission and resolution
- Excellent written, verbal, and in-person communication skills with a patient, client-first approach
- Strong organizational and time-management skills with keen attention to detail
- Process-oriented mindset with a commitment to leveraging AI and technology for continuous improvement
Experience
- Small business and personal tax preparation: 8 years (Required)
- Small business accounting: 8 years (Required)
- UltraTax: 5 years (Required)
- Karbon workflow: 1 year (Preferred)
- Workflow and AI efficiency improvement: 1 year (Preferred)
Benefits
- 401(k) with employer matching
- Flexible schedule
- Paid time off
- Professional development assistance
- Retirement plan
Work Location: Remote
Definition of Success
Success in this role is measured not by the number of transactions processed, but by the value delivered to clients and the firm. A successful Advisor uses AI to automate low-value tasks, focuses on advisory work that improves client profitability and cash flow, develops junior staff into skilled professionals, and continuously raises the bar on how the firm operates.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $90,000.00 - $130,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Flexible schedule
- Paid time off
- Professional development assistance
- Retirement plan
Experience:
- small business and personal tax preparation: 8 years (Required)
- small business accounting: 8 years (Required)
- Karbon workflow: 1 year (Preferred)
- workflow efficiency improvement: 1 year (Preferred)
- Ultratax: 5 years (Required)
License/Certification:
- CPA or EA (Required)
- Quickbooks Online ProAdvisor certification (Required)
Work Location: Remote
