Help business owners stop overpaying in taxes
Astute Advisors is a boutique tax advisory firm in Los Angeles that helps California business owners reduce taxes legally through proactive planning.
We’re not a high-volume tax preparation shop.
We work closely with our clients throughout the year to help them:
- Make better tax decisions
- Implement strategies correctly
- Understand how those strategies affect their business and wealth
We’re looking for a Senior Tax Advisor who enjoys working directly with clients and making sure tax plans are implemented accurately.
About Us
We specialize in working with California business owners and law firms.
Our clients rely on us to:
- Reduce unnecessary taxes
- Stay compliant and avoid surprises
- Understand their tax situation
- Build long-term wealth through proactive planning
We are system‑driven and tech‑forward:
- Karbon for workflow and client communication
- QuickBooks Online for accounting
- ProConnect Tax Online for returns
- Automations and AI tools to eliminate repetitive work
The goal is to free up time so we can respond to clients quickly, deliver accurate work, and spend our energy on decisions and advice—not manual busywork.
This Is NOT a Traditional Tax Preparer Role
Our production team prepares most tax returns.
Your role is to make sure the return accurately reflects:
- The client’s real situation
- The business activities
- And the tax plan we’ve agreed on
You will not spend your day keying in every return from scratch.
You’ll be the bridge between:
- The client
- The production team
- And the owner
What You’ll Do
Client Advisory
- Lead annual tax return review meetings with assigned clients
- Lead quarterly planning meetings (or join and then gradually own them)
- Build strong, long-term client relationships
- Explain tax concepts and results in simple, clear language
- Answer client questions and follow up promptly
Tax Plan Implementation
- Gather and organize information needed to implement tax strategies
- Ensure tax planning recommendations are reflected correctly in ProConnect
- Coordinate implementation with:
- Payroll providers
- Bookkeepers
- Clients
- Verify that planning moves (e.g., S‑Corp elections, PTET payments, owner payroll changes, retirement contributions, reimbursements) were actually completed— not just talked about
Return Review
- Review business and individual tax returns prepared by the production team
- Identify missing information, inconsistencies, and planning opportunities
- Make appropriate adjustments in ProConnect when necessary
- Escalate unusually complex technical issues to the partner, but own the issue through resolution
Team Support & Systems
- Provide clear review notes that help preparers improve over time
- Maintain high standards for quality, documentation, and responsiveness
- Help improve workflows, templates, and internal systems in Karbon, QBO, and ProConnect
- Use automation and AI tools intelligently to speed up work while maintaining accuracy
Success in This Role
Success looks like:
- Leading most client meetings independently
- Managing client relationships with minimal partner intervention
- Reviewing the majority of returns before partner review
- Ensuring tax plans are implemented accurately and on time
- Helping clients feel informed, confident, and well taken care of
- Freeing the partner to focus on advanced tax planning and firm growth
You’re Likely a Fit If You
- Have 5+ years preparing and reviewing U.S. tax returns
- Have strong experience with:
- S‑Corps and partnerships
- High‑income individuals / business owners
- Enjoy talking with clients and being on Google Meet / calls regularly
- Can explain complicated tax concepts in plain, simple language
- Have strong attention to detail and care deeply about accuracy
- Take ownership of your work and follow through to completion
- Are organized, proactive, and comfortable managing multiple client relationships
- Enjoy improving systems and processes, not just doing things “the way we’ve always done it”
- Are comfortable giving and receiving clear, specific feedback
- CPA or EA preferred
Experience with these tools is a plus:
- ProConnect Tax Online (or similar)
- QuickBooks Online
- Karbon
- Google Workspace
- AI tools / automations
Our Firm
We’re a small, fast‑growing advisory firm built around systems, technology, and efficiency.
We use:
- Karbon for workflow and client communication
- QuickBooks Online for books
- ProConnect Tax Online for returns
- AI tools and workflow automation to reduce repetitive work
We believe experienced professionals should spend their time helping clients—not doing repetitive administrative tasks.
Compensation & Benefits
- Salary: $90,000–$110,000, depending on experience and capability
- Performance-based bonus
- Remote anywhere in the U.S. (Los Angeles time‑zone collaboration hours preferred)
- Paid time off
- Continuing education support
- Clear opportunity for increased responsibility as the firm grows
Pay: $90,000.00 - $115,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Health savings account
- Paid time off
- Retirement plan
- Work from home
Work Location: Remote
