Tax Manager — Direct Path to Partner
Missoula, Montana | On-Site with Real Flexibility | $130K–$160K Base + Bonus
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Most Tax Manager roles hand you more work. This one hands you the keys.
We're a well-established, mid-sized public accounting firm in Missoula, Montana, and we're hiring a Tax Manager who isn't looking for just the next title — they're looking for the last stop before Partner. That's not a someday-maybe carrot we're dangling. It's the actual plan. We have a direct, defined, and near-term path to Partner, and we're hiring the person who's going to walk it.
If you've been grinding at a firm where "partner track" means a decade of waiting and a foggy set of rules, keep reading. This is different.
Why This Role Is Worth Leaving Your Current One
A real path to Partner — and soon. This is the headline, so we'll say it plainly: we are looking for our next Partner, and this role is the on-ramp. You'll step in as a Tax Manager, take ownership of client relationships and a talented team, and move into ownership of the firm on a clear, accelerated timeline. We'll be transparent about what that path looks like from day one — no moving goalposts, no mystery.
Compensation that respects your experience. Base salary of $130,000–$160,000, depending on experience, plus a performance bonus, a 401(k) with company match, and a strong, comprehensive benefits package. And because you're stepping toward ownership, your upside grows with the firm you're helping to lead.
Reasonable hours — yes, even in busy season. We know what "busy season" means at most firms, and we've deliberately built something saner. Our clients are well-managed, our processes are dialed in, and our culture doesn't celebrate burnout. You'll work hard during the crunch, but you'll still have your evenings and your weekends back far more than the industry norm. We protect our people's time on purpose.
On-site, with genuine scheduling flexibility. This is an in-office role — we believe in the energy, mentorship, and speed that come from working shoulder-to-shoulder, especially for someone on a partner track. But we're flexible and grown-up about scheduling. Need to shift hours for school pickup, an appointment, or a life thing? We trust our team to manage their time like the professionals they are.
Missoula, Montana — and we'll help you get here. We're looking for someone local, but if you've ever thought about trading gridlock and grind for rivers, trailheads, and a genuine community — this is your invitation. For the right candidate relocating to the area, we offer a relocation package. Missoula pairs an outdoor-recreation lifestyle that's hard to beat with a real professional community and no state sales tax. Bring your career; we'll help you bring your life.
What You'll Do
As Tax Manager, you'll own the work and the relationships that come with a senior seat at a growing firm:
- Lead the preparation and review of complex federal and state tax returns for individuals, partnerships, S-corps, C-corps, trusts, and estates
- Serve as the trusted advisor and primary point of contact for a portfolio of business and individual clients
- Deliver proactive tax planning and strategy that genuinely moves the needle for clients
- Mentor, review, and develop staff and senior accountants — building the team you'll one day lead
- Manage engagements, budgets, and deadlines with an ownership mindset
- Research complex tax issues and translate them into clear, actionable guidance
- Partner with firm leadership on growth, process, and the future of the practice
What We're Looking For
- CPA license (active) — required
- 5+ years of progressive public accounting / tax experience, including review and client-facing work
- A track record of managing engagements and mentoring staff
- Deep, current knowledge of federal and state tax across multiple entity types
- Strong communication skills — you can make complex tax approachable for clients
- The ambition and drive of someone who wants to be an owner, not just an employee
- Experience with tax software and a comfort with modern, tech-forward workflows
Bonus points for experience with closely-held businesses, high-net-worth individuals, or a specialty niche you can help us grow.
The Bottom Line
You already know how to be a great Tax Manager. The real question is where that skill takes you next. Most firms offer you a bigger workload. We're offering you a path to the top — clear, direct, and soon — at a firm that respects your time, pays you well, and will help you build a life in one of the best places in the country to live it.
If that's the move you've been waiting to make, we want to talk.
Apply today with your resume and a short note on why a direct path to Partner is what you're looking for. Confidential inquiries welcome.
Pay: $130,000.00 - $160,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Relocation assistance
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
