Job Title: Senior Tax Manager
Reports To: Principal Advisor / Owner
FLSA Status: Exempt - 40 hours/week (additional hours during tax season)
Location: Auburn, NY - On-site
Salary: $80,000 - $95,000 (based on experience, education, licensure, and demonstrated tax preparation and planning expertise)
Summary
Cuddy Financial Services is a boutique CPA / CFP firm serving over 800 affluent households with over $400 million in assets under management. Established in 1992, we've built a reputation for combining personalized service with cutting-edge AI integration. We're recognized as a Stage 3 AI-Augmented business, leading our region in systematic AI integration while maintaining our boutique service quality.
The Senior Tax Manager is responsible for preparing and reviewing personal, business, fiduciary, and other complex tax returns; supporting tax planning and projection work; providing review-level analysis; and actively using firm AI tools to improve the quality, efficiency, and consistency of the tax preparation process. This position operates as a senior peer to the existing Senior Tax Preparer with no supervisory responsibility. This position operates as a senior peer to the existing Senior Tax Preparer and supervises the seasonal tax preparation staff during tax season. The role requires both deep tax expertise and demonstrated proficiency with AI-enabled workflows - these expectations are co-equal.
Skills
· Extensive experience preparing individual, business, fiduciary, and other specialized tax returns
· Strong tax-planning strategy fluency - identifying planning opportunities on a return (Roth conversions, entity structure, retirement contribution timing, gain/loss harvesting) and flagging them for the wealth-management team
· Ability to read, interpret, and organize complex tax documents, financial records, workpapers, and supporting schedules
· Strong technical tax knowledge and ability to identify tax issues, planning opportunities, and matters requiring additional review
· QuickBooks Online (QBO) ProAdvisor-level proficiency
· Proficient in computer programs, such as Microsoft Word and Excel, database systems, tax software, and document management systems
· Ability to utilize and develop an understanding of various tax programs and tax software
· Moderate or higher professional experience using AI tools, automation tools, or technology-enabled workflows to improve work quality, reduce repetitive tasks, and increase efficiency - with demonstrated efficiency gains in a prior tax setting
· Forward-thinking approach to technology adoption and process improvement, with a willingness to implement AI-assisted workflows responsibly and effectively
· Advanced organizational skills and strong attention to detail and accuracy
· Excellent verbal and written communication skills
· Punctual and available to work additional hours as needed during tax season
· Sound judgment; strong listener
· Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment
· Ability to analyze situations and solve problems effectively
· Ability to handle sensitive and confidential client information properly
Essential Functions
· Prepare and review personal federal and state income tax returns
· Prepare and review business tax returns, including partnership, non-profit, S-Corporation, and corporate returns
· Prepare fiduciary returns and support other specialized tax returns as assigned
· Input client tax data into tax software accurately and completely
· Review client tax documentation, financial records, and supporting information for completeness, accuracy, and consistency before and during preparation and review
· Identify missing, inconsistent, or unclear tax information and coordinate appropriate follow-up with the responsible team member or client contact
· Prepare, update, and maintain tax workpapers, supporting schedules, spreadsheets, and reports for tax and accounting clients as needed
· Perform tax research as needed and document findings for review
· Assist with tax planning preparation and support tax projection work as assigned
· Originate planning-strategy recommendations from return review - flag opportunities to the Principal Advisor for advisory follow-up
· Participate in peer review of individual, business, fiduciary, and other tax returns as assigned
· Provide review-level analysis and quality control support before final review with the firm owner or designated reviewer
· Ensure client work is logged in and logged out in accordance with firm procedures
· Ensure the project management system is current and up to date with relevant tax preparation status, client communications, and requests for information
· Coordinate with tax, accounting, intake, and assembly team members to ensure returns move efficiently through the preparation and review process
· Access financial records through various online systems as needed to support tax preparation
· Support accounting staff with client accounting and special projects as assigned where the work directly supports tax preparation or tax reporting
· Utilize firm AI tools (Tax Document Classification System, QBO integrations) to improve tax preparation efficiency, accuracy, organization, and consistency - and drive measurable efficiency gains
· Collaborate with the Business Intelligence & Analytics Specialist to identify, test, and implement opportunities to automate or improve pieces of the tax preparation process
· Help identify repetitive tax preparation or workflow tasks that can be improved, standardized, or automated through appropriate use of technology and AI
· Support peers within the Accounting or Tax Departments on tax-related work tasks
· Ensure the confidentiality of each client by following all firm procedures regarding information handling
· Adhere to firm policies and procedures and maintain the highest level of professionalism on and off-site
· Other duties as assigned
Competencies
· Technical Capacity
· Accounting
· Tax Preparation
· Tax Research
· Technology and AI Adoption
· AI Experience
· Communication Proficiency
· Ethical Conduct
· Thoroughness
· Personal Effectiveness / Credibility
· Collaboration Skills
· Flexibility
Supervisory Responsibility
Supervises the seasonal tax preparation staff during tax season, January through the first Monday in May. No year-round direct reports outside of tax season. Operates as a senior peer to the existing Tax Preparer(s).
Work Environment
This job operates in a professional office setting. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, scanners, and filing cabinets.
Physical Demands
This is essentially a sedentary role; however, some filing is required. This would require lifting files and boxes weighing up to 20 pounds, opening filing cabinets, going up and down stairs, and bending or standing on a stool as necessary. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Position Type and Expected Hours of Work
This is a full-time, exempt, 40-hour week position. Will be expected to work additional hours based on need during tax seasons.
Non-Tax Season: Monday through Friday: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. (after hours when necessary)
Tax Season (Second Monday in January through First Monday in May): Monday through Friday: 6 a.m. - 5 p.m. (and after hours when necessary) and Saturday: 8 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Travel
Some travel may be required to customer locations as needed.
Education and Experience
· CPA license preferred, or a comparable combination of education and extensive professional tax preparation experience demonstrating CPA-equivalent depth
· 10 years or more of professional tax preparation experience across individual, business, and fiduciary tax return types (Required - hard minimum)
· Moderate or higher professional experience using AI tools, automation tools, or technology-enabled workflow improvements in a work setting (Required) - with the ability to articulate specific efficiency gains driven in a prior tax setting
· QuickBooks Online ProAdvisor certification preferred
Other Duties
Please note that this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time without notice.
Starting Pay & Benefits
Salary: $80,000 - $95,000 annually (based on experience, education, licensure, and demonstrated tax preparation and planning expertise)
Firm contributions to Medical, Dental, Vision, Supplemental, and Life Insurances are offered after completion of a 90-day probationary period. 401(k) and IRA administration is also offered after the 90-day probationary period, with 401(k) matching beginning after 1 year of service.
CPE reimbursement provided for CPA licensure maintenance.
Pay: $80,000.00 - $95,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid sick time
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
