Administrative Associate

Ascend Partner Firms•Chapel Hill, NC

11d•Onsite

About The Position

Blackman & Sloop Advisors, Inc. is seeking an Administrative Associate to provide dedicated administrative support to one of their three service lines: Tax, Client Accounting & Advisory Services (CAAS), or Audit. This role is crucial for keeping client work moving, deliverables organized, and clients well-served throughout every stage of an engagement. It's a generalist role designed for adaptability across service lines, with initial placement based on firm need and candidate strengths. The Administrative Associate will work directly with Partners, Managers, and staff, and will serve as a primary point of contact for clients, answering questions, coordinating deliverables, and representing the firm professionally. The role reports to the Admin Lead, with strong working relationships with the Partners of the assigned service line. Ascend, the parent organization, aims to transform the public accounting experience by fostering work-life harmony and supporting career advancement through a nurturing network and comprehensive resources, backed by private equity from Alpine Investors.

Requirements

3–5 years of administrative experience in professional services (CPA firm, law firm, or similar preferred)
Strong client-service instincts — warm, professional, responsive under pressure
Excellent written and verbal communication; comfort as a primary client touchpoint by phone and email
Strong organizational skills and attention to detail — the ability to keep multiple engagements moving without dropping threads
Discretion and mature judgment when handling confidential client information
Strong proficiency in Microsoft 365 (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams) and comfort learning new systems
Ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment with shifting priorities and seasonal demand cycles
Eagerness and willingness to adopt and use new technologies, including AI-enabled tools
Willingness and adaptability to work across service lines as firm needs evolve

Nice To Haves

Prior experience in a CPA firm, law firm, or other professional services environment
Familiarity with CCH Axcess, CCH Workflow, or similar practice management tools
Exposure to tax, audit, or client accounting work — even at a high level
Experience supporting multiple partners or senior professionals simultaneously
Familiarity with e-signature platforms, document management systems, or client portals

Responsibilities

Serve as a primary administrative point of contact for clients — answering questions, coordinating deliverables, and maintaining warm, professional relationships
Manage inbound client phone calls, emails, and requests for the service line team
Coordinate the flow of client deliverables — tax returns, financial statements, audit reports, advisory memos — through review, signature, and final delivery
Track engagement status and keep Partners and Managers informed of client activity and open items
Manage document intake, scanning, and logging for client engagements
Support production of client deliverables — assembly, formatting, quality checks, and final packaging
Route engagement letters, service agreements, and related paperwork for signature and internal filing
Maintain client files and records in accordance with firm standards and confidentiality requirements
Support new client onboarding for the service line — client setup in practice management systems, engagement letter preparation, and initial documentation
Coordinate with the Customer Experience team on onboarding execution and client escalations
Support acceptance and continuance processes as directed by the Admin Lead and service line Partners
Maintain the service line's deadline and compliance calendar; surface upcoming deadlines to Partners and Managers
Track engagement workflow and status in CCH Workflow, CCH Axcess, and adjacent systems
Coordinate with the Operations Manager on capacity and scheduling implications of engagement volume
Support the service line through peak seasons (tax season for Tax, monthly close for CAAS, audit peaks for Audit)