Associate Director, Tax
About The Position
Aardvark Tax Advisors is a full-service tax, accounting, and advisory firm serving small businesses and entrepreneurs. As the accounting and client services practice of Cynch AI, it uses proprietary AI to reduce routine tasks and give its people more time for high-value client work. The firm is expanding organically and through strategic acquisitions, with defined advancement expectations and performance-based opportunities for increased responsibility and equity. The Associate Director, Tax owns the practice’s largest and most complex client relationships, handles higher-fee and higher-complexity engagements, serves as an escalation resource for managers, and contributes directly to practice revenue growth. The hybrid role is based in Pleasanton, Cupertino, or Santa Cruz, California, with North Bay locations also possible. The position leads complex tax compliance, planning, and consulting work for corporations, partnerships, individuals, trusts, and estates across federal, state, and local jurisdictions. It also involves developing tax professionals, resolving difficult client situations, planning engagements, managing fees and scope, and monitoring tax risk. The role requires extended hours during peak tax season and as needed to meet client deadlines, as well as occasional travel for client meetings or practice events.
Requirements
- Active CPA or EA credential.
- 15+ years of experience in public accounting or tax.
- Deep experience in compliance, planning, and advisory for individuals, partnerships, S corporations, and closely held businesses.
- Track record managing a substantial book of higher-complexity, higher-fee clients.
- Proven experience managing and developing tax professionals.
- Strong technical knowledge of federal, state, and local tax regulations, including complex returns and multi-entity planning.
- Experience scoping engagements, identifying out-of-scope work, and driving fee realization.
- Proficiency with professional tax software such as UltraTax, CCH Axcess, Lacerte, or similar.
Nice To Haves
- Experience in a CFO, controller, or other finance leadership role inside an operating business.
- Experience running a practice or client book.
- Experience taking over and maintaining client relationships through practice transitions.
Responsibilities
- Own higher-fee, more complex client relationships across tax planning, compliance, and consulting.
- Lead the preparation and review of complex returns for corporations, partnerships, individuals, trusts, and estates across federal, state, and local jurisdictions.
- Deliver multi-year tax planning, including entity structure, owner compensation, and the impact of legislative changes on clients’ business and personal finances.
- Understand clients’ operations and finances to advise on business decisions, not only prepare tax filings.
- Ensure all returns meet the practice’s quality standards.
- Serve as a resource for managers and staff on complex client, technical tax, and engagement issues.
- Resolve difficult client situations.
- Mentor managers and senior staff by sharing professional judgment and approach.
- Grow existing client relationships where additional value can be provided.
- Plan engagements for the client base, including timing, staffing, and fees ahead of peak season.
- Identify out-of-scope work, define its scope, and ensure it is priced and billed appropriately.
- Monitor and manage tax risk for the practice and clients, ensuring tax positions are defensible.
Benefits
- Health care plan (medical, dental, and vision).
- 401(k) retirement plan.
- Basic life insurance.
- Unlimited vacation, plus sick leave and public holidays.
- Short-term and long-term disability.
- Hybrid work-from-home arrangement.
- Stock option plan.
Stand Out From the Crowd
Upload your resume and get instant feedback on how well it matches this job.
What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Director
Education Level
No Education Listed
