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, the firm uses proprietary AI to reduce routine work and enable employees to focus on client relationships and higher-value work. The practice is growing 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 across planning, compliance, and consulting. The role leads complex tax return preparation and review, provides multi-year tax planning and business-focused advice, serves as a senior escalation resource, develops tax professionals, and contributes directly to practice revenue. The position is hybrid, based in Pleasanton, Cupertino, or Santa Cruz, with possible North Bay work locations.
Requirements
- Active CPA or EA credential.
- 15+ years of experience in public accounting or tax, with 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.
- 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 in 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 an independent practice or client book.
- Experience taking over and maintaining client relationships through practice transitions.
Responsibilities
- Own higher-fee, complex client relationships across tax planning, compliance, and consulting.
- Lead preparation and review of complex federal, state, and local tax returns for corporations, partnerships, individuals, trusts, and estates.
- Deliver multi-year tax planning, including entity structure, owner compensation, and the effects of legislative changes on clients’ business and personal finances.
- Understand clients’ operations and finances and advise on business decisions, not only tax filing.
- Ensure returns meet the practice’s quality standards.
- Serve as a resource for managers and staff on complex client, tax technical, and engagement issues.
- Resolve difficult client situations.
- Mentor managers and senior staff.
- 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 and scope out-of-scope work and ensure it is priced and billed appropriately.
- Monitor and manage tax risk for the practice and its clients, ensuring tax positions are defensible.
Benefits
- Health care plan with medical, dental, and vision coverage.
- 401(k) retirement plan.
- Basic life insurance.
- Unlimited vacation, plus sick leave and public holidays.
- Short-term and long-term disability coverage.
- Hybrid work-from-home arrangement.
- Stock option plan.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Director
Education Level
No Education Listed
