Associate 2027 - Tax, Audit, Small Business

RKL•Lancaster, PA

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

This role encompasses three distinct areas: Tax, Audit, and Small Business. As an Associate, you will be responsible for preparing tax returns, completing working papers, and assisting clients in improving their tax functions to control risk and facilitate better decision-making. You will act as a strategic consultant, providing advice and helping organizations and individuals understand various tax implications, while also delivering exceptional client service as a trusted business advisor. In the Audit function, you will help clients solve complex business issues from strategy to execution, providing valuable insights in managing risk and improving business performance and overall financial reporting processes. You will keep clients informed about their financial progress and developments that may impact the business. For Small Business clients, you will work on general bookkeeping, financial statement preparation, and business and individual tax returns, ensuring all work papers, journal entries, and tax documents are completed diligently, in a timely manner, and efficiently.

Requirements

Excellent organization skills and strong attention to detail.
Multitasker with the ability to prioritize work accordingly.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills with strong client service focus.
Strong analytical and interpersonal skills.
Understanding of general accounting and tax principles and willingness to learn, drive for self-improvement.
Working knowledge of Microsoft Office suite products and technologically-savvy.
Self-motivated and willingness to enhance accounting and advisory knowledge.
Excellent attention to detail with the ability to manage multiple projects.
Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook.
Excellent organizational skills with a strong attention to detail.
Bachelor’s degree in Accounting; graduating students should have 150 credit hours and a GPA of 3.0 or above.
Actively pursuing CPA licensure, if not already obtained.
Regularly required to perform manual tasks, concentrate, think, learn, communicate, sit, stand, walk, use hands and fingers, grasp, handle or feel objects, reach with arms, talk and hear.
Must be able to remain in a stationary position as needed.
The person in this position needs to occasionally move about inside the office and on site at client locations, stoop, kneel, crouch, push and pull.
Vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision and the ability to adjust focus.
Constantly operates a computer and other office productivity machinery, such as a calculator, copy machine, and computer printer.
Ability to communicate in a professional manner and exchange information with internal and external actors as needed.
Ability to lift/carry up to 20 pounds.
Ability to work outside of normal business hours and weekends as needed.
Ability to travel to local and non-local clients and events as needed, overnight travel may be required.

Nice To Haves

Possesses an understanding of RKL’s business (service lines, competitors) and client service capabilities and the impact of technology upon the firm’s growth and success.

Responsibilities

Prepare tax returns and complete working papers for assigned clients.
Review tax strategies, ensure tax compliance, and increase post-tax profits.
Independently prepare tax returns for various entities such as corporations, partnerships, estates, trusts, and non-profits.
Assist on tax-related projects on an ad hoc basis.
Review data input and resolve technical tax issues; respond to inquiries from the IRS and other taxing authorities.
Provide guidance to Tax Interns in the scanning and preparation of tax returns.
Answer client calls and emails in a timely manner with a solution-oriented approach.
Ensure client deliverables are completed within expectations.
Identify and introduce other firm services based on client needs and discovered opportunities.
Keep up to date with local and national business and economic issues.
Participate in continuous learning activities and active research to improve and develop technical expertise.
Collaborate with leaders to identify opportunities for efficiencies and proactive engagement management.
Assist in detailed testing procedures of the balance sheet and income statement accounts.
Assist in preparation and testing of financial statements and disclosures.
Review and audit business transaction cycles such as treasury, cash, capital expenditures, and other income and expenses.
Visit client onsite for required audits and/or other financial inquiries.
Produce quality service and statements for the in-charge to review with minimal corrections.
Review audit issues and review financial information using available technology tools and research engines.
Read prior year financial statements and client websites and actively seek out information from team members to gain understanding of client business and industry.
Proactively inform the engagement team of work status and request information from clients as needed.
Prepare necessary work papers, journal entries, and financial statements for review.
Prepare tax returns for review by the in-charge.
Develop understanding of the relationship of financial statement outcomes to tax implications for the client.
Read prior year financial statements, tax returns, and client websites and actively seek out information from team members to gain understanding of client business and industry.
Conduct self-review of work before submission to in-charge/reviewer.
Takes initiative to be a team player (seeks out opportunities to help others).
Treats everyone with respect.
Develops loyalty and trust with the team.
Successfully adapts to different personalities and working styles.
Proactively and effectively communicates information regarding status issues to team members.
Holds self-accountable for assigned work; seeks continuous feedback to learn and develop in role; open to new ideas and suggestions.