Senior Tax Associate

R.D. Barnett PLLC•,

8d•$80,000 - $105,000•Remote

About The Position

R.D. Barnett PLLC is seeking an experienced, self-motivated Senior Tax Associate to prepare a broad range of federal, state, and local tax returns for individuals and closely held entities. The role works across operating businesses, related entities and real estate, and owners’ individual returns, with a focus on connecting the financial details into a coherent picture for clients. The core return mix includes Forms 1040, 1065, 1120-S, and 1120, and may also include trusts and estates and other returns as assigned. The Senior Tax Associate owns day-to-day execution, workpaper quality, status visibility, and early identification of issues. The position gathers client information, prepares workpapers, calculations and returns, supports planning, handles e-filing and delivery, researches unusual issues, and helps resolve notices and other technical projects. It also requires accounting fluency to read trial balances and financial statements, reconcile accounts, propose adjustments, and identify accounting issues that may need attention before a return can proceed. Recurring bookkeeping is not part of the role unless separately assigned and scoped. Tax Managers set technical direction, approve material positions, and support the employee’s development toward greater independence, planning exposure, client leadership, and review responsibility. The role also contributes to process improvement, documentation, training, and responsible adoption of approved technology and AI tools. This is a full-time, exempt, remote position for work from U.S. states and localities approved by the firm, with dependable availability for Pacific Time collaboration. Busy-season stretches may require 55+ hours, typically during February through April 15 and September through October 15. The target start date is no later than January 5, 2027. Annual base salary is $80,000–$105,000, depending on experience, credentials, and demonstrated capability.

Requirements

At least three years of recent public accounting tax experience.
At least two busy seasons owning returns from client intake through reviewer submission.
Meaningful experience preparing both individual and closely held business returns.
Ability to prepare a varied return mix and understand the financial meaning of the figures in those returns.
Ability to read financial statements, reconcile accounts, understand journal entries, and trace activity into a tax return.
Strong Excel skills, including formulas, lookups, pivot tables, data cleanup, and organized workpapers.
Strong attention to detail and ability to identify errors, missing support, and unreconciled items.
Clear written and verbal communication, sound judgment, and ability to receive and apply feedback.
Curiosity about AI and automation, with commitment to approved tools, client privacy, professional judgment, and verification of outputs.
Prepared for 55+ hour weeks during the heaviest filing-deadline stretches, typically February through April 15 and September through October 15.
Reliable remote-work setup, including a secure professional workspace, dependable internet, and availability for Pacific Time collaboration during agreed working hours, typically 10 a.m.–2 p.m. PST.
Professional references from prior employers, supervisors, or clients.
CPA or Enrolled Agent credentials are not required.

Nice To Haves

CPA license, Enrolled Agent certification, CPA eligibility, or active progress toward a credential.
Experience reviewing simpler returns or training less-experienced preparers.
Experience with UltraTax CS or another professional tax preparation platform, e-file and portal workflows, or digital delivery tools.
Examples of improving, speeding up, or simplifying a tax or accounting workflow with AI or automation.
Familiarity with QuickBooks, Workpapers CS, Practice CS, SurePrep, SafeSend, SharePoint, Notion, Missive, Bill.com, Gusto, Double, or similar systems.
Experience with closely held businesses, multi-entity structures, real estate, professional service firms, or business owners with interconnected tax needs.
Multistate, pass-through entity tax, basis, fixed asset, owner compensation, or closely held business planning experience.
Experience with trusts and estates.

Responsibilities

Prepare federal, state, and local individual and closely held entity tax returns, including Forms 1040, 1065, 1120-S, and 1120; prepare trusts, estates, related real estate entities, and other returns as assigned.
Gather client information and prepare calculations, workpapers, and returns from intake through reviewer submission.
Create complete, clear, reviewer-ready workpapers with supporting documentation, reconciliations, calculations, notes, and tie-outs.
Coordinate related business, entity, real estate, and individual filings so the returns are consistent with one another.
Review financial statements and trial balances; reconcile balance-sheet accounts, retained earnings, fixed assets, basis, owner activity, payroll, sales or excise tax, and other book-to-tax items relevant to engagements.
Enter and validate tax data, carryforwards, fixed assets, prior-year items, and current-year activity in UltraTax CS or a comparable tax preparation platform.
Identify and communicate missing information, inconsistencies, unusual issues, capacity concerns, scope changes, and potential deadline problems early.
Support extensions, estimates, e-filing, secure delivery, tax notices, and other technical projects.
Identify potential planning opportunities, research assigned questions, document relevant facts and authority, and bring recommendations and unresolved questions to a manager.
Use Excel and other firm-approved tools to build traceable workpapers, analyze and clean data, review trial balances, and propose journal entries.
Use approved AI and automation tools responsibly, protect client information, verify outputs, and remain accountable for completed work.
Test and document practical process improvements while maintaining accuracy, controls, and confidentiality.
Communicate clearly with clients and teammates about status, open items, scope, risks, and deadlines; draft professional client emails and explain information requests.
Respond constructively to review notes and apply feedback to future engagements.
Contribute to firm documentation, training, systems, and team practices; coordinate with accounting, advisory, and client-service colleagues.
Meet assigned production, realization, timekeeping, and project-delivery expectations.

Benefits

Firm currently pays 100% of the employee premium for its medical plan and dental and vision plans; coverage begins on the first day of the month following the start date.
401(k) match on employee contributions up to 3% of eligible pay, subject to plan terms and vesting schedule.
Six firm holidays plus four floating holidays; tax-season blackout dates apply.
Fifteen vacation days per calendar year, prorated based on the official start date and subject to the firm calendar and busy-season blackout periods.
Paid sick and safe time accruing from the first day of employment, with Seattle requirements as the minimum standard and more protective local law applied where required.
Two paid volunteer days.
Continuing education and professional growth opportunities, including reimbursement for approved certification, licensing, professional membership, and destination CPE expenses within firm policy.
Firm-provided computer and standard technology equipment, including monitors, keyboard, mouse, headset, and related accessories.
Optional participation in the firm’s Verizon cell-phone plan under current policy.
Use of firm software to prepare personal income tax returns and the option to request reasonable tax guidance from firm principals at no charge, subject to firm policy.