Senior Tax Specialist (Wake Forest, NC)

BA Global Talent • North Carolina, NC

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

BA Global Talent is seeking a Senior Tax Specialist in North Carolina to join a small CPA firm specializing in tax strategy, compliance, and advisory services for small and medium-sized businesses and high-net-worth individuals across a variety of industries nationwide. Unlike many small accounting firms, the tax team is focused exclusively on tax services. This means the Senior Tax Specialist will be able to concentrate on developing deep tax expertise rather than shifting to bookkeeping or assurance work during the off-season. This role is ideal for a tax professional interested in both business and individual taxation, with an emphasis on business tax matters, who wants to move beyond routine tax preparation. Many clients have complex or unique tax situations that require thoughtful analysis, creative problem-solving, and customized strategies. The Senior Tax Specialist will also have the opportunity to further develop proactive tax planning skills and grow from a tax preparer into a trusted tax advisor. The firm takes a proactive approach to helping clients prevent tax issues and optimize their financial outcomes, including the use of proprietary tax projection software designed to identify effective strategies across multiple variables.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field; active CPA or pursuing CPA candidate required.
• 2–4 years of tax preparation experience, preferably in a public accounting firm.
• Experience with tax seasons at other public accounting firms is highly desirable.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Familiarity with Microsoft Office Suite, Google Workspace (G Suite), and basic computer skills required.

Nice To Haves

• Hands-on experience with both business and individual U.S. tax returns, with stronger exposure to business taxation.
• Experience working with more complex or non-routine tax situations beyond standard return preparation.
• Exposure to year-end tax projections and proactive tax planning for clients.
• Strong tax research skills and the ability to identify potential solutions to unfamiliar tax issues.
• Interest in developing from a tax preparer into a more consultative, client-facing tax advisor.
• Ability to identify deductions, credits, and tax-saving opportunities while maintaining a high level of accuracy.
• Experience communicating directly with clients to gather information, answer tax questions, and explain tax matters clearly.
• Curiosity and willingness to learn advanced tax planning techniques and new tax technology.
• Ability to work independently while knowing when to escalate complex technical matters to senior team members.
• Familiarity with CCH Axcess Tax, PDFlyer, Podio, ShareFile, and QuickBooks/Xero is a plus but not required.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and review business and individual tax returns.
• Set up and/or conduct year-end tax planning with clients, providing proactive strategies to minimize tax liabilities and optimize financial outcomes.
• Maintain consistent communication with clients, build strong relationships, and effectively address tax-related questions and needs.
• Research complex tax situations and develop thoughtful, innovative solutions that benefit clients.
• Think creatively to identify opportunities for additional value-added services and tax strategies.
• Deliver clean, polished, and accurate work while thoroughly identifying available deductions, credits, and tax-saving opportunities.

Benefits

• Annual Bonus: Target bonus is 10% of base salary. Historically, employees have received between 15% and 30%, depending on individual performance and firm results.
• Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA): Maximum monthly HRA contribution available to all employees.
• Client Referral Commission: Employees who bring in and manage new clients receive 20% of the client’s first-year billings. This performance-based incentive is separate from the standard compensation package. Historically, payouts have ranged from approximately $1,000 to more than $30,000, averaging around $12,000.
• Expense Reimbursement: Approved work-related expenses are reimbursed through an accountable reimbursement plan.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior