Small & Mid-sized (SMB) Business Tax Manager

Jackson Thornton•Birmingham, AL

26d•Hybrid

About The Position

Jackson Thornton is seeking a Tax Manager with public accounting experience. The manager owns assigned engagements from planning through Principal review, often serves as the client service contact, and reviews complex tax returns, tax authority notices, and research engagements. The role requires professional judgment when using automation and AI-enabled tools, identifying planning and advisory opportunities throughout the year, and participating in engagement billing. The Tax Manager develops, trains, and motivates team members, including colleagues working remotely or on shared-service teams, and may serve as a Career Advisor. The position reports into Jackson Thornton's Birmingham office with hybrid flexibility. It offers the opportunity to manage client relationships end to end, develop specialized tax expertise, and contribute to a collaborative team.

Requirements

B.A. or B.S. degree in Accounting or a related field.
CPA license required; EA or JD/LL.M. also considered.
Five or more years of public accounting experience with a focus on tax.
Strong federal and state tax compliance knowledge, with experience reviewing complex returns.
Working knowledge of tax research, preparation, and AI-enabled review tools.
Proven ability to manage multiple complex engagements while developing team members.
Strong project management, communication, and interpersonal skills, including with remote teams.

Nice To Haves

Small and mid-sized business (SMB) tax return experience.

Responsibilities

Manage assigned engagements from planning through Principal review.
Review complex individual, corporate, partnership, trust, and estate returns, tax authority notices, and research engagements.
Serve as the primary client contact and business advisor for assigned clients.
Identify tax planning and advisory opportunities throughout the year.
Delegate work with engagement economics and team development in mind, including work prepared by shared-service or outsourced teams.
Develop and coach team members across in-person, hybrid, and remote settings; provide timely feedback and evaluation input.
Monitor engagement progress, staffing, out-of-scope work, and billing input.
Use AI-enabled research and review tools appropriately while retaining ownership of conclusions delivered to clients.
Represent clients at audits, document tax advice, and monitor team adherence to quality assurance and ethical standards.
Support business development through referral sources, networking, proposals, and expanded services.