Transaction Tax Senior Associate
About The Position
Cherry Bekaert is seeking a Senior Associate to join their national Transaction Tax Services practice. This role focuses on tax due diligence and structuring for private equity sponsors, family offices, and strategic acquirers in the middle market. The Senior Associate will execute buy-side and sell-side tax diligence, model acquisition structuring alternatives, and collaborate with deal teams to provide actionable recommendations. This is a client-facing position where the individual will manage workstreams, create client deliverables, and support partners and directors on live transactions from diligence through closing. The role offers Big 4-caliber deal exposure with broader responsibilities, faster progression, and direct partner access.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance or related field.
- Minimum two years of progressive tax experience within a national or large regional CPA firm supporting M&A activities or preparing/reviewing federal and state returns for multi-state filers.
- Ability to model tax attributes and structuring outcomes in Excel, including NOL and credit utilization, basis calculations and after-tax cash flow analysis.
- Strong written communication skills, with the ability to convert complex technical analysis into concise, client-ready deliverables.
- Proven ability to manage competing deadlines across multiple live deals.
- Self-starter mindset and comfort operating in a fast-moving, entrepreneurial environment.
- Eligibility to work in the United States.
Nice To Haves
- Active CPA or demonstrated progress toward completion desired; JD acceptable in lieu of CPA for candidates with corresponding tax experience.
- Master of Accountancy (MAcc), Master of Science in Taxation (MST) or LL.M.
- Exposure to PE-backed portfolio companies or PE sponsor clients.
- Familiarity with deal lifecycle documents (LOI, purchase agreements, disclosure schedules).
- Working knowledge of U.S. federal income tax rules applicable to M&A transactions, including subchapters C, K and S, consolidated return regulations, and Sections 338, 336(e), 382 and 1060.
Responsibilities
- Execute federal and state tax due diligence on M&A transactions, including identification and quantification of historical tax exposures across income, sales and use, payroll and unclaimed property.
- Analyze target tax attributes and model the impact of transaction structuring alternatives — including Section 338(h)(10) and 336(e) elections, Section 382 limitations on net operating loss (NOL) utilization, basis step-ups, Section 704(c) built-in gain or loss allocations and Section 751 hot asset considerations.
- Review target tax profiles across entity types, including consolidated C corporation groups, S corporations, partnerships, LLCs and pass-through structures.
- Draft tax diligence reports, structuring memoranda and step plans suitable for delivery to PE deal teams, lenders and legal counsel.
- Coordinate with internal and external workstream leads — financial due diligence, valuation, legal and quality of earnings providers — to deliver an integrated view of deal risk.
- Support transaction execution, including review of purchase agreement tax provisions (representations, indemnities, tax matters, Section 338(h)(10) language) and post-close integration planning.
- Manage day-to-day client communication on assigned workstreams and present findings directly to deal team leads.
Benefits
- annual bonus
- medical, dental, and vision care
- disability and life insurance
- generous Paid Time Off
- retirement plans
- Paid Care Leave
Stand Out From the Crowd
Upload your resume and get instant feedback on how well it matches this job.
What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
