Lead complex tax engagements, develop people, and help shape a growing tax practice without getting buried in large-firm bureaucracy.
A rapidly growing boutique CPA firm in the San Diego area is adding a Tax Manager to its expanding tax team. This is a hands-on leadership role for someone who enjoys managing client relationships, reviewing complex tax work, developing staff, and identifying meaningful planning opportunities.
What You'll Do
- Manage tax compliance, planning, and consulting engagements for closely held businesses and high-net-worth clients
- Serve as a primary client contact and lead communication around tax issues, planning opportunities, and engagement status
- Review complex partnership, S-corporation, individual, trust, estate, and gift tax returns
- Provide clear written and verbal feedback to preparers
- Identify federal, state, and local tax issues and recommend practical solutions
- Oversee Schedule K-1 reporting, partner basis schedules, and complex allocation matters
- Support real estate and construction clients with depreciation, cost segregation, capital improvements, and Section 1031 exchanges
- Manage engagement timelines, budgets, staffing, and deliverables
- Mentor and develop senior associates and staff
- Help improve internal processes, workflows, and technology as the practice continues to scale
What They're Looking For
- CPA required
- Approximately 6-8 years of public-accounting tax experience
- Strong background in partnership and individual taxation
- Experience managing client relationships and leading engagements
- Ability to review complex returns and provide effective coaching to staff
- Strong knowledge of federal, state, and local tax regulations
- Real estate, construction, closely held business, or high-net-worth experience preferred
- Comfortable being both strategic and hands-on
Why Join
- Competitive base salary plus discretionary bonus
- Approximately 40-45 hours per week outside of busy season
- More sustainable busy-season expectations than many larger firms
- Direct access to partners and senior leadership
- High visibility and meaningful influence over the growth of the tax practice
- Hybrid schedule with strong flexibility outside of busy season
- Opportunity to lead client relationships rather than remain behind the scenes
- Clear advancement potential as the firm continues to grow
- Supportive environment focused on quality work, professional development, and long-term retention