What are the responsibilities and job description for the Bookkeeping & Payroll Manager position at Balanced Accounting & Tax Services?
About Us
Balanced Accounting & Tax Services is a small, established accounting firm serving individuals and businesses in southwest Michigan. We offer bookkeeping, payroll, and tax services and take pride in building lasting relationships with our clients.
We're not a big corporate firm and we don't want to be. We treat our clients like friends and neighbors — because most of them are. Our office is business casual, our team is close-knit, and we genuinely enjoy the work we do and the people we do it for. If you want to work somewhere that feels more like a community than big corporate America, keep reading.
About The Role
We are looking for an experienced Bookkeeping & Payroll Manager to join our team. This is a key leadership role overseeing our bookkeeping staff and day-to-day bookkeeping and payroll operations. The right person is someone who works independently, takes ownership, and doesn't need to be micromanaged.
This position offers a flexible seasonal schedule — reduced hours during the off-season with full-time hours during tax season. It's a great fit for someone who values work-life balance most of the year and is ready to roll up their sleeves when it counts.
Responsibilities
- Oversee and support front office bookkeeping staff
- Process and manage client bookkeeping and payroll reports
- Manage an existing portfolio of QuickBooks bookkeeping clients
- Prepare and review client financial statements
- Handle billing and onboarding of new bookkeeping and payroll clients
- Assist with intake of new clients
- Help prepare and process simple tax returns during tax season
- Serve as the go-to resource for staff questions, keeping operations running smoothly
What We're Looking For
- Associate's degree in Accounting or related field preferred; equivalent work experience considered
- Minimum 3-5 years of bookkeeping and payroll experience
- Prior supervisory or lead experience preferred
- Experience with Accounting CS and/or QuickBooks (we use both)
- Familiarity with Lacerte, UltraTax, SmartVault, or Financial Cents a plus
- Comfortable learning and working in a multi-platform digital environment — we are actively modernizing our workflows and looking for someone who embraces technology
- Strong attention to detail and ability to work independently
- Demonstrated ability to take initiative, follow through, and work independently
Schedule & Compensation
- Seasonal schedule: reduced hours off-season, full-time during tax season (January–April)
- Starts at $24/hour, commensurate with experience
- Profit sharing bonus
- Supportive, close-knit team environment