What are the responsibilities and job description for the Tax Manager position at Blue Signal Search?
Tax Manager
Location: Hybrid (on-site preferred) – Phoenix, AZ
Our client is an independent public-accounting and advisory practice with three decades of success serving privately held companies and high-net-worth families throughout the Southwest. The firm is expanding its leadership bench and seeks a Tax Manager who will own client relationships, drive strategic tax planning, and mentor an agile team. If you thrive on variety, direct client impact, and a collaborative culture, this is your opportunity to help shape a growing firm’s future.
Work Style & Schedule
- On-site presence is strongly preferred during the initial ramp-up period (roughly the first 6–12 months) to maximize collaboration and client exposure.
- After successful onboarding and performance milestones, the role transitions to a hybrid schedule averaging three days per week in the Phoenix office.
- Standard workload averages 45 hours per week outside of busy season, increasing to approximately 55 hours at peak.
- Minimal travel limited to occasional client visits or industry events.
Compensation & Benefits
- Competitive base salary with performance bonus potential.
- Comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, life, 401(k) match, paid CPE, and CPA licensing support.
- Direct access to firm leadership, a clear partner-track pathway, and a culture that celebrates successes and community involvement.
Key Responsibilities
- Act as the primary advisor for a mixed book of closely held businesses and their owners, translating complex tax matters into practical guidance.
- Review and sign off on intricate federal and multi-state returns for S-corps, partnerships, C-corps, trusts, and individuals while identifying savings opportunities.
- Partner with directors to design proactive strategies around entity structure, retirement planning, asset purchases, and succession to minimize risk and maximize after-tax cash flow.
- Plan staffing, workflow, and timelines for roughly 1 500 billable hours per year, ensuring projects meet quality and budget goals.
- Research emerging federal and Arizona statutes, draft concise memoranda, and present findings to internal and external stakeholders.
- Coach and evaluate a rotating team of ten staff and seniors, providing targeted feedback and accelerating professional growth.
- Collaborate with the client-accounting group to clean up books, implement QuickBooks Online best practices, and prepare schedules that feed directly into the return.
- Champion continuous-improvement efforts, leveraging cloud-based tax and research software to streamline engagement processes.
Qualifications
- Active CPA license (Arizona or reciprocal).
- Bachelor’s degree in accounting, Finance, or related field; Master of Taxation a plus.
- Minimum five years of broad-based public-accounting experience in a small or mid-size firm environment.
- Proven command of individual, corporate, partnership, and fiduciary tax law plus familiarity with payroll, sales & use, and property taxes.
- Demonstrated success managing multiple engagements and mentoring staff.
- Advanced proficiency with leading tax prep, workflow, and research platforms as well as strong QuickBooks skills.
- Excellent interpersonal and written communication abilities.
Ready to make an impact? Apply in confidence today to learn how this position can accelerate your career while delivering tangible value to clients and colleagues alike.
About Blue Signal:
- Blue Signal is an award-winning, executive search firm specializing in finance & accounting recruiting. We have a strong reputation for finding top talent in private equity, asset management, financial services, FinTech, and accounting leadership. Learn more at bit.ly/3IKiOzm