What are the responsibilities and job description for the CPA Tax Manager position at Chery Finn CPAs PLLC?
Houston, Texas | Full-time
Base salary starting at $115,000 to $130,000 annually, depending on experience and qualifications, plus bonus potential
Chery Finn CPAs is seeking an experienced Tax Manager to lead high-quality tax review, handle complex tax preparation, and serve as a trusted technical resource for domestic and international tax compliance and foreign information reporting.
This is a review-led, hands-on management role. Most of the manager's tax production responsibilities will involve reviewing work prepared by others, but the role also requires personally preparing complex individual and business returns and international filings when the technical complexity or engagement needs call for it. This is not a review-only position.
The Tax Manager will be expected to take independent ownership of technical issues, client relationships, filing requirements, and deadlines while working closely with the Managing Shareholder. We are looking for someone who can provide sound answers, identify issues before they become problems, communicate clearly, and strengthen the quality and capabilities of the tax team.
- Lead detailed technical review of federal and state individual and business income tax returns, including Forms 1040, 1065, 1120-S, and 1120, before final review and signature by the Managing Shareholder.
- Personally prepare complex returns and supporting calculations when engagement needs, technical complexity, or workload require direct involvement.
- Review and resolve issues involving high-income individuals, closely held businesses, K-1s, investments, rental activities, estimates, shareholder and partner basis, distributions, reasonable compensation, fixed assets, and entity structure.
- Provide clear, actionable review notes, resolve open technical questions, and confirm that corrections are completed and supported before returns move forward.
- Prepare or review fiduciary income tax returns as experience and engagement needs warrant. Form 1041 experience is preferred but not required.
- Independently assess international tax compliance and foreign information-reporting obligations for assigned individuals, businesses, trusts, and ownership structures.
- Prepare and review applicable foreign reporting filings, including FinCEN Form 114 (FBAR) and IRS Forms 8938, 5471, 5472, 8858, 8865, 3520, 3520-A, and 8621.
- Analyze cross-border facts, foreign ownership, foreign accounts and assets, foreign trusts and gifts, foreign entities, and foreign investments to identify required filings and related U.S. tax consequences.
- Research and resolve international tax issues, document technical conclusions, obtain the necessary client information, and manage the applicable filing and extension requirements.
- Serve as an internal technical resource for international compliance and foreign reporting, taking ownership of technical conclusions and communicating material risks and recommendations to the Managing Shareholder and clients.
- Own assigned client relationships and lead tax compliance and planning conversations with confidence and professionalism.
- Explain technical tax matters and recommendations in clear business language.
- Identify proactive planning opportunities involving individuals, business owners, entity structure, distributions, reasonable compensation, projections, and cross-border matters.
- Translate recommendations into clear client action items and follow through on implementation and outstanding information.
- Exercise sound judgment about material risk, client expectations, and matters requiring Managing Shareholder approval.
- Guide, delegate to, review, mentor, and develop tax team members while remaining willing to perform complex work directly.
- Manage deadlines, review queues, client information requests, and open items so work moves forward without avoidable last-minute intervention.
- Improve tax workflows, technical documentation, review procedures, and quality-control practices.
- Collaborate with accounting and administrative team members to resolve bookkeeping, payroll, and documentation issues affecting tax work.
- Assist with recruiting and developing future tax team members as the practice grows.
- Maintain professional knowledge through continuing education and developments in federal, state, and international tax requirements.
- Perform other duties reasonably related to the role and the firm's business needs.
- At least five years of public-accounting tax experience, with seven or more years preferred.
- An active U.S. CPA license in good standing. Licensure in any U.S. state is acceptable.
- Demonstrated manager-level technical review experience and the ability to independently resolve complex tax issues.
- Strong hands-on preparation and review experience with Forms 1040, 1065, 1120-S, and 1120.
- Experience with international tax compliance and foreign information reporting, together with the technical judgment and research skills needed to take independent ownership of applicable filings and conclusions.
- Willingness and ability to personally prepare complex returns and international filings, not only review work performed by others.
- Working knowledge of shareholder and partner basis, distributions, reasonable compensation, fixed assets, entity selection, and tax projections.
- Ability to lead client meetings, communicate technical matters clearly, and provide practical, service-minded guidance.
- Experience supervising, reviewing, or mentoring tax professionals and providing constructive technical feedback.
- Organized work habits, attention to detail, reliable follow-through, and the ability to manage competing deadlines.
- A collaborative approach without ego, with a willingness to share knowledge, ask thoughtful questions, and strengthen the entire team.
- Comfort learning and using multiple technology platforms.
- Seven or more years of public-accounting tax experience.
- Deep, specialist-level expertise in international tax compliance and foreign reporting, including hands-on preparation and review across FBAR and Forms 8938, 5471, 5472, 8858, 8865, 3520, 3520-A, and 8621.
- Experience serving as the primary technical resource for international tax matters and translating complex cross-border requirements into clear client guidance.
- Experience with Form 1041 fiduciary income tax returns.
- Experience improving review standards, developing staff, and strengthening a smaller CPA firm's tax operations.
Experience with the following is helpful but not required in every system:
- Intuit ProConnect Tax
- Karbon
- StanfordTax
- QuickBooks Online
- Google Workspace
The position is full-time and based at our Houston office at 11500 Northwest Freeway, Suite 100, Houston, Texas 77092.
After successful completion of the introductory period, a hybrid work arrangement may be considered based on demonstrated performance, ability to work independently, client and team needs, deadlines, workload, data security, and firm policy. Hybrid eligibility is not guaranteed and may be modified or withdrawn as business needs change.
Increased hours are expected during tax filing seasons and other deadline periods. The firm values sustainable performance and thoughtful workload management.
- Base salary starting at $115,000 to $130,000 annually, with compensation based on experience, technical depth, international tax capabilities, and demonstrated management ability.
- Performance bonus opportunity.
- 401(k) plan.
- Two weeks of paid time off.
- Firm-paid continuing professional education and support for professional development.
- The firm does not currently sponsor a group health-insurance plan. Compensation is considered in the context of the overall benefits package.
Within approximately six months, the successful candidate should be able to:
- Lead technical review of assigned returns, deliver clear review feedback, and resolve complex issues with limited routine intervention from the Managing Shareholder.
- Independently identify and manage international compliance and foreign reporting obligations, including the required filings, supporting information, technical conclusions, and deadlines.
- Personally complete complex preparation assignments when needed while keeping review responsibilities and team delivery on track.
- Own assigned client relationships, lead appropriate meetings, and communicate tax positions, risks, and recommendations clearly.
- Identify practical planning opportunities and follow through on client action items.
- Manage deadlines, review queues, and open items reliably, with early communication of material risks or capacity constraints.
- Develop team members through effective delegation, technical coaching, and consistent quality standards.
- Strengthen the firm's tax processes and reduce the need for routine Managing Shareholder involvement in production and technical problem-solving.
Chery Finn CPAs is a Houston CPA firm serving individuals, business owners, and closely held companies. Our work combines tax compliance, proactive planning, accounting insight, and practical client guidance. We are building a team that values technical quality, responsiveness, collaboration, continuous improvement, and long-term client relationships.
Salary : $115,000 - $130,000