Senior Tax Associate

Senior Tax Associate: Path to Tax Manager in 12–18 Months Frederick, MD (Hybrid) | Full-Time | $85,000–$115,000 + bonuses Before you apply, please read: This role requires US work authorization (we do not sponsor visas) and 3 days per week in our Frederick, MD office for your first 90 days. The final interview is in person. You also need 4+ years of hands-on US tax experience at a US CPA, EA, or boutique firm, including 1120S and 1065 returns. Applications that don't meet these requirements will not be reviewed. Who We Are Spark Tax Services is a boutique, proactive tax advisory firm serving high-net-worth clients: W-2 professionals and business owners earning $500K+. We don't just file taxes and send a bill. We build strategies, implement them, and stay in our clients' corner year-round. Our clients pay us because we save them significantly more than we cost. We're a lean team that moves fast, takes ownership, and holds a high standard. We're growing, and we need someone who wants to grow with us, not someone looking for a comfortable seat. This Role Is Not for Everyone If you want a large firm where you can blend in, follow a checklist, and hand your work up the chain, this isn't the right fit. If you're 4–6 years into your career, know the technical work cold, and are hungry to own something real, keep reading. This is a ground-floor opportunity at a firm that is scaling intentionally. The person who takes this role and earns it will be our Tax Manager within 12–18 months. That's the plan, not a vague promise. The Opportunity You will be the quality gate for everything that leaves our tax department: returns, projections, research memos, and client responses. If it touches a client, it goes through you first. You'll build the review process, raise the quality of the team around you, and free the founder to focus on strategy and growth. This is a review role, not a prep role. The team handles prep. Your job is to make sure it's right. What Success Looks Like First 6–9 months: build the foundation Individual and business returns reviewed and delivered on time, without the founder touching them Clear, actionable review comments that improve associates' work, with zero repeat comments on the same issue A short Loom video summary recorded for every delivered return Quarterly and post-strategy tax projections reviewed for accuracy (post-strategy within 3 business days) Client tax inquiries researched and answered: staff drafts, you approve Independent tax research memos (e.g., does a short-term rental purchase make sense for this client, and how should it be executed?) Months 12–18: earn the Tax Manager title Handle IRS and state agency calls independently (transcripts, abatements, elections) Run advisory meetings without the founder for appropriate clients Own the full assessment process, from onboarding call to strategy review to presenting results Run the tax department as an independent function, with measurable reductions in review cycles and prep hours year over year What You Bring (Required) 4–6 years of US tax experience at a regional, boutique, or independent CPA/EA firm, owning work from start to finish Strong technical knowledge of 1040, 1120S, 1065, and 1120 returns Experience reviewing other people's work, not just preparing CPA or EA credential, or actively pursuing one Clear written and on-camera communication Authorized to work in the US and able to commute to Frederick, MD Nice to Have Experience with tax projections and research memos ProConnect Tax, TaxDome, Microsoft 365, Loom The Role Reports to: Firm founder Location: Frederick, MD. Hybrid (3 days in office / 2 remote) for the first 90 days, then fully remote Hours: Full-time, Monday–Friday, US Eastern hours Team: Tax associates, client success, operations, and bookkeeping colleagues across the US, Perú, and Nepal Compensation & Benefits $85,000–$115,000 salary, depending on experience Tax season bonus (April) and holiday bonus (December) based on firm performance $500/month health reimbursement (QSEHRA) 22 days of PTO per year (prorated in year 1) plus 7 paid federal holidays 401(k) through our pooled employer plan (eligible after 90 days), with a Safe Harbor employer match starting January 2027 Paid continuing education and CPA/EA licensing support Clear path to Tax Manager in 12–18 months Fully remote after the first 90 days Our Process Apply on Indeed and answer the screening questions Shortlisted candidates complete a brief Loom video screening Live interview Final interview in person at our Frederick, MD office Pay: $85,000.00 - $115,000.00 per year Benefits 401(k) 401(k) matching Continuing education credits Dental insurance Flexible schedule Health insurance License reimbursement Life insurance Opportunities for advancement Paid sick time Paid time off Paid training Professional development assistance Vision insurance Work from home Application Question(s): Have you prepared AND reviewed 1120S and 1065 returns? Briefly describe your review experience (whose work you reviewed and roughly how many returns per season). In 3-5 sentences: why is this role the right fit for where you are in your career right now? Experience: US tax preparation and review: 4 years (Required) License/Certification: CPA or EA license (Preferred) Ability to Commute: Frederick, MD 21704 (Required) Work Location: Hybrid remote in Frederick, MD 21704