Tax & Accounting Senior/Specialist

Job Description

Job Description

Tax & Accounting Senior/Specialist

Location: Remote (travel to Athens, GA preferred for initial onboarding)

Reports to: Operations Manager

Department: Operations

A cover letter and resume are required when applying.

About Us

Padgett is one of North America’s largest accounting, tax, and business consulting franchises, with more than 160 firms serving small businesses across the U.S. We are committed to empowering our firm owners to grow, thrive, and deliver exceptional value to their clients.

Position Summary

The Operations Specialist/Tax & Accounting supports the operational success of over 160 independently owned Padgett firms across the United States. This role will provide day-to-day support to firms in areas of Federal income taxation and small business accounting.

The successful candidate will spend approximately 50% of their time on Federal taxation support and 50% on accounting and software support. They will also be responsible for creating and documenting SOPs for our internal knowledge base.

This role requires a mix of technical knowledge in tax and accounting, proficiency in cloud technology, strong communication skills, and a proactive, collaborative mindset. The Operations Specialist will partner with franchise owners, vendors, and internal corporate staff to ensure that our network’s processes are efficient, scalable, and aligned with Padgett’s standards of excellence.

Key Responsibilities

Tax Support (50%)

· Serve as a subject-matter expert for Federal income tax matters and related compliance requirements.

· Provide day-to-day support for franchisee tax questions via help desk software, phone, email, and remote access tools.

· Support tax software (currently UltraTax), troubleshoot issues, and coordinate with vendors for updates or escalations.

· Prepare and review tax returns for franchise owners.

· Develop and present tax-related training (webinars, in-person workshops, and recorded sessions).

· Write or review tax-related articles, FAQs, and updates for internal communications and knowledge base resources.

· Monitor and summarize tax law changes that impact the network and communicate timely guidance.

· Assist with annual tax-related updates, including engagement letters, year-end packages, and client-facing resources.

Accounting & Software Support (50%)

· Act as a resource for franchisee accounting, bookkeeping, payroll, and financial reporting questions.

· Provide best-practice guidance on client accounting services workflows and process optimization.

· Support and troubleshoot accounting software (e.g., Xero, QuickBooks Online) and payroll platforms, collaborating with vendors to ensure smooth operation.

· Train franchisees and staff on accounting software setup, features, and best practices, both in live and virtual formats.

Occasional SOP Development

· Write and update standard operating procedures for tax and accounting workflows as needed.

· Collaborate with internal teams to roll out new procedures and communicate changes effectively.

Qualifications

· Education & Experience:

o Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Business Administration, or related field required.

o CPA or EA required.

o 3+ years of experience in tax preparation and accounting (public accounting preferred).

· Skills:

o Ability to triage, prioritize and solve problems during a fast-paced seasonal period.

o Experience preparing and reviewing Federal income tax returns (individual and entities.)

o Proficiency in taxation research.

o Experience in small business accounting and payroll, including bank reconciliations, accounts receivable, accounts payable, financial statement preparation.

o Exceptional relationship management and communication skills.

o Skilled at documenting SOPs, workflows and improvement plans in repeatable format.

o Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills; able to troubleshoot problems calmly and confidently.

· Technology competencies:

o Microsoft suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams)

o HubSpot

o Video conferencing (Teams, Zoom)

o Tax preparation (UltraTax)

o Tax research (BlueJ, Checkpoint, QuickFinder)

o Cloud accounting (Xero, QBO)

o Payroll (ADP RUN, Gusto)

o Practice management (Karbon)

· Mindset: Solutions-oriented, proactive, collaborative, and excited to help small business owners succeed.

· Location: Ability to spend time in Athens, GA, for initial training and periodically thereafter. Travel to events and franchisee offices across the US, estimated to be 2-4 trips annually.

What We Offer

· Competitive salary commensurate with experience

· Major medical, dental, vision, life insurance, employer paid disability, paid vacation and sick leave, 401k plan with guaranteed employer match

· The opportunity to be a part of an experienced, expanding company

SmallBizPros, Inc. - Padgett is one of North America's largest accounting, tax, and business consulting franchises, with more than 160 firms serving small businesses across the U.S. We are committed to empowering our firm owners to grow, thrive, and deliver exceptional value to their clients.

Company Description

SmallBizPros, Inc. - Padgett is one of North America's largest accounting, tax, and business consulting franchises, with more than 160 firms serving small businesses across the U.S. We are committed to empowering our firm owners to grow, thrive, and deliver exceptional value to their clients.