Tax Partner

Tax Partner / CPA Practice Lead

Confidential Search | Boutique Tax & Advisory Firm

Our client is an established boutique tax and advisory firm seeking an experienced Tax Partner / CPA Practice Lead to help lead the firm’s CPA practice alongside ownership. This is a true partner-level opportunity for a CPA who is ready to move beyond the senior employee track and into a real ownership-oriented leadership seat. This role is designed for an experienced operator, not a high-volume tax preparer. The right candidate will spend the majority of their time overseeing review, managing client relationships, leading advisory strategy, supporting firm operations, and helping guide the future direction of the practice. The ideal candidate is technically strong, client-facing, operationally minded, and comfortable being a senior voice within the firm.

Why This Opportunity Stands Out

This is a rare opportunity to step into a meaningful partner-level role with ownership upside and no upfront capital buy-in requirement. Many CPA firms require a significant capital contribution for partnership consideration. This opportunity offers a documented equity path based on service, performance, and long-term contribution.

The firm is stable, established, and forward-thinking, with a strong existing team and a commitment to process improvement, technology, and operational modernization.

This is a strong fit for a CPA who wants to lead, build, mentor, improve systems, and help shape the next phase of a growing boutique practice.

Key Responsibilities

Firm Leadership & Operations

• Help lead day-to-day firm operations
• Support financial management, budgeting, payroll, AP/AR, and vendor decisions
• Participate in hiring, compensation, performance management, and staff development
• Help oversee capacity planning, workflow, and team structure
• Contribute to pricing strategy, engagement structure, and client acceptance decisions
• Partner with ownership on firm strategy, growth planning, and operational improvement
• Support technology adoption, process improvement, and workflow modernization

Tax Leadership

• Serve as a senior technical leader across the firm’s tax practice
• Review and sign off on individual, business, trust, multi-state, and complex tax returns
• Manage relationships with high-net-worth individuals, business owners, and complex client accounts
• Lead proactive tax planning and advisory work throughout the year
• Provide guidance on complex tax matters and client strategy
• Support IRS, state, and local tax notice resolution, examinations, and controversy matters
• Help expand advisory services and deepen existing client relationships
• Build and maintain referral relationships where appropriate

Ideal Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate is a CPA with strong technical tax experience, proven leadership ability, and a genuine interest in ownership-level responsibility. This person should be comfortable operating above the work while still being willing to step in where needed.

This is not the right role for someone who only wants a title. The firm is looking for a true partner-minded professional who can help lead people, clients, systems, and strategy.

Required Qualifications

• Active CPA license in good standing, or ability to become licensed in the applicable state
• 10+ years of public accounting experience
• At least 5 years in a Senior Manager, Principal, Director, or Partner-track capacity
• Strong technical tax review experience
• Experience managing high-net-worth, business, and/or complex entity client relationships
• Proven tax planning and advisory experience
• Ability to serve as a senior technical and operational resource for staff
• Experience leading teams, mentoring staff, and improving processes
• Ownership mindset and comfort with firm-level decision-making

Strongly Preferred Experience

• Prior partner-track, principal, director, or ownership-level experience
• Experience managing a book of business, service line, team P&L, or firm operations
• International tax exposure, including FBAR, FATCA, Form 5471, Form 8865, or PFIC matters
• Experience with equity compensation, including ISO, NSO, RSU, and ESPP planning
• Experience with high-net-worth individuals, founders, executives, or closely held businesses
• Familiarity with CCH Axcess Tax, TaxDome, QuickBooks Online, Bill.com, or similar platforms
• Multi-state, real estate, trust and estate, or entity tax depth
• Additional language fluency is a plus, but not required

Compensation

• Base Salary: $150,000 – $175,000, depending on experience and credentials
• Performance Bonus: Tied to documented KPIs, including client retention, advisory revenue, firm growth, and new service revenue
• Equity Opportunity: Up to $300,000 in equity opportunity, vesting over time on a documented schedule
• Capital Buy-In: No capital contribution required
• Benefits: Medical, dental, vision, 401(k), CPE, license fees, professional dues, PTO, and firm holidays

Schedule

This is a full-time leadership role. The first year is expected to be primarily in-office to build trust, understand the team, learn the client base, and integrate into firm operations. Hybrid flexibility may be available after the first year.

Who This Role Is For

This opportunity is best suited for a CPA who wants to step into real ownership responsibility, lead a stable team, manage complex client relationships, and help modernize a boutique tax practice.

The right person will be technical, strategic, collaborative, and entrepreneurial. They will be comfortable making firm-level decisions, mentoring staff, working with ownership, and helping build the future of the practice.