Tax Accountant

Company: Talley LLP
Title: Tax Accountant
Location: Orange, California (Hybrid)

About the Firm
Talley, LLP, and its affiliated entities—Talley Law Group, LLP (“TLG”), Talley Capital Group, LLC (“TCG”), and Talley Wealth Management, LLC (“TWM”) (collectively “Talley”)—is a full-service financial, tax, legal, and consulting organization serving entrepreneurially driven businesses and their owners. Talley partners with clients as business advisors, not just service providers, constantly seeking innovative ways to strengthen their bottom line.
Talley, LLP, was founded in 1989, with the mission of helping entrepreneurial driven businesses, their owners, and high net worth individuals, to manage their financial affairs and to achieve their business objectives profitably and efficiently. Our professionals strive to become each client’s Most Trusted Advisor (MTA) by delivering global solutions to our client’s complex challenges and opportunities.
Our services include:

• Audit & Assurance services, including financial reporting
• Tax compliance, Tax planning, and proactive advice.
• Business consulting, Estate planning, M&A, and tax law services delivered through TLG
• Outsourced accounting, controller and CFO services
• M&A, growth-through-acquisition, and operational consulting delivered through TCG

Talley is a boutique firm with 70+ U.S.-based professionals and 20–30 offshore/outsourced team members. Headquartered in Orange, CA, the firm has grown rapidly, becoming a leading Orange County professional services provider. We embrace a hybrid work culture built on accountability, results, and exceptional client service delivered by professional, motivated individuals.

Position Summary
The ideal candidate will report to the Tax Department Manager of Operations and collaborate closely with other tax staff, partners, and department managers. We are looking for someone with strong technical skills who is dedicated to becoming an MTA for our clients. The candidate will actively improve departmental processes, participate in training and development for team members, and support the firm's growth by embracing our various service initiatives. Our tax staff thrives in a dynamic and challenging environment, and we value teamwork and continuous improvement.
Essential Functions of the Position
Must Have Qualities

• Time Management
• Exceptional Organization Skills
• Strong Communication skills
• Responsiveness to time-sensitive items
• Attention to Detail
• Focus on client
• Ability to work independently
• Team Collaboration
• Strong Leadership skills
• Transparency
• Strong Work Ethic
• Being professional and respectful to others
• Positive Attitude

Technical Skills        

• Prepare federal and state tax returns for:
  • Individuals (1040)
  • Partnerships (1065)
  • S Corporations (1120-S)
  • Corporations (1120)
  • Trusts and fiduciary entities

Software Exposure:

• CCH Axcess, ProSystem fx, UltraTax, GoSystem, or similar tax software
• Microsoft Excel including:
  • formulas,
  • pivot tables,
  • data analysis,
  • and reconciliations

Tax Research Platforms
AI tools such as:

• • ChatGPT
  • Claude
  • Microsoft Copilot
  • Other workflow automation and AI tools
• Be able to prepare more complex entity-level and individual tax returns, including multi-state, consolidated, foreign bank reporting, etc
• Ability to review less complex tax returns prepared by staff and outsourced providers.
• Fundamental understanding of tax law and ability to provide client recommendations for possible tax-saving opportunities
• Ability to perform fundamental tax research
• Address government agency's tax notifications
• Ability to prepare Trust Tax returns

Client Service

• Client interaction and liaison for various tax projects, including gathering appropriate information and resolving tax-related problems and notices
• Ability to review and identify tax planning opportunities
• Provide continuous tax return process during the year by interacting with clients and staying current on changes to the client's tax situation
• Provide superior service to our clients such that the clients provide referrals to their friends and colleagues.

Training and Personnel

• Provide technical on-the-job (OTJ) training to tax preparers and outsourced providers.
• Provide informal mentoring to staff accountants and new team members
• Participation in department activities as a team player on behalf of the department and the firm.
• Demonstrate an ability to interact professionally and work as a team member.
• Participate in a minimum of 40 hours of CPE per year and share with department and firm personnel
• Ability and desire to continue to develop technical, personal, and interpersonal skills and to participate in the MTA learning program.

• Follow department policies and procedures.
• Identify and share opportunities for process improvements.
• Participate in weekly department meetings.
• Assist as liaison for outsourced tax preparers.

Required Attributes
Successful applicants will have a minimum of 3-5 years' experience preparing tax returns for high-net-worth individuals at a CPA firm.

• Active CPA or EA designation
• Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting
• Strong project management and time management skills are necessary
• Financial and accounting experience; ability and willingness to work with a significant degree of autonomy; creativity; high service orientation
• Client service focus
• Ability to get along well with diverse personalities; tactful, mature, professional and flexible.
• Ability to operate independently and “self-manage” projects
• Result-and profit-oriented, with the ability to balance other business considerations.
• Strong analytical and reasoning abilities
• High energy level, comfortable performing multifaceted projects in conjunction with everyday activities
• Superior numeric skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to communicate and actively support the values of the firm and communicate these values to others

Compensation & Benefits
Talley LLP offers competitive compensation, bonus opportunities, comprehensive benefits, ongoing professional development, CPA support, mentorship, and long-term career growth opportunities within a collaborative and entrepreneurial environment. Compensation is commensurate with experience, technical ability, and educational background.