Managing Partner - CPA in San Jose

Job Description

Job Description

Silicon Valley Tax — Managing Partner

San Jose, CA · Full-Time, In-Office Year One (1 day/week remote optional after) · Full Partner-Level Role

Base $150K–$175K + performance bonus tied to business growth + $300,000 equity opportunity + participation in firm distributions. No capital buy-in. Join as a Managing Member and Partner.

The Position

Silicon Valley Tax is hiring a Managing Partner to lead the firm's CPA practice alongside our Managing Member. This is a partner-level seat at an established 20+ year boutique firm in San Jose with 750+ clients, serving Silicon Valley tech professionals, high-net-worth individuals, closely held businesses, and international filers across individual tax, business returns, and bookkeeping. You'll be the firm's senior tax authority — reviewing and signing the book, leading the highest-touch client relationships, driving planning and advisory work, and helping direct the firm's next phase of growth.

The seat is built for an experienced operator. Most tax work is review rather than preparation. The Managing Partner is the firm's tax authority and works alongside a Managing Member who is tax-aware, technology-capable, and solution-oriented — handling operations, infrastructure, team, and growth on the non-tax side. This is an opportunity for an ambitious person ready to make the transition from employee to partner.

Busy season hours: more information available upon request.

Managing Member with Owner Responsibilities

Signing returns, running the firm's books, payroll, team management, hiring decisions, pricing, and the financial decisions that come with co-ownership.

What's Different About This Position

$300,000 equity opportunity — no capital buy-in

Most CPA firms ask for a $200K–$500K capital contribution to convert years of work into actual ownership. Here, the seat carries a $300,000 equity opportunity earned through service and performance, with no capital required from you. Vesting follows a 5 year schedule, to be negotiated on a per candidate basis. The path to ownership runs through doing the job well, not writing a check. The Managing Partner participates in firm distributions alongside equity vesting.

Experienced Team, Already in Place

You'll partner with Cooper Hathaway, Partner and Managing Member. Cooper leads firm operations, infrastructure, technology, team management, and growth strategy, pulling from a background in software development, AI automation, and operating service businesses. He runs the firm's books, vendor relationships, hiring, pricing operations, and the technology stack that supports the practice, freeing the Managing Partner to focus on tax authority and client leadership.

The Senior Enrolled Agent (17 years with the firm) anchors international tax (FBAR / FATCA / 5471 / PFIC) and tech-industry stock compensation (ISO / NSO / RSU / ESPP) day-to-day. Five full-time team members and 1 CPA with tenure from 2-7 years support tax preparation, bookkeeping, and client services.

The book is established, the client retention norms are mature, the operating cadence is in place. Depth in international or stock-comp tax is a strong plus, not a hard requirement.

What You'll Own

Ownership responsibilities

• Firm operations — payroll, AP/AR, monthly close, financial decisions, vendor management
• Team management — hiring, compensation, performance, capacity, mentorship of the Senior EA and five full-time staff
• Pricing and engagement strategy — what we charge, how we engage, which clients we take
• Firm strategy and growth — service-line design, technology roadmap, partnership decisions

Tax leadership responsibilities

• Review and sign-off across the book — individual, business, trust, multi-state, international
• Primary relationship management for high-net-worth, high-tech, and complex-entity clients
• Tax planning and advisory — proactive year-round work, not just season-driven compliance
• IRS, FTB, CDTFA, EDD representation for notices, examinations, and controversy
• Business development — referral networks, client expansion, planning conversions

What We're Looking For

Required

• Active CPA license in California (or eligibility to license in CA), in good standing
• 10+ years of public accounting experience, with at least 5 years in a Senior Manager or higher capacity
• Owner-track experience — having built a book, run a service line, managed a team's P&L, owned firm operations, or started something of your own. We are hiring someone who is interested in partner level status. You will be operating as an owner rather than an employee.
• Demonstrated ownership of high-net-worth and complex-entity client relationships
• Track record of tax planning and advisory work — not pure compliance
• Comfort being the senior technical and operational voice for staff

Preferred Capabilities

• Mandarin language fluency — a meaningful share of the client base is Mandarin-speaking
• Direct experience with international tax (FBAR / FATCA / 5471 / 8865 / PFIC) and high-tech stock compensation
• Experience with CCH Axcess Tax, TaxDome, QuickBooks Online, Bill.com
• Real estate, multi-state nexus, or trust & estate depth

Silicon Valley Tax is a boutique CPA firm with more than 20 years of experience serving the Bay Area. Recently acquired and undergoing active modernization, the firm provides tax, accounting, and advisory services to Silicon Valley tech professionals, high-net-worth individuals, closely held businesses, and international filers.

Company Description

Silicon Valley Tax is a boutique CPA firm with more than 20 years of experience serving the Bay Area. Recently acquired and undergoing active modernization, the firm provides tax, accounting, and advisory services to Silicon Valley tech professionals, high-net-worth individuals, closely held businesses, and international filers.\r\n\r\nThe practice generates approximately $1–2M in annual revenue across 750+ client engagements and offers a full range of services, including individual and business tax preparation, bookkeeping, payroll, and related accounting support.