Operations Manager

Job description Operations Manager Salah Financial - The Income Tax Center | St. Louis, MO, 63131 | Full-Time | 140K–160K BASE, $180k–220K OTE (On-Target Earnings) Role Salah Financial - The Income Tax Center is a 31-year-old accounting and tax advisory firm in St. Louis's suburb of Town & Country with a trusted reputation for strategic advisory and servant leadership, entering a new phase of growth. We are hiring a high-level operator to help us transform a founder-led accounting firm into one of the nation’s premier advisory-centered organizations. The Operations Manager owns production operations focused on: • Strategic tax advisory, • Business-owner consulting, • Bookkeeping/CFO services, • AI-enabled operational infrastructure, and • Scalable long-term growth. The right leader will help build the systems, accountability, workflow, communication, leadership infrastructure, and organizational clarity necessary to support that vision. You report directly to the founder. You manage the production teams. You own workflow, quality, people, and capacity planning. You are the first line on escalations and the person responsible for ensuring operations run without founder involvement. This is a hands-on leadership role in a firm that is actively evolving. You will have real authority, direct access to the founder, and the opportunity to shape how the firm operates as it scales. The ideal candidate has experience managing inside a $15M+ accounting firm environment and understands the unique operational dynamics of tax preparation, bookkeeping, workflow management, seasonal capacity planning, realization, production accountability, staffing pressure, client service expectations, and scaling an accounting organization without sacrificing culture, relationships, accountability, or excellence. While operational excellence, accountability, and results are critical, culture matters just as much. For more than 30 years, we have intentionally built our culture around a simple principle: love. Not as a slogan, but as a way of leading. We believe all stakeholders must be treated with dignity, encouraged to grow, challenged to reach their potential, and supported through both successes and struggles. We believe every interaction is an opportunity to leave someone better than we found them. The right leader will be energized by developing people, strengthening relationships, creating an environment of infectious joy, and helping others succeed. If you believe that high performance and genuine care for people can coexist—and that organizations can pursue excellence without losing their heart—you may be exactly who we're seeking for this most important role. Results First 90 Days • Full understanding of production workflows and team capacity • Day-to-day operational decisions running through you • Top 3 bottlenecks identified with fixes in progress • Escalation process fully owned First 12 Months • Founder no longer involved in production • Production margins improved and tracked • Team performance managed through clear scorecards • Operations ready to support significantly higher volume Compensation + Perks • $140K-160k base, $180K–$220K OTE based on performance MITs • 100% employer-paid health benefits (No waiting period) • 3% Company matching retirement benefits • 2 Weeks PTO year one • Company retreats Responsibilities: People • Manage a team of CPAs, bookkeepers, admin staff, and contractors • Assign work, set expectations, run performance reviews, and make staffing decisions • Own hiring: sourcing, screening, interviews, offers, and onboarding • Develop team members and address underperformance directly Production • Own the full workflow for tax return preparation and bookkeeping delivery • Manage seasonal capacity planning and ensure the team is prepared ahead of peak periods • Maintain quality standards across all client deliverables • Build and maintain SOPs for repeatable processes Operations • Own client escalations and resolve them before they reach the founder • Deliver a weekly operations report covering production, utilization, issues, and risks • Identify and fix bottlenecks proactively • Coordinate across departments to ensure smooth delivery when client engagements span multiple services • Manage vendor relationships and operational tools Growth • Build capacity models that support growth without proportional headcount increases • Prepare operations for new initiatives as the firm evolves • Provide cost and margin data to support strategic decisions Qualifications: Requirements Must Have • 10+ years in accounting, tax, or professional services operations • 3+ years managing a team of 5+ (CPAs, bookkeepers, or similar) • Leadership experience in a firm with $10M+ in revenue • Hands-on. You've been through tax seasons and understand the pressure • Strong people management skills • Process-oriented. You build systems that prevent problems • Proficiency with QuickBooks and standard tax/practice management software Nice to Have • CPA or EA credential • Experience in a firm going through a transition or growth phase • Built or restructured an operations function • Experience managing both employees and contractors Compensation: $140,000 - $220,000 yearly

• People • Manage a team of CPAs, bookkeepers, admin staff, and contractors • Assign work, set expectations, run performance reviews, and make staffing decisions • Own hiring: sourcing, screening, interviews, offers, and onboarding • Develop team members and address underperformance directlyProduction • Own the full workflow for tax return preparation and bookkeeping delivery • Manage seasonal capacity planning and ensure the team is prepared ahead of peak periods • Maintain quality standards across all client deliverables • Build and maintain SOPs for repeatable processesOperations • Own client escalations and resolve them before they reach the founder • Deliver a weekly operations report covering production, utilization, issues, and risks • Identify and fix bottlenecks proactively • Coordinate across departments to ensure smooth delivery when client engagements span multiple services • Manage vendor relationships and operational toolsGrowth • Build capacity models that support growth without proportional headcount increases • Prepare operations for new initiatives as the firm evolves • Provide cost and margin data to support strategic decisions

Compensation:
$140,000-$220,000 per year