Administrative Associate

Administrative Associate

Chapel Hill, NC

Administrative Associate

Blackman & Sloop Advisors, Inc. | Chapel Hill, NC

About Blackman & Sloop

At Blackman & Sloop, we hire great people and give them a great place to work. We listen to what our employees value, and being a local firm gives us the advantage of flexibility. Our secret to retaining staff is a positive culture, strong community involvement, and a dedication to constantly increasing our competencies. We are a single-office firm with approximately 45 full-time staff.

For 8 years, we've been honored as one of Accounting Today's "Best Accounting Firms to Work For"! We've also been recognized by Business North Carolina as one of the "Best Employers in North Carolina" list for multiple years. Most recently, we are proud to have received the Best Companies Group award for Best Accounting Firms for Women in Chapel Hill.

As an independent member of the BDO Alliance, we have access to the resources of BDO USA, LLP, the world's 5th largest accounting and consulting firm. Additionally in April 2024, we made the strategic decision to join Ascend to usher us in our next stage of growth.

About Ascend

At Ascend, we understand the struggles that accounting & finance professionals face in traditional public accounting firms from rigid hierarchies, overwhelming workloads, and the elusive work-life balance. It's time for a transformative change. We believe your ambition should not be constrained by outdated practices or opaque career paths. Here, you're not just a number; you're a valued member of a community that supports & celebrates your professional & personal fulfillment. Our mission is to transform the public accounting experience into one where work-life harmony is a reality, and where your career advancement is supported by a nurturing network and comprehensive resources.

Backed by private equity from people-focused Alpine Investors, Ascend is building a dynamic platform for regional accounting firms that enables them to stay independent while accessing the resources of a Top 25 firm to help them grow. Ascend provides access to growth capital, robust talent acquisition and training, leading quality management resources, best-of-breed technology, AI tools, an offshore captive, shared back-office services, a catalytic leadership system, and modernized equity incentives so that firms can surmount today's industry challenges to reach their full potential.

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The Role

We are seeking an Administrative Associate to provide dedicated administrative support to one of our three service lines Tax, Client Accounting & Advisory Services (CAAS), or Audit. This role works alongside a service line team to keep client work moving, deliverables organized, and clients well-served through every stage of the engagement.

This is a generalist role designed for someone who could seat effectively in any of our service lines. We hire for the person, not the practice line initial placement will be based on firm need and where your strengths align best, and the role is structured so Administrative Associates can move across service lines over time as the firm evolves.

You will work directly with Partners, Managers, and staff to support client engagements, and you will be a primary point of contact for clients themselves answering questions, coordinating deliverables, and representing the firm in every interaction. This role reports to the Admin Lead, with strong working relationships with the Partners of your assigned service line.

Key Responsibilities

Client Engagement Support

• Serve as a primary administrative point of contact for clients answering questions, coordinating deliverables, and maintaining warm, professional relationships
• Manage inbound client phone calls, emails, and requests for the service line team
• Coordinate the flow of client deliverables tax returns, financial statements, audit reports, advisory memos through review, signature, and final delivery
• Track engagement status and keep Partners and Managers informed of client activity and open items

Document & Deliverable Management

• Manage document intake, scanning, and logging for client engagements
• Support production of client deliverables assembly, formatting, quality checks, and final packaging
• Route engagement letters, service agreements, and related paperwork for signature and internal filing
• Maintain client files and records in accordance with firm standards and confidentiality requirements

Client Setup & Onboarding

• Support new client onboarding for the service line client setup in practice management systems, engagement letter preparation, and initial documentation
• Coordinate with the Customer Experience team on onboarding execution and client escalations
• Support acceptance and continuance processes as directed by the Admin Lead and service line Partners

Deadlines, Compliance & Workflow

• Maintain the service line's deadline and compliance calendar; surface upcoming deadlines to Partners and Managers
• Track engagement workflow and status in CCH Workflow, CCH Axcess, and adjacent systems
• Coordinate with the Operations Manager on capacity and scheduling implications of engagement volume
• Support the service line through peak seasons (tax season for Tax, monthly close for CAAS, audit peaks for Audit)

Required Qualifications

• 35 years of administrative experience in professional services (CPA firm, law firm, or similar preferred)
• Strong client-service instincts warm, professional, responsive under pressure
• Excellent written and verbal communication; comfort as a primary client touchpoint by phone and email
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail the ability to keep multiple engagements moving without dropping threads
• Discretion and mature judgment when handling confidential client information
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft 365 (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams) and comfort learning new systems
• Ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment with shifting priorities and seasonal demand cycles
• Eagerness and willingness to adopt and use new technologies, including AI-enabled tools
• Willingness and adaptability to work across service lines as firm needs evolve

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience in a CPA firm, law firm, or other professional services environment
• Familiarity with CCH Axcess, CCH Workflow, or similar practice management tools
• Exposure to tax, audit, or client accounting work even at a high level
• Experience supporting multiple partners or senior professionals simultaneously
• Familiarity with e-signature platforms, document management systems, or client portals

Who We Look For

A career administrative professional who takes real pride in the craft someone who understands that a well-run engagement is the product of a hundred small acts of care, done consistently and well. Warm and professional with clients, sharp and reliable with Partners, adaptable across service lines. Someone who can hold multiple engagements in their head at once, spot the thing that's about to slip, and quietly handle it before anyone else has to think about it.

Location & Schedule

In-office, Chapel Hill, NC. Full-time, exempt (salaried). Increased hours and flexibility expected during tax season (February 1 April 15) and extension season (August 1 October 15), and during service-line-specific peak periods.

What We Offer

We hire good people and give them a good place to work. Our secret to keeping them around is a positive culture, strong community involvement, and a dedication to constantly increasing our competencies. We truly believe that when you succeed, the firm succeeds, and we make sure you have whatever tools you need to make that success possible.

• Unlimited PTO
• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• 401(k) Matching
• Performance Bonus
• 12 Paid Holidays
• Off-season Flex Fridays
• Closed Fridays in June
• Professional Development