Public Accounting Staff Accountant Tax & Audit

Job Description

Job Description

Public Accounting Staff Accountant – Tax & Audit

Salary: $60,000–$75,000 annually
Location: Greater New Haven Area, CT
Schedule: Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM–5:00 PM
Employment Type: Direct Hire/Permanent

Are you a Staff Accountant with recent, hands-on public accounting experience?

This opportunity is best suited for an accounting professional who is already preparing tax returns, contributing to audit or other attest engagements, and performing client bookkeeping responsibilities. The selected candidate should be comfortable contributing with limited foundational training while continuing to expand their technical knowledge under experienced firm leadership.

What You’ll Do

• Prepare individual, partnership, corporate, and S corporation tax returns
• Develop supporting tax workpapers and organize client documentation
• Participate directly in audit, review, compilation, and other attest engagements
• Complete assigned audit procedures and prepare supporting workpapers
• Provide recurring bookkeeping and accounting support for firm clients
• Perform bank and general-ledger reconciliations
• Prepare adjusting journal entries and assist with financial statement preparation
• Work in QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Desktop
• Research accounting and tax matters and clearly summarize findings
• Communicate professionally with clients to obtain information and resolve questions
• Manage multiple engagements and meet tax-season and client-service deadlines

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or a closely related field
• One to three years of recent public accounting experience
• Direct experience preparing tax returns—not solely assembling documents or entering basic information
• Hands-on involvement in audit, review, compilation, or other attest engagements
• Practical bookkeeping, general-ledger, reconciliation, and journal-entry experience
• Proficiency with QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Desktop
• Working knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles
• Ability to explain previous responsibilities, work products, and level of independence clearly
• Strong analytical, organizational, technology, and communication skills
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with colleagues and clients

Preferred Qualifications

• Progress toward CPA licensure or CPA eligibility
• Experience with CCH tax or engagement products
• Experience serving multiple clients within a public accounting environment

Compensation and Benefits

• Annual salary of $60,000–$75,000, based on relevant experience
• Direct-hire, permanent employment
• Health and disability insurance
• 401(k) and profit-sharing plans
• Generous paid time off
• Flexible schedules and work arrangements
• Fridays off during the summer
• Direct access to experienced firm leadership
• Collaborative, family-friendly, and professionally supportive environment
• Long-term advancement opportunities

Seasonal Schedule Expectations

Candidates must be available to work approximately 55 hours per week during peak tax season, from February through April 15. Additional overtime may be required between September and October 15.

Who Will Be Most Successful

The strongest candidate will be able to discuss specific tax returns personally prepared, audit or attest procedures personally completed, bookkeeping clients independently supported, and the accounting systems used to perform that work.

This position is intended for someone who already possesses practical public accounting experience and is prepared to contribute shortly after joining the firm.

Qualified public accounting professionals are encouraged to apply promptly. 

A.R. Mazzotta is an equal opportunity employer.  It is the policy of A.R. Mazzotta to employ, recruit, hire, train and promote individuals without regard to race, color, religious creed, sex, national origin, age, marital status, present or past history of mental disability, intellectual disability, learning disability, or physical disability, religion, political affiliation or belief, pregnancy, ancestry, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression or any other status protected by federal, state, or local laws.