Director, Tax Operations

Job Description

Job Description

Who We Are

In an increasingly complex world where people are starving for someone they can trust, we stand for something simple: always put the client first. We do well by doing good for those we serve. It’s the ultimate measure. We believe in providing value beyond a doubt and in the notion that time will either expose you or promote you, based on your willingness to embrace change.

We serve financial advisors and investors through three entities, each headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska: Carson Wealth, Carson Coaching and Carson Partners. We provide coaching and partnership services to advisor firms – and straightforward financial advice to the investing public. We all share a common mission to be the most trusted in financial advice.

Who We Want 

Responsible for the operational management of the firm’s tax preparation program, which is built on outsourced return preparation delivered through vetted external partners. Owns the processes required to move tax engagements from onboarding through filing, holding those partners accountable to the standard our clients and advisors expect. Oversee workflow, service levels, documentation, recordkeeping, quality controls, issue resolution, and compliance with established policies and procedures.

What To Expect 

• Tax Operations & Partner Management: Own the operational success of the firm’s outsourced tax preparation model, ensuring returns are completed accurately, timely, and in accordance with established quality and service standards. Serves as the primary relationship owner and day-to-day point of contact for external tax preparation partners. Oversee the end-to-end operational workflow for tax preparation engagements, from client onboarding and document collection through the partner’s preparation and review, to filing and engagement closeout. Maintain visibility into engagement status, volumes, deadlines, outstanding requirements, and exceptions, proactively identifying risks to timely completion. Establish regular operating cadences with external partners and internal stakeholders to review performance, capacity, service levels, and escalations. Monitor partner performance and coordinate resolution of operational issues. Support partner due diligence, contract reviews, and ongoing performance evaluations. Develop scalable operating processes that support tax-season readiness, capacity, planning, consistent service delivery, and continued growth of the firm’s tax preparation offering.   
• Quality, Risk & Compliance: Establish and maintain operational controls that support accurate, timely, and compliant tax preparation.  Ensure appropriate review, approval, escalation, documentation, and recordkeeping practices are followed in accordance with policies, regulatory requirements, and applicable retention standards. Monitor and address material quality, operational, client, and regulatory risks, including errors, corrections, missed deadlines, complaints, and other service issues. Partner with internal stakeholders to distinguish operational matters from issues requiring technical tax review judgement, escalating significant concerns to appropriate leadership. Maintain written procedures, controls, checklists, and supporting documentation for the tax preparation process. Support internal reviews, audit, regulatory inquiries, and other oversight activities.
• Advisor & Client Experience: Serve as the central escalation point for operational issues involving tax preparation engagements. Provide advisors with clear visibility into engagement status, deadlines, outstanding requirements, and next steps. Develop consistent advisor and client communications throughout the tax preparation lifecycle. Coordinate resolution of complex or sensitive service issues with internal leadership and external partners. Identifies recurring service issues and implement improvements to simplify the experience for clients and advisors.
• Performance Reporting & Continuous Improvement: Develop and maintain reporting on key operational metrics, including engagement volume, completion rates, turnaround times, extensions, outstanding items, error rates, and service-level performance. Provides leadership with regular reporting on tax-season progress, risks, partner performance, and capacity. Analyze trends, operational data, and stakeholder feedback to identify opportunities to improve efficiency, quality, scalability, and client experience. Partner with internal teams to improve workflow tools, integrations, automation, and reporting.
• Other Duties: Perform additional tasks, duties, and responsibilities as needed or assigned by leadership to support departmental and organizational objectives.

This position is primarily responsible for the operational execution and oversight of the tax preparation program rather than providing technical tax advice. This role does not prepare tax returns; preparation is performed entirely by external partners.

What You Need

• Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, business, operations, or related field required.
• Minimum of eight years of experience in tax operations, tax preparation, financial services operations, accounting operations, or related environment required.
• Working knowledge of individual income tax preparation processes and tax-season workflows required.
• Strong project management and process management skills with demonstrated ability to manage high volumes and competing deadlines required.
• Experience developing and maintaining operational controls, procedures, and documentation required.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to accuracy and follow-through required.
• Ability to work effectively across all internal and external partners is required.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills required.
• Experience managing third-party service providers or outsourced operational relationships strongly preferred.
• CPA, EA, or other tax credentials are preferred. 

EEO Statement:

In exchange for your expertise, we offer a base salary, bonus potential, 401(k) plus matching, health benefits, and a great working environment. This is your chance to play a key role in the continued success of our company. Our culture is fast-paced, collaborative, innovative, and focused on healthy living. Carson strives to promote the health and wellness of its stakeholders by maintaining a tobacco-free workplace.

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, age or any other characteristic protected by law.

The total rewards expected for this role include:

• Starting annual base salary between $103,750 - 137,500 .
• Variable compensation potential (Bonus and/or commissions)
• Competitive benefits including 401(k) with company contribution, PTO, Parental Leave, Medical, Dental, Vision, Health Savings Accounts, Flexible Spending Accounts, Life and AD&D Insurance, Short and Long-Term Disability, Work/Life Benefits and Holistic Wellbeing Programs.