Senior Tax Manager

Aardvark Tax Advisors is a full-service tax, accounting, and advisory firm  serving small businesses and entrepreneurs. We’re the accounting and client services practice of Cynch AI.

We’re growing fast.  As the accounting profession faces a growing succession challenge, we’re partnering with retiring practitioners and thoughtfully bringing their clients into Aardvark, preserving the trusted relationships and personal service those clients value.

We use proprietary AI to amplify your expertise while always deferring to your judgment.  By shifting routine work to AI, Cynch’s platform gives our accounting and tax teams more time for complex problem-solving, proactive planning, and building client relationships that last.

We’re looking for a Senior Tax Manager to own complex engagements, lead a team, and elevate the quality bar.  That means working across entity types, acting as a trusted advisor, and developing the people doing the work.

The role is hybrid, based out of our  Cupertino ,  Pleasanton , or  Santa Cruz  offices, with additional potential work locations in the North Bay.

What You'll Do

Client Relationships & Tax Delivery

• Own client relationships on complex tax matters, including planning, compliance, and consulting, and be the person clients call when something is urgent or complicated.

• Lead the preparation and review of complex returns for corporations, partnerships, individuals, trusts, and estates across federal, state, and local jurisdictions.

• Deliver tax planning that goes beyond compliance; identify tax-saving opportunities, develop tax-efficient strategies, and advise clients on the impact of legislative changes.
• Stay current on legislative changes and preemptively translate them into specific, actionable guidance.
• Ensure every return that leaves the practice meets the standard you’d put your own name on.

Team Leadership

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of tax professionals. Set expectations, give direct feedback, and hold people accountable.
• Run performance evaluations that are specific and useful. Know where the team is strong and where it isn’t, and build the training and processes to close those gaps.

Practice Development & Quality

• Identify opportunities to expand services with existing clients where the value is real.
• Monitor and manage tax risk for the practice and for clients, ensuring positions are defensible. 

Requirements

Core qualifications

• Active CPA or EA required.
• 10+ years in public accounting or tax, with real depth in compliance, planning, and advisory across individuals, partnerships, and small-business entities.
• Proven experience managing and developing tax professionals—not just assigning work, but building people.
• Strong technical knowledge of federal, state, and local tax regulations, including complex returns and multi-entity planning.
• Direct client relationship experience. You’ve managed a book of business, juggled competing deadlines, and kept clients informed.
• Proficiency in professional tax software (UltraTax, CCH Axcess, Lacerte, or similar).

Helpful additions

• Experience taking over and maintaining client relationships through practice transitions.
• Track record of growing client relationships and expanding practice areas through business development.

Work Environment

• Hybrid : 3 days/week in either Cupertino, Santa Cruz, or Pleasanton, CA, North Bay locations possible.
• Extended hours during peak tax season and as needed to meet client deadlines.
• Occasional travel for client meetings or practice events.

Estimated California compensation for this role in estimated to be between $150,000 and 210,000/year.

Benefits

• Health Care Plan (Medical, Dental & Vision)

• Retirement Plan (401k))
• Life Insurance (Basic)
• Paid Time Off (Unlimited Vacation, plus Sick & Public Holidays)
• Short Term & Long Term Disability
• Work From Home (Hybrid)
• Stock Option Plan

California Salary range: 150,000 - 210,000