Seasonal Senior Tax Analyst

Job Description

Job Description

Overview Campaign For Working Families

 

Campaign for Working Families, Inc. (CWF) champions the financial well-being and economic mobility of individuals and families through programs, advocacy, initiatives, and support systems that promote equitable opportunity and financial stability. CWF believes every individual and family deserves respect, dignity, and access to the tools and information needed to succeed. CWF advances positive change at the policy and grassroots levels through empathy, data-driven decision-making, and collective action. The following core values guide CWF's mission, goals, and service to individuals and families throughout its communities:

1. Equity   and   Inclusion:   We believe all individuals and families, regardless of background, race, gender, or socioeconomic status, should have equitable opportunities and access to resources.
2. Family-Centered   Approach:   We prioritize policies and initiatives that support family well-being, stability, and growth, recognizing that strong families are the foundation of thriving communities.
3. Collaboration   and   Partnerships:   We value collaboration with organizations, government agencies, businesses, educational institutions, and individuals who share our commitment to working families.
4. Data-Driven Decision-Making:  We use evidence and data to guide policies, programs, and operational decisions, ensuring that our efforts are effective and impactful.
5. Respect   and   Dignity:   We treat every individual with respect and dignity, recognize each person's inherent worth, and work to create systems that uphold these values.

Position Summary

The Senior Tax Analyst serves as the senior technical resource and designated quality reviewer at an assigned CWF tax site. The Analyst independently reviews completed federal, state, and local tax returns for accuracy, completeness, eligibility, required documentation, taxpayer interview consistency, and compliance with IRS VITA/TCE and CWF standards before taxpayer signature or transmission. The role researches tax questions within program scope, coaches Tax Associates, supports correction of errors, monitors recurring quality issues, assists with complex returns authorized by certification, and escalates out-of-scope or high-risk matters. The Senior Tax Analyst works closely with the Drop-Off Manager to ensure assigned drop-off returns receive timely, independent quality review but does not own the overall drop-off inventory unless formally reassigned by tax operations leadership.

 

Role and Responsibilities

Return   Quality   Review

• Complete an independent quality review of every assigned return using the required quality-review method, source documents, completed intake form, taxpayer interview, tax software diagnostics, and applicable reference materials.
• Verify taxpayer and dependent identity information, filing status, income, adjustments, deductions, credits, health-coverage items, banking information, direct-deposit details, state and local returns, consent forms, and required elections.
• Confirm that all intake questions are answered, unclear responses are resolved through taxpayer discussion, supporting documents are reconciled, and required notes or explanations are documented.
• Ensure returns remain within the preparer's and reviewer's certification level, CWF service scope, IRS VITA/TCE scope, and applicable federal, state, and local rules.
• Return incomplete or inaccurate work to the preparer with clear correction instructions and verify corrections before approval.
• Never approve, sign, release, or advance a return that has unresolved discrepancies, missing information, incomplete interviews, unsupported positions, or out-of-scope issues.

Tax   Research   and   Technical   Support

• Use current IRS publications, volunteer resource guides, CWF guidance, approved tax-software resources, and authorized escalation channels to resolve tax questions.
• Provide accurate, timely technical guidance to Tax Associates while requiring preparers to remain responsible for their work and develop their knowledge.
• Prepare complex returns only when assigned, appropriately certified, and permitted within program scope.
• Recognize issues requiring referral to tax leadership, a Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic, a paid preparer, legal counsel, or another qualified resource.
• Remain current on tax-law updates, software changes, state and local requirements, CWF procedures, and quality alerts throughout the season.

Coaching   and   Quality   Improvement

• Explain errors and corrections in a respectful, specific, educational manner that strengthens preparer accuracy and independence.
• Track or communicate recurring errors, documentation concerns, training gaps, rejected-return trends, and procedural weaknesses to the Tax Site Coordinator.
• Support refresher training, practice scenarios, peer coaching, and remediation activities assigned by tax leadership.
• Help maintain consistent technical standards among quality reviewers and preparers across shifts and sites.
• Model careful interviewing, documentation, professional judgment, taxpayer communication, and confidentiality.

Drop-off Quality-Review Support

• Prioritize quality review of drop-off returns according to assignments, aging reports, taxpayer commitments, filing deadlines, and direction from the Drop-Off Manager or site leadership.
• Communicate correction needs, missing information, out-of-scope issues, or unresolved technical questions to the preparer and Drop-Off Manager promptly.
• Update required return-status records after review and avoid retaining taxpayer documents outside approved workflow or secured locations.
• Support timely completion without approving a return that has unresolved discrepancies, missing interviews, incomplete documentation, or unsupported positions.

Client   Service,   Compliance,   and   Site   Support

• Explain material return results, corrections, limitations, and next steps clearly without providing legal advice or guaranteeing an outcome.
• Confirm required taxpayer review, signatures, copies, banking verification, and follow-up instructions occur before the return proceeds.
• Follow IRS Volunteer Standards of Conduct, Quality Site Requirements, privacy rules, security procedures, and CWF policies at all times.
• Immediately report suspected identity theft, fraud, coercion, unauthorized access, data exposure, misconduct, or other material risk.
• Assist with site opening, workflow, client routing, technology troubleshooting, return-status follow-up, and closeout as directed.
• Perform related seasonal tax duties assigned by the Tax Site Coordinator or tax operations leadership.

 

 

Competencies, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Advanced   Tax   Knowledge

• Applies federal, state, and local tax rules accurately within VITA/TCE scope and recognizes issues requiring escalation.
• Uses authoritative resources and current guidance rather than assumptions.

Accuracy   and   Analytical   Judgment

• Reviews each return systematically, identifies discrepancies, documents conclusions, and refuses approval until material issues are resolved.
• Manages detailed work effectively under seasonal deadlines without sacrificing quality.

Coaching and Communication

• Explains technical issues in clear language to preparers and taxpayers.
• Provides respectful, actionable feedback and supports a learning-focused team environment.

Integrity   and   Confidentiality

• Maintains independence in quality review, protects taxpayer information, and follows ethical and security requirements.
• Escalates fraud, identity, scope, safety, and compliance concerns promptly.

Technology   and   Organization

• Uses tax software, electronic records, scanners, email, tracking tools, and reference systems efficiently.
• Maintains organized work queues and reliable follow-up for incomplete or corrected returns.

Qualifications (Education and Experience)

Education

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Associate or bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, business, or a related field preferred.

Experience   and   Credentials

• At least two tax seasons of successful VITA/TCE or comparable individual income-tax preparation experience strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated experience quality-reviewing federal and state individual income-tax returns preferred.
• Ability to obtain and maintain IRS Volunteer Standards of Conduct, Intake/Interview and Quality Review, Advanced, and all state, local, specialty, or quality-review certifications required by CWF.
• Strong knowledge of Form 1040 preparation, refundable credits, filing status, dependency, income documents, deductions, banking information, and state or local return requirements within assigned scope.
• Strong attention to detail, tax research ability, professional judgment, customer service, and written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficiency with tax preparation software, computers, email, Microsoft Office, and electronic document tools.
• Bilingual or multilingual ability is valued based on community and site needs.

 

Supervisory Responsibilities

Does not normally exercise formal personnel supervision. Provides functional guidance, technical coaching, work review, and correction instructions to Tax Associates, interns, and volunteers. May act as site lead only when formally designated by tax operations leadership.

 

Other Specialties, Certifications, Physical Requirements, and Work Conditions

• This is a temporary, seasonal position. Work dates, weekly hours, assigned location, and continuation of employment depend on tax-season needs, funding, site schedules, performance, and client demand.
• Regular, predictable attendance is required. Evening, weekend, extended, and holiday hours may be required during training, site launch, peak filing periods, deadlines, and closeout.
• The position may operate at CWF offices, tax sites, partner facilities, community locations, or in an approved virtual setting and may be reassigned based on operational need.
• The position routinely uses computers, phones, tax software, appointment and data systems, scanners, printers, and other office equipment.
• The position requires prolonged sitting or standing, frequent interaction with the public, movement throughout the tax site, and the ability to lift or move materials weighing up to 10 pounds.
• The employee must maintain taxpayer confidentiality, safeguard personally identifiable information, follow CWF and IRS security requirements, and immediately report suspected privacy or security incidents.
• Employment is contingent upon completing required onboarding, training, background or screening requirements, and IRS certifications established for the assignment.