Deputy Tax & Accounting Leader

Aardvark Tax Advisors is an AI-native tax, accounting, and advisory firm that combines startup speed with enterprise-grade rigor. We are the accounting and client services practice of Cynch AI, the platform democratizing access to financial expertise for small businesses and entrepreneurs. We have offices in the East and South Bay areas of California. Alongside our technology platform, we are executing a practice expansion strategy to rapidly scale the business. By acquiring books of business from retiring CPAs and partnering with them through the transition, we solve an industry-wide bottleneck while preserving the client relationships and personalized service that define exceptional accounting. Weʼre looking for a Deputy Tax & Accounting Leader to help lead a rapidly growing AI-native tax practice. Youʼll continue to own complex engagements while helping lead the people, quality, and operating cadence of the practice. That means working across entity types, delivering planning that goes beyond compliance, developing the people doing the work, and having the instinct to fix recurring problems at the process level, not the return in hand. This role sits inside a practice that is actively integrating AI-enabled tools into its tax delivery workflows. You donʼt need a technical background. You do need to be the kind of practitioner who can review AI-assisted output, apply professional judgment, and know the difference between work thatʼs ready for a client and work that isnʼt. The role is hybrid, based out of our Santa Cruz, Cupertino, or Pleasanton offices, and potentially situated 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. Play a key leadership role in the integration of acquired firms, aligning tax operations, client service models, teams, and best practices to ensure a seamless transition. 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 savings, restructure positions, 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 youʼd put your own name on. Team Leadership Lead, mentor, and develop managers and tax professionals across the practice. Set expectations, give direct feedback, and hold people accountable. Partner with the Head of Tax on performance evaluations that are specific and useful. Know where the team is strong and where it isnʼt, and build the training and processes to close those gaps. Practice Development & Quality Help shape the direction of the practice while identifying opportunities to expand services with existing clients where the value is real. Monitor and manage tax risk for the practice and for clients. Positions taken should be defensible. Full stop. When the same issue keeps showing up across returns or clients, fix the entire process. Partner with technology, product, and the Head of Tax to translate tax delivery problems into practical platform improvements. You donʼt need to write code; you need to articulate whatʼs broken and what fixed looks like. An active CPA or EA credential. 12+ 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. Youʼve managed a book of business, juggled competing deadlines, and kept clients informed. Proficiency in professional tax software (UltraTax, Axcess Tax, Lacerte, or similar). What Will Make You Effective Brings sound judgment to ambiguous situations and doesn’t let details slip. Communicates clearly across clients, colleagues, and technical partners without losing anything in translation. Looks at broken processes and fixes them across the practice, rather than working around them. Comfortable in an environment where not everything is figured out yet. Curious about how AI tools can improve tax delivery quality and efficiency. Preferred Masterʼs degree in Taxation, Business Administration, or a related field. Track record of growing client relationships and expanding practice areas through business development. Experience improving workflows, standardizing processes, or building quality systems in a tax delivery environment. Hybrid: Santa Cruz, Cupertino, or Pleasanton, CA. Extended hours during peak tax season and as needed to meet client deadlines. Occasional travel for client meetings or practice events. California Salary Range: $170,000 - $220,000 Medical Dental Vision 401k with match Basic Life LTD #J-18808-Ljbffr Socket.dev