Administrative Associate — Client-Centric, Cross-Service

Ascend; Chapel Hill (NC); On-site; USD 48,000 - 64,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Unlimited PTO

Medical insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

401(k) Matching

Performance Bonus

Paid Holidays

Job summary

Ascend is seeking an Administrative Associate to provide dedicated administrative support to one of our service lines — Tax, CAAS, or Audit. This generalist role starts with placement based on firm needs and will allow movement across service lines over time.

You will work directly with Partners, Managers, and staff to support client engagements, serving as a primary client contact and coordinating deliverables from introduction through final delivery.

Qualifications

• 3–5 years of administrative experience in professional services.
• Strong client-service instincts — warm, professional, responsive under pressure
• Excellent written and verbal communication; comfort as a primary client touchpoint by phone and email
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail — the ability to keep multiple engagements moving without dropping threads
• Discretion and mature judgment when handling confidential client information
• Proficiency in Microsoft 365 and comfort learning new systems

Responsibilities

• Serve as a primary administrative point of contact for clients — answering questions, coordinating deliverables, and maintaining warm, professional relationships
• Manage inbound client phone calls, emails, and requests for the service line team
• Coordinate the flow of client deliverables — tax returns, financial statements, audit reports, advisory memos — through review, signature, and final delivery
• Track engagement status and keep Partners and Managers informed of client activity and open items

Skills

Administrative experience

Client service

Communication

Organization

Discretion

Problem solving

Tools

CCH Axcess

CCH Workflow

Microsoft 365

Job description

Ascend is seeking an Administrative Associate to provide dedicated administrative support to one of our service lines — Tax, CAAS, or Audit. This generalist role starts with placement based on firm needs and will allow movement across service lines over time.

You will work directly with Partners, Managers, and staff to support client engagements, serving as a primary client contact and coordinating deliverables from introduction through final delivery.