Senior Tax Accountant

Distinct | North America; Fishers (IN); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Distinct | North America is seeking a seasoned tax-focused CPA professional to join a small, client‑centric CPA firm. You will build lasting relationships with individuals and privately owned businesses across professional services, entertainment, medical and healthcare, while gaining exposure to the broader firm operations.

The role emphasizes ownership of client work, advisory communication, and on‑site collaboration with the owner in a flexible, growth‑minded environment.

Qualifications

• Preparing individual and business tax returns with opportunity to review based on experience.
• Building and managing client relationships with a focus on advisory guidance.
• Some client accounting work including bookkeeping, payroll and monthly reporting.

Responsibilities

• Prepare individual and business tax returns and review where appropriate.
• Manage own client relationships and become a go-to adviser for clients.
• Support client accounting tasks including bookkeeping, payroll and monthly reporting.
• Work directly with the owner and gain exposure to all firm activities.

Skills

Tax accounting

Client relationships

Public accounting

Education

CPA certification in progress

Tools

Bookkeeping software

Payroll systems

Job description

What if busy season was actually balanced out by a quieter summer but this didn't have an impact on your growth or career trajectory?

I’m working with a small CPA firm where some summer weeks can be around 30 hours. And if the work is done, you don’t need to sit at your desk just to make up the hours.

It’s a genuinely flexible approach from an owner who wants to make the firm more efficient, not just ask people to work more.

They’re now looking for someone to become a key part of the business alongside him. Tax is the main focus, with some client accounting mixed in, but the bigger piece is being comfortable building relationships and taking real ownership of clients.

Their client base is a little different from your typical small CPA firm. You’ll work predominantly with successful individuals and privately owned businesses across professional services, entertainment, medical and healthcare. Relationships tend to be long term and personal rather than transactional.

What would you be doing?

• Preparing individual and business tax returns, with the opportunity to review depending on your experience
• Managing your own client relationships and becoming someone clients genuinely come to for advice
• Supporting some client accounting work, including bookkeeping, payroll and monthly reporting
• Working directly alongside the owner and getting exposure to pretty much everything that happens within the firm

They’re ideally looking for around 3 to 6 years of public accounting experience, although they’re much more interested in finding the right person than ticking off a certain number of years.

CPA or actively working towards your CPA would be preferred.

The type of person matters here.

It’s a small firm, so this isn’t somewhere you disappear into your own little area and wait for work to land on your desk.

They want someone driven and engaged. Someone who asks questions, thinks outside the box and looks at how something could be done better or faster rather than simply doing it the way it has always been done.

You’ll need to enjoy talking to clients too. A lot of the value they provide comes from the relationships they’ve built over years, so being personable, confident and comfortable picking up the phone is important.

What’s the longer term opportunity?

The owner wants someone who can become his right hand person as the firm moves forward. For someone ambitious, there is the potential to grow into a much bigger role over time and potentially explore ownership or succession longer term.

That isn’t a requirement though. If you want progression, more responsibility and a close relationship with your clients without necessarily wanting to own a firm one day, that can work too.

They enjoy being together in the office because of the collaboration and quicker learning you get from a small team. The role is mainly onsite, but there is flexibility to work from home when needed.

If you’ve spent the last few years in public accounting and want something more personal, where you can know your clients properly and have a genuine influence on where the firm goes next, get in touch.