Senior Tax Associate

Palmettos & Prickly Pears Tax LLC; Charleston (SC); On-site; USD 70,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Palmettos and Prickly Pears Tax is seeking a Senior Tax Associate to join our growing remote team. This 1099 contractor role offers an expected annual contract compensation range of $70,000–$85,000, based on experience, availability, and scope of work.

The Senior Tax Associate prepares individual, business, trust, and estate tax returns and engages as the primary contact for a portfolio of clients. The role emphasizes technical excellence, client service, teamwork, and a growth-oriented firm

Qualifications

• 3+ years of tax preparation experience in public accounting, tax advisory, or closely related firm environment.
• Experience preparing individual and business tax returns.
• Experience with trusts, estates, partnerships, S-corporations, multi-state returns, or high-net-worth clients preferred.
• EA designation preferred but not required.
• Strong technical judgment and ability to identify when an issue requires escalation or review.
• Remote work discipline, including responsiveness, reliability, and client communication.

Responsibilities

• Prepare individual, business, trust, and estate tax returns with accuracy and proper documentation.
• Manage a portfolio of client relationships with timely communication and document follow-up.
• Review client-provided tax documents for missing information or inconsistencies.
• Collaborate with managers, preparers, and advisory team on return preparation and tax issues.
• Support year-end planning, projections, and entity-related tax matters as needed.
• Research tax questions and provide practical, compliant solutions for clients.
• Maintain clear notes and organized workpapers in firm systems.
• Communicate with clients in a professional, service-oriented manner.

Skills

Tax preparation

Education

EA designation

Tools

UltraTax

Asana

Google Workspace

Job description

Palmettos and Prickly Pears Tax is a boutique tax strategy and compliance firm serving high-net-worth individuals, entrepreneurs, investors, and closely held businesses with complex tax needs.

We are not a volume-based tax shop. Our work is personal, technical, and highly client-specific. We believe strong tax work requires more than preparing accurate returns. It requires understanding the client’s full picture, identifying risk before it becomes a problem, and helping clients make better decisions throughout the year.

Our approach is proactive, strategic, and grounded in compliance. We are willing to think creatively, but we do not take shortcuts. We help clients pursue meaningful tax savings while staying thoughtful about risk, documentation, substantiation, and long-term defensibility.

The firm is led by Gabe Hogan, J.D., LL.M., a licensed tax attorney, former IRS federal agent, and former IRS auditor of high-net-worth individuals. Gabe’s background gives the firm a unique perspective on how tax positions are evaluated, challenged, and defended. Our team also includes experienced tax managers, advisory professionals, and operational leadership with backgrounds across tax, wealth strategy, banking, client service, and firm growth.

We work with clients across areas such as individual taxation, S-corporations, partnerships, real estate, multi-state compliance, entity planning, tax projections, year-end planning, audit support, and advisory strategy. Many of our clients are building businesses, managing investments, navigating growth, or making major financial decisions, and they rely on us for clear guidance, technical accuracy, and steady support.

Culture fit matters deeply to us. We are building a team of people who care about doing excellent work, communicating clearly, staying curious, and taking ownership. We value sharp technical judgment, humility, responsiveness, and a willingness to work collaboratively in a growing firm environment. The right person is someone who wants to keep getting better, enjoys solving complex client problems, and understands that trust is built through both accuracy and consistency.

At Palmettos and Prickly Pears, we want our team members to have room to grow, contribute, and make a visible impact. This is a strong fit for someone who wants more than a narrow production role and is interested in being part of a firm that is growing intentionally while staying focused on high-quality client service.

Senior Tax Associate

Palmettos and Prickly Pears Tax is seeking a Senior Tax Associate to work with our growing remote team. This is a 1099 contractor role with an expected annual contract compensation range of $70,000–$85,000, based on experience, availability, and agreed scope of work.

The Senior Tax Associate will prepare and support the review of individual, business, trust, and estate tax returns while also serving as a primary point of contact for a portfolio of client relationships. This role is a strong fit for someone who is technically capable, client-service minded, team-oriented, and comfortable working in a growing entrepreneurial firm.

We work on a flat-fee model, so this role does not include billable-hour requirements or required time tracking. We care about quality, responsiveness, ownership, clear communication, and timely completion of client work.

• Position: Senior Tax Associate
• Engagement Type: 1099 contractor
• Location: Remote
• Expected Contract Compensation: $70,000–$85,000 annually, depending on experience, availability, and agreed scope of work
• Workload: Year-round client work with heavier volume during tax season
• Billing Model: Flat-fee model; no billable-hour requirement or required time tracking
• Software: UltraTax experience preferred; familiarity with Asana and Google Workspace helpful

Responsibilities

• Prepare individual, business, trust, and estate tax returns with accuracy, attention to detail, and appropriate documentation.
• Manage an assigned group of client relationships, including communication, document follow-up, status updates, and coordination throughout the tax preparation process.
• Review client-provided tax documents and identify missing information, inconsistencies, planning opportunities, or items requiring additional clarification.
• Collaborate with tax managers, preparers, and advisory team members on return preparation, client questions, and complex tax issues.
• Support a “village approach” to client service by sharing context, raising questions early, and working cross-functionally to deliver strong client outcomes.
• Assist with tax projections, year-end planning, entity-related tax matters, and client advisory support as needed.
• Research tax questions and help identify practical, compliant solutions for clients.
• Maintain clear notes, organized workpapers, and timely updates in firm systems.
• Communicate with clients in a clear, professional, and service-oriented manner.
• Contribute to process improvements as the firm continues to grow and refine its systems.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of tax preparation experience, preferably in a public accounting, tax advisory, or closely related firm environment.
• Experience preparing individual and business tax returns required.
• Experience with trusts, estates, partnerships, S-corporations, multi-state returns, or high-net-worth clients strongly preferred.
• EA designation preferred but not required.
• Strong technical judgment and ability to identify when an issue requires additional review or escalation.
• Comfortable managing client communication and maintaining ownership over assigned relationships.
• Team-oriented and collaborative, with a willingness to support others during busy periods.
• Entrepreneurial mindset and comfort working in a growing firm where systems, processes, and roles may continue to evolve.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple deadlines during tax season.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills.
• Remote work discipline, including responsiveness, reliability, and strong follow-through.