Senior Tax Director - Complex Client Leader (Hybrid)

Cynch AI; Santa Cruz (CA); Hybrid; USD 225,000 - 250,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Care Plan (Medical)

Retirement Plan (401k)

Life Insurance (Basic)

Paid Time Off (Unlimited Vacation, +S/

Short Term Disability

Long Term Disability

Work From Home (Hybrid)

Stock Option Plan

Job summary

Aardvark Tax Advisors, the accounting and client services practice of Cynch AI, seeks an Associate Director, Tax to own our largest, most complex client relationships. You’ll lead the preparation and review of complex returns across entities and provide multi-year tax planning beyond compliance while mentoring managers and senior staff.

This hybrid role is based in Pleasanton, Cupertino, or Santa Cruz with North Bay travel.

Qualifications

• Active CPA or EA required.
• 15+ years in public accounting or tax with deep experience in compliance, planning, and advisory for individuals, partnerships, S corporations, and closely held businesses.
• 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.
• Proficiency in professional tax software (UltraTax, CCH Axcess, Lacerte, or similar).

Responsibilities

• Own the practice's higher-fee, more complex client relationships across planning, compliance, and consulting.
• Lead the preparation and review of complex returns for corporations, partnerships, individuals, trusts, and estates across federal, state, and local jurisdictions.
• Deliver multi-year tax planning that goes beyond compliance, including entity structure, owner compensation, and the impact of legislative changes on the client's business and personal picture.
• Bring a business owner's perspective to the work: understand a client's operations and finances well enough to advise on decisions, not just file what happened.
• Ensure every return that leaves the practice meets the standard you'd put your own name on.
• Serve as the go-to resource for managers and staff on complex client, tax technical, and engagement issues.
• Step in on difficult client situations and see them through to resolution.
• Mentor managers and senior staff, sharing judgment and approach, not just answers.
• Grow existing client relationships where the added value is real.
• Plan engagements for your client base, including timing, staffing, and fees, ahead of peak season.
• Identify out-of-scope work early, scope it, and make sure it is priced and billed appropriately.
• Monitor and manage tax risk for the practice and for clients, ensuring positions are defensible.

Skills

CPA/EA leadership

Public accounting

Tax planning

Client management

Tax technology

Engagement scoping

Tax software

Education

CPA or EA certification

Tools

UltraTax

CCH Axcess

Lacerte

Job description

Aardvark Tax Advisors, the accounting and client services practice of Cynch AI, seeks an Associate Director, Tax to own our largest, most complex client relationships. You’ll lead the preparation and review of complex returns across entities and provide multi-year tax planning beyond compliance while mentoring managers and senior staff.

This hybrid role is based in Pleasanton, Cupertino, or Santa Cruz with North Bay travel.