Small & Mid-sized (SMB) Business Tax Manager

Jackson Thornton; Birmingham (AL); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision coverage

Life Insurance

Disability coverage

401(k) with match

Paid time off

Flexible spending accounts

Job summary

Jackson Thornton in Birmingham, AL seeks a Tax Manager with public accounting experience to own engagements from planning through Principal review and to serve as the primary client contact. You will apply professional judgment supported by automation and AI-enabled tools, surface planning opportunities year-round, and participate in billing.

You will develop and coach team members across in-person, hybrid, and remote settings, while strengthening client relationships and contributing to firm

Qualifications

• B.A./B.S. in Accounting or related field.
• CPA license required; EA or JD/LL.M. also considered.
• 5+ years of public accounting tax experience.
• SMB tax return experience preferred.
• Strong federal/state tax compliance knowledge.
• Experience with tax research and AI-enabled review tools.
• Ability to manage multiple complex engagements and coach staff.

Responsibilities

• Manage engagements from planning through Principal review.
• Review complex tax returns for individuals, corporations, partnerships, trusts and estates.
• Serve as primary client contact and business advisor for assigned clients.
• Identify year-round tax planning and advisory opportunities.
• Delegate work with engagement economics and team development in mind.
• Coach and develop team members across in-person, hybrid, and remote settings.
• Monitor engagement progress, staffing, and billing input.
• Utilize AI-enabled research tools while owning conclusions delivered to clients.
• Represent clients at audits and ensure QA and ethical standards.
• Support business development through referrals and expanded services.

Skills

Public accounting

Tax compliance

Tax research

Client relationship mgmt

Education

Bachelor's in Accounting

CPA license

EA/JD/LL.M. (offset)

Job description

Find Your Home with Jackson Thornton! Jackson Thornton, an accounting and consulting firm, was established in Montgomery, Alabama, on March 3, 1919. From our beginning, the firm has operated with personal integrity and professional excellence while evolving and expanding to provide more of what businesses need- whether strategic planning, business consulting, technology consulting or specialized industry services. Jackson Thornton has grown to serve clients in six locations throughout Alabama with a team of more than 200 professionals and is looking to welcome more driven, client-focused individuals to the firm.

About The Role

We are seeking a Tax Manager with public accounting experience to join our team. Tax Managers own assigned engagements from planning through Principal review, often serving as the client service contact, and provide detailed review of complex tax returns, tax authority notices, and research engagements. You will apply professional judgment to work supported by automation and AI-enabled tools, surface planning and advisory opportunities throughout the year, and participate in billing your engagements.

You will also develop, train, and motivate team members — including those working remotely or on shared-service teams — and may serve as a Career Advisor. This role fits someone who wants to own client relationships end to end, build a specialized area of tax expertise, and work with a collaborative team that invests in your growth and community involvement.

This position will report into Jackson Thornton's Birmingham office with hybrid flexibility.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage assigned engagements from planning through Principal review.
• Review complex individual, corporate, partnership, trust, and estate returns, tax authority notices, and research engagements.
• Serve as the primary client contact and business advisor for assigned clients.
• Identify tax planning and advisory opportunities throughout the year, not just at deadlines.
• Delegate with engagement economics and team development in mind, including work prepared by shared-service or outsourced teams.
• Develop and coach team members across in-person, hybrid, and remote settings; provide timely feedback and evaluation input.
• Monitor engagement progress, staffing, out-of-scope work, and billing input.
• Use AI-enabled research and review tools appropriately, retaining ownership of every conclusion delivered to clients.
• Represent clients at audits, document tax advice, and monitor team adherence to quality assurance and ethical standards.
• Support business development through referral sources, networking, proposals, and expanded services.

Qualifications

• B.A./B.S. degree in Accounting or a related field.
• CPA license required; EA or JD/LL.M. also considered.
• Five or more years of public accounting experience with a focus on tax.
• Small and mid-sized business (SMB) tax return experience preferred.
• Strong federal and state tax compliance knowledge, with experience reviewing complex returns.
• Working knowledge of tax research, preparation, and AI-enabled review tools.
• Proven ability to manage multiple complex engagements while developing team members.
• Strong project management, communication, and interpersonal skills, including with remote teams.

Jackson Thornton offers a comprehensive, competitive benefit package to all of our professionals, which includes health, dental, and vision coverage, life insurance, long term and short term disability plans, medical and dependent care flexible spending accounts, paid time off plan, and a 401(k) plan with a match.

At Ascend, we provide a fair and equal employment opportunity for all candidates regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, age, marital status, disability, or any other legally protected characteristic. Ascend hires and promotes individuals solely based on qualifications for the position to be filled and business needs.