Staff Accountant

Iowa Jobs for America’s Graduates (iJAG); Cedar Rapids (IA); On-site; USD 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) matching

Health insurance

Life insurance

Paid time off

Job summary

Iowa Jobs for America’s Graduates (iJAG) in Cedar Rapids, IA seeks a Staff Tax Accountant to deliver high-quality tax and accounting services focused on planning, preparation, payroll, and financial reporting for multiple clients.

The role demands accuracy, clear client communication, and ongoing professional development in a growing practice with a strong culture and advancement opportunities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in accounting required.
• Minimum 2 years tax experience in public accounting or internship experience.
• Experience preparing business and personal tax returns.
• Strong knowledge of financial statement preparation.
• Proficient with QuickBooks for bookkeeping tasks.
• Ability to research and resolve complex tax issues.
• Excellent organization with ability to manage multiple clients.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Capable of working independently and in a small team.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and review business and personal tax returns with accuracy.
• Assist in preparing and analyzing financial statements and reports.
• Conduct tax research to support planning strategies.
• Participate in tax planning to optimize outcomes.
• Consult with clients on tax matters with clear explanations.
• Process payroll and related payroll tax filings.
• Maintain organized client files and documentation.
• Support client relationships with professional service.
• Collaborate with team to ensure high-quality service.
• Use tax software to manage and analyze data.

Skills

Bachelor's degree in accounting

2+ years tax experience

Tax preparation

Financial statement preparation

QuickBooks proficiency

Tax research

Organizational skills

Written and verbal communication

Independent and teamwork

Education

Bachelor's degree in accounting

Tools

QuickBooks

CCH Axcess

Job description

Job Title: Staff Tax Accountant

Job Description

The Staff Accountant plays a key role in delivering high-quality tax and accounting services, with a primary focus on tax planning and preparation, payroll processing and tax filings, financial statement preparation, and managing financial data. This role requires a highly organized professional who enjoys solving problems, communicates clearly with colleagues and clients, and consistently strives to go above and beyond. The position offers the opportunity to work in a growing practice with strong emphasis on culture, flexibility, and long‑term career advancement.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and review business and personal income tax returns with accuracy and attention to detail.

• Assist in the preparation and analysis of financial statements and related financial reports.

• Conduct tax research to identify answers to complex tax issues and support tax planning strategies.

• Participate in tax planning for individuals and businesses to optimize tax outcomes in compliance with regulations.

• Consult with clients on financial and tax matters, providing clear explanations and practical recommendations.

• Process payroll and complete related payroll tax filings in an accurate and timely manner.

• Manage and maintain organized, up-to-date client files and supporting documentation.

• Support the client relationship by delivering responsive, professional service and building trust over time.

• Collaborate with team members to ensure consistent, high-quality service delivery across tax and accounting engagements.

• Use accounting and tax software tools to input, manage, and analyze financial data efficiently.

• Continuously develop knowledge of tax laws, regulations, and best practices to improve service quality.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor's degree in accounting.

• 2 or more years of tax experience in public accounting, or a degree with relevant internship experience.

• Demonstrated experience in tax preparation, including business and personal tax returns.

• Strong understanding of financial statement preparation and basic financial reporting.

• Proficiency with QuickBooks for accounting and bookkeeping tasks.

• Ability to research and resolve complex tax issues using appropriate resources.

• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple clients and deadlines.

• Effective written and verbal communication skills to interact with peers and clients.

• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively within a small team environment.

• Commitment to high-quality work and a client-focused mindset.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Payroll processing experience, including payroll tax filings, preferred.

• Bookkeeping experience, including managing day-to-day financial records, preferred.

• Experience with CCH Axcess tax software preferred.

• Prior experience in a public accounting environment supporting multiple clients.

• Ability to build and maintain trusting, long‑term client relationships.

• Comfort working in a growing firm with evolving processes and opportunities for advancement.

• Strong problem‑solving skills and willingness to take initiative in finding solutions.

• Interest in ongoing professional development in tax and accounting.

Work Environment

The role is part of a close-knit tax team of approximately eight professionals, offering a collaborative environment where team members support one another and share knowledge. New hires receive hands‑on training and mentorship from experienced colleagues to help them integrate into the team and learn firm‑specific processes and systems. The organization places a strong emphasis on a positive culture and provides flexibility to support work–life balance, particularly outside of peak tax season. The firm is growing, creating meaningful opportunities for advancement and professional development. Team members use modern tax and accounting software, including QuickBooks and CCH Axcess (where applicable), and work in a professional office setting focused on delivering high‑quality tax, payroll, and accounting services. Benefits available upon direct hire include a 401(k) plan with employer match, health and life insurance options, and paid time off.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Cedar Rapids, IA.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $21.64 - $28.85/hr.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:

• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post‑tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long‑term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Cedar Rapids,IA.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Aug 7, 2026.

About Aston Carter

Aston Carter provides world‑class corporate talent solutions to thousands of clients across the globe. Specialized in accounting, finance, human resources, talent acquisition, procurement, supply chain and select administrative professions, we extend the capabilities of industry‑leading companies. We draw on our deep recruiting expertise and expansive network to meet the evolving needs of our clients and talent community with agility and excellence. With offices across the U.S., Canada, Asia Pacific and Europe, Aston Carter serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® Platinum Award winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email [e-mail] ([e-mail]) for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.