Staff Accountant

Pomona College; Claremont, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Pomona College in Claremont, CA is seeking a Staff Accountant / Tax Accountant to join our team. This hands-on role manages accounting and tax work for a diverse portfolio of clients, including payroll, sales tax, and tax preparation throughout the year.

The ideal candidate is organized, dependable, and comfortable working independently while building strong client relationships. You will prepare financial statements, tax returns for individuals and entities, and stay current with tax rules.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field preferred.
• Previous public accounting, bookkeeping, or tax preparation experience preferred.
• Strong understanding of basic accounting principles.
• Experience with bookkeeping and financial statement preparation.
• Familiarity with federal and state tax returns and compliance.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy.
• Excellent organizational and time-management skills.
• Ability to manage multiple clients and deadlines.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Comfortable communicating directly with clients in a professional manner.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and accounting software.
• Ability to work independently while also being a team player.

Responsibilities

• Perform monthly, quarterly, and annual bookkeeping for a variety of clients.
• Maintain accurate and organized general ledgers and financial records.
• Prepare and review financial statements and account reconciliations.
• Handle sales tax filings and related compliance requirements.
• Prepare and/or assist with payroll tax filings and payroll-related compliance.
• Prepare federal, state, and local tax returns for various entity types (Individuals, Partnerships, S‑Corporations, C‑Corporations, LLCs, trusts).
• Assist with tax planning, research, and responding to tax notices as needed.
• Communicate directly with clients to obtain information and answer questions.
• Follow up with clients regarding missing documents and information.
• Review client financial information for accuracy and completeness.
• Assist with year-end accounting and tax preparation.
• Meet deadlines and effectively manage multiple client engagements.
• Maintain confidentiality of client financial and tax information.
• Stay current with applicable accounting and tax rules and regulations.

Skills

Attention to detail

Time management

Communication skills

Independence and teamwork

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting/Finance or related field

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Accounting software

Job description

Staff Accountant / Tax Accountant

Job Type: Full-Time
Position: Staff Accountant / Tax Accountant

About the Position

We are seeking a detail-oriented and motivated Staff Accountant / Tax Accountant to join our team. This is a hands-on position responsible for managing accounting and tax work for a diverse portfolio of clients.

The ideal candidate is organized, dependable, comfortable working independently, and enjoys building strong relationships with clients. This position provides exposure to a variety of businesses and entity types and involves accounting, payroll, sales tax, and tax preparation responsibilities throughout the year.

Responsibilities

• Perform monthly, quarterly, and annual bookkeeping for a variety of clients.
• Maintain accurate and organized general ledgers and financial records.
• Prepare and review financial statements and account reconciliations.
• Handle sales tax filings and related compliance requirements.
• Prepare and/or assist with payroll tax filings and payroll-related compliance.
• Prepare federal, state, and local tax returns for various entity types, including:
  • Individual returns
  • Partnerships
  • S-Corporations
  • C-Corporations
  • LLCs
  • Trusts and other applicable entities
• Assist with tax planning, research, and responding to tax notices as needed.
• Communicate directly with clients to obtain information, answer accounting and tax questions, and address issues.
• Follow up with clients regarding missing documents and information needed to complete accounting and tax work.
• Review client financial information for accuracy, completeness, and potential issues.
• Assist with year-end accounting and tax preparation.
• Meet established deadlines and effectively manage multiple client engagements simultaneously.
• Maintain confidentiality of client financial and tax information.
• Stay current with applicable accounting and tax rules and regulations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field preferred.
• Previous public accounting, bookkeeping, or tax preparation experience preferred.
• Strong understanding of basic accounting principles.
• Experience with bookkeeping and financial statement preparation.
• Familiarity with federal and state tax returns and compliance.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy.
• Excellent organizational and time-management skills.
• Ability to manage multiple clients and deadlines.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Comfortable communicating directly with clients in a professional manner.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and accounting software.
• Ability to work independently while also being a team player.

Preferred Experience

Experience with accounting/tax software is a plus.

What We Offer

• Exposure to a diverse client base and a wide variety of accounting and tax matters.
• Opportunity to develop both accounting and tax expertise.
• A professional, collaborative work environment.
• Opportunities for continued learning and professional growth.
• Competitive compensation based on experience and qualifications.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is someone who takes ownership of their work, pays close attention to detail, communicates well with clients, and is comfortable handling multiple responsibilities throughout the year. We are looking for someone who wants to grow with the firm and become a trusted resource for our clients.