Tax Accountant

J.R. Helms & Associates, P.C.; Indianapolis (IN); On-site; USD 53,000 - 101,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health & Wellness Stipend

SIMPLE IRA 3% match

Paid vacation, sick time, and holidays

Paid continuing education

Professional membership support

Exposure to diverse tax situations

Growth opportunities

Job summary

J.R. Helms & Associates, P.C. in Indianapolis seeks an experienced Tax Accountant to perform hands-on income tax preparation for individuals and small businesses, including 1040, 1065, and 1120S returns. You do not need CPA to be considered for this position.

This role emphasizes client communication, deadlines during tax season, and collaboration with other accountants. Competitive compensation and benefits are offered with opportunities for growth in tax planning and consulting.

Qualifications

• Experience preparing 1040 returns and dealing with income tax for individuals and small businesses.
• Familiarity with Forms 1040, 1065 and/or 1120S is strongly preferred.
• Detail-oriented with strong client communication and problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Prepare federal and state individual and business income tax returns.
• Review documents, identify missing information and resolve discrepancies.
• Research income tax questions and communicate with clients on items outstanding.
• Support with tax planning and other client needs as appropriate.
• Maintain workpapers and manage multiple client returns and deadlines.

Skills

Tax preparation

1040 returns

1065/1120S returns

Client communication

Attention to detail

Public accounting experience

QuickBooks

Tools

QuickBooks

Job description

$53,000–$101,000, based on experience

About the Role

J.R. Helms & Associates, P.C. is a full-service accounting, tax, and business consulting firm in Indianapolis. We are looking for an experienced Tax Accountant to join our team and provide hands-on income tax preparation and client support.

You do not need to be a CPA to be considered for this position. We welcome experienced tax preparers, Enrolled Agents (EAs), and CPAs. What matters most to us is demonstrated experience preparing income tax returns and the ability to work confidently with individual and small-business clients.

This is a hands-on role for someone who understands income tax preparation, can manage multiple client returns and deadlines, and is comfortable researching issues and communicating directly with clients.

What You’ll Do

• Prepare federal and state individual and business income tax returns
• Prepare returns including Forms 1040, 1065, 1120S, and 1120, based on experience
• Review client tax documents and identify missing or incomplete information
• Research income tax questions and resolve discrepancies
• Communicate with clients regarding tax information, questions, and outstanding items
• Assist with tax planning and related client needs
• Maintain accurate workpapers and documentation
• Manage multiple client returns and deadlines during tax season
• Work collaboratively with other accountants and firm leadership
• Assist with general accounting and client needs when appropriate

What We’re Looking For

• Experience preparing 1040 returns
• Experience with 1065 and/or 1120S returns strongly preferred
• Understanding of federal and state income taxation
• Ability to independently work through tax returns appropriate to your experience level
• Strong attention to detail and problem-solving skills
• Professional client communication skills
• Ability to manage multiple assignments and deadlines
• Public accounting or professional tax preparation experience preferred
• Experience working with small-business clients is a plus
• QuickBooks experience is a plus
• CPA or Enrolled Agent (EA) credential is a plus, but is NOT required

Compensation

$53,000–$101,000 annually, based on income tax preparation experience, technical capability, credentials, and overall experience. CPA licensure is not required to qualify for the position.

• Health & Wellness Stipend
• SIMPLE IRA with 3% company match
• Paid vacation, sick time, and holidays
• Paid continuing education and professional development
• Professional membership support
• Exposure to a wide variety of individual and small-business tax situations
• Opportunities for continued professional growth

Who This Role Is NOT For

This role may not be a good fit if:

• Your tax experience is primarily sales tax, property tax, payroll tax, or other indirect taxes rather than income tax preparation
• You have accounting experience but no hands-on income tax preparation experience
• You are looking for a fully remote position
• You are uncomfortable communicating directly with clients
• You prefer working on a single account or entity rather than managing multiple clients and deadlines
• You are uncomfortable with the increased workload and deadlines associated with income tax season

Why J.R. Helms & Associates?

We're a growing Indianapolis accounting firm serving individuals and small businesses with tax, accounting, and consulting needs.

You’ll work directly with clients and experienced professionals while handling a variety of tax situations rather than being limited to one narrow area. We value practical experience, problem-solving, professional growth, and people who want to become stronger tax professionals.