Tax Administrator Intern

Ascend; Kirkland (WA); Hybrid; USD 39,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

Ascend in Kirkland, Washington is seeking a Tax Administrator to support Tax Principals, Directors, Managers, and staff in a full‑time, hybrid role based in Kirkland. You will handle administrative requests, client onboarding, engagement letters, and tax organizers, while coordinating with external parties.

The successful candidate will have a minimum of three years’ administrative experience in professional services, strong Microsoft Office skills, confidentiality, and exceptional

Qualifications

• Minimum of three years’ experience in an administrative role; professional services or related industry experience
• Intermediate to advanced experience with Microsoft Office applications
• Tech savvy with the ability and desire to embrace new and necessary software applications
• Flexibility to change direction frequently between tasks and between different clients
• Proven ability to work in a high-volume, fast-paced, deadline‑driven environment and handle multiple projects while prioritizing, planning and organizing projects simultaneously
• Ability to operate with a sense of urgency
• Ability to work independently with limited supervision as well as work cooperatively with all levels of management and employees
• Flexibility to work additional hours during peak periods of the year
• Ability to maintain a high level of confidentiality
• Exceptional project management skills and attention to detail
• Strong organizational, interpersonal, and decision‑making ability
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to work effectively in a diverse team environment

Responsibilities

• Manage administrative requests and ensure timely and accurate completion
• Maintain databases including new client onboarding and staffing updates as necessary.
• Coordinate with tax professionals on preparing and sending engagement letters and tax organizers to clients
• Collect and organize client tax documents and ensure proper handling and storage of sensitive information
• Process client documents which include scanning and Autoflowing documents, organizing digital files, and ensuring information is stored correctly
• Manage the outsourcing process, including sending and receiving documents to and from external parties
• Assist in mailing materials, including preparing packages, addressing envelopes, and coordinating with mail services
• Participate in and assist with special projects as assigned by the department
• Provide and participate in cross training on critical administrative tasks
• Work collaboratively to provide overflow and backup support for other team members
• Provide exceptional customer service and support to clients
• Perform other duties as assigned by the department managers

Skills

Administrative experience

Microsoft Office

Tech savvy

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

About Sweeney Conrad

At Sweeney Conrad, our foundation of “people first” begins with our employees—because we know the success of our firm stems from the relationships within it. We consider our employees family and foster a positive work culture, encouraging a healthy balance between work and life; building a career over having a job; continuing education and skill development; and being actively involved in the Puget Sound community where we live, work, and play.

Who We Are

About Sweeney Conrad

At Sweeney Conrad, our foundation of “people first” begins with our employees—because we know the success of our firm stems from the relationships within it. We consider our employees family and foster a positive work culture, encouraging a healthy balance between work and life; building a career over having a job; continuing education and skill development; and being actively involved in the Puget Sound community where we live, work, and play.

We’re proud of our employees and our culture and have been recognized by Accounting Today as one of the “Best Accounting Firms to Work For” and by Puget Sound Business Journal as one of “Washington’s Best Workplaces”. For more information, visit www.sweeneyconrad.com.

About Ascend

Backed by private equity from people-focused Alpine Investors, Ascend is building a dynamic platform for regional accounting firms that enables them to stay independent while accessing the resources of a Top 25 firm to help them grow. Ascend provides access to growth capital, robust talent acquisition and training, leading quality management resources, best‑of‑breed technology, AI tools, an offshore captive, shared back‑office services, a catalytic leadership system, and modernized equity incentives so that firms can surmount today’s industry challenges to reach their full potential. For more information, visit www.ascendtogether.com.

Tax Administrator

The Tax Administrator will work closely with Tax Principals, Directors, Managers, and staff to support a variety of administrative functions within the Tax Department. This is a full‑time, hourly position with a standard schedule of Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Additional overtime and occasional weekend hours may be required during peak tax seasons. This position reports directly to the Senior Manager of Tax Operations and is based in Kirkland, Washington, operating under a hybrid work schedule.

Specific Duties Will Include

• Manage administrative requests and ensure timely and accurate completion
• Maintain databases including new client onboarding and staffing updates as necessary.
• Coordinate with tax professionals on preparing and sending engagement letters and tax organizers to clients
• Collect and organize client tax documents and ensure proper handling and storage of sensitive information
• Process client documents which include scanning and Autoflowing documents, organizing digital files, and ensuring information is stored correctly
• Manage the outsourcing process, including sending and receiving documents to and from external parties
• Assist in mailing materials, including preparing packages, addressing envelopes, and coordinating with mail services
• Participate in and assist with special projects as assigned by the department
• Provide and participate in cross training on critical administrative tasks
• Work collaboratively to provide overflow and backup support for other team members
• Provide exceptional customer service and support to clients
• Perform other duties as assigned by the department managers

The successful candidate will have

• Minimum of three years’ experience in an administrative role; professional services or related industry experience
• Intermediate to advanced experience with Microsoft Office applications
• Tech savvy with the ability and desire to embrace new and necessary software applications
• Flexibility to change direction frequently between tasks and between different clients
• Proven ability to work in a high-volume, fast-paced, deadline‑driven environment and handle multiple projects while prioritizing, planning and organizing projects simultaneously
• Ability to operate with a sense of urgency
• Ability to work independently with limited supervision as well as work cooperatively with all levels of management and employees
• Flexibility to work additional hours during peak periods of the year
• Ability to maintain a high level of confidentiality
• Exceptional project management skills and attention to detail
• Strong organizational, interpersonal, and decision‑making ability
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to work effectively in a diverse team environment

While not required, the following skills would be considered an asset

• Education: Bachelor's degree
• Tax administration experience in public accounting, tax operations, or a comparable professional services environment
• A natural process or systems thinker with an interest in workflow optimization and improvement

Benefits

The pay range for this role is $28.00 - $36.00 per hour. This range includes the anticipated low and high end of the pay range for this position. Actual compensation may vary based on various factors, including experience, education, and/or skill level.

For employees working 30 or more hours per week, we offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, and vision coverage, as well as dependent coverage; Health Care and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts; and employer‑paid life and disability insurance; and a 401(k) plan with employer match. We also provide flexible time off (PTO) and 13 paid holidays.

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.