Tax Associate

Ascend; Kirkland (AL); Hybrid; USD 80,000 - 82,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision coverage

401(k) with employer match

PTO and paid holidays

Job summary

Ascend in Kirkland, WA is seeking a Tax Associate to prepare federal and state tax returns across diverse client portfolios. The role reports to the Partner of Tax and offers a hybrid schedule with training under senior staff.

Candidates should have a bachelor’s in accounting, 0–2 years of experience, CPA-eligibility or active pursuit, and strong analytical, communication, and teamwork skills. Competitive benefits and growth opportunities provided.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting required.
• 0–2 years public or private accounting experience.
• CPA eligible or pursuing licensure is required.
• Strong analytical and organizational skills are essential.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel, SharePoint).
• Ability to work effectively in a team and manage multiple tasks.

Responsibilities

• Prepare federal and state tax returns for diverse clients.
• Apply balance sheet and P&L understanding to business returns.
• Conduct tax research under supervision of senior staff.

Skills

Analytical skills

Organizational skills

Written communication

Verbal communication

Team collaboration

Multitasking

Time management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting

Tools

Microsoft Office

SharePoint

Job description

Who We Are

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.

About Sweeney Conrad

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 Associate

A Tax Associate plays a foundational role in the preparation of federal and state tax returns for a diverse portfolio of clients across professional services, technology, manufacturing and distribution, hospitality, and healthcare — ranging from pre-revenue startups to $80M in revenue — including individuals, corporations, partnerships, trusts, and small family-owned and operating businesses. This position reports directly to the Partner of Tax and is based in Kirkland, Washington, with a hybrid work schedule.

Specific Duties Will Include

• Prepare federal and state tax returns, including multistate filings, across a variety of entity types including individuals, corporations, partnerships, and trusts
• Apply a basic understanding of balance sheets and profit and loss statements in the context of operating business returns
• Conduct tax research under the direction of senior staff and managers
• Support senior associates and managers in finalizing client engagements
• Track engagement status and communicate progress to the team
• Collaborate with staff across CAAS, audit, and advisory teams as needed
• Receive hands‑on training and mentorship from senior associates and managers
• Build foundational knowledge of federal and state tax compliance and regulations
• Develop client communication skills in preparation for future client-facing responsibilities

The successful candidate will have

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting
• 0–2 years of public or private accounting experience
• CPA eligible or actively pursuing CPA licensure
• Strong analytical and organizational skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Outlook, Word, Excel, and SharePoint
• Ability to work effectively in a team environment
• Demonstrated experience in managing multiple tasks and in organizing and prioritizing work assignments and ongoing duties
• Ability to communicate effectively and timely in writing and verbally with colleagues, clients, and other external partners
• Ability to work effectively in a diverse team environment

Benefits:

The pay range for this role is $80,000 - $82,000 per year. 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.