Tax Lead

Destiny Tax & Accounting; Denver (CO); On-site; USD 120,000 - 145,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k) match

Paid holidays

PTO

Flexible summer schedules

Professional development

Job summary

Foundations Resources in Denver seeks a Tax Manager to lead the firm's tax function end to end, with a focus on high-income and complex individual returns, and to guide the tax and accounting team in a modern, tech-enabled practice.

The role involves preparing and reviewing returns for individuals, S-corps, partnerships, trusts, and C-corps; handling IRS/state notices; proactive planning; and transitioning client relationships from retiring partners, while mentoring staff.

Qualifications

• Active CPA license required.
• 8-10+ years of hands-on tax preparation and review in public accounting or tax firm setting.
• Significant experience with complex individual 1040s (equity compensation, rentals, multi-state, K‑1s) and pass-through entities.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and review federal/state income tax returns for individuals, S-corps, partnerships, C-corps, and trusts/estates, focusing on high-income and complex cases.
• Serve as primary technical tax resource and return signer, ensuring quality and compliance.
• Lead responses to IRS/state notices and explain resolutions clearly to clients.
• Participate in proactive tax planning meetings and coordinate implementation over time.
• Guide client relationship transitions from retiring partners and supervise tax staff or seasonal preparers.

Skills

Client communication

Leadership

Technical tax knowledge

Problem solving

Adaptability

Education

CPA license

Tools

Tax software

Portals

E-sign

Cloud tools

Job description

About Us

We are an established, relationship-focused tax and bookkeeping firm based in Colorado, serving individuals and small businesses along the Front Range and beyond. We are entering a planned ownership transition as the current partners move toward retirement, and we are committed to preserving the trusted, personal service clients value while modernizing our technology, processes, and client experience. We believe we can embrace technology without sacrificing client experience or care.

Role Overview

The Tax Manager is a full-time role responsible for leading the firm’s tax function end to end. You will focus on preparation and review of individual and business returns with an emphasis on high-income and complex individual tax, respond to IRS and state notices, participate in proactive tax planning, and provide day-to-day leadership for the tax and accounting team. You’ll be hands on in building a modern, efficient, tech-enabled tax firm, while gaining access to additional earning opportunities as the firm grows.

What it Looks Like

• Prepare and review federal and state income tax returns for individuals, S-corporations, partnerships, C-corporations, and trusts/estates, with a strong emphasis on high-income and complex individual returns (equity compensation, rentals, multi-state, K‑1s).
• Serve as the primary technical tax resource and return signer for the firm, ensuring quality, accuracy, and compliance with all applicable standards.
• Lead responses to IRS and state tax notices, including researching issues, drafting responses, and clearly explaining resolution steps and outcomes to clients.
• Participate in proactive tax planning meetings with clients, identifying strategies, explaining implications in plain language, and coordinating implementation over time.
• Help guide client relationship transitions from the retiring partners, building trust and continuity with long-standing clients.
• Provide day-to-day leadership for the tax practice, including oversight of the existing full-time bookkeeper and administrative support, with the expectation of managing additional tax staff or seasonal preparers as the firm grows.
• Collaborate with firm leadership to document and refine tax workflows, calendars, checklists, and standards to create a scalable, consistent practice.
• Embrace and effectively use the firm’s tax technology stack (tax prep software, portals, e-signature, document management, and AI-supported tools) and offer practical feedback to improve efficiency and client experience.
• Partner with leadership and aligned professionals on limited business development activities, such as joining prospective client meetings as the tax subject-matter expert.
• Maintain high ethical and professional standards, in line with CPA/EA requirements, IRS Circular 230, and applicable state regulations.

Qualifications

• Active CPA license required.
• 8-10+ years of recent, hands‑on tax preparation and review experience in a public accounting or tax firm setting.
• Significant experience with complex individual 1040s, including equity compensation, rentals, multi-state issues, flow‑through income, and K‑1s; experience with closely held business entities (S‑corps, partnerships) strongly preferred.
• Comfortable serving as the go‑to tax resource in a smaller firm, including reviewing other preparers’ work and answering staff questions.
• Strong client communication skills, with the ability to explain complex tax issues clearly and calmly to non-technical audiences.
• Proven ability to manage multiple deadlines across a full-year tax cycle, not just during filing season.
• Tech‑forward mindset and ease with modern tax software, portals, e‑sign, and cloud tools; openness to learning and using AI‑enabled workflows is essential.
• Experience in a small‑firm environment, ownership transition, or practice modernization effort is a plus.
• Experience leading a team and managing others strongly preferred.
• Alignment with a high‑compliance, high-integrity approach to client service and professional responsibility.

Work Model and Location

• Full‑time, exempt position.
• Hybrid work structure with the ability to remotely and from our Denver and Evergreen office locations as needed.

Compensation and Benefits

• Base Salary - $120,000- $145,000 depending on experience and qualifications
• Opportunity for additional bonuses or other compensation as the firm grows
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance plans
• 401(k) match
• Paid holidays, PTO, and flexible summer schedules
• Flexible working schedule and arrangements
• Professional development and continuing education

How to Apply

Please submit your resume, a brief cover letter describing your experience with complex individual returns and leading a small tax practice, and your approximate salary expectations to [e-mail]. Shortlisted candidates may be asked to discuss sample client scenarios to assess technical depth and communication style and complete a pre-employment assessment.