Tax Manager

Distinct | North America; Lafayette (IN); On-site; USD 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Distinct in Lafayette, Indiana is seeking a tax professional for a close-knit firm environment. You will work across diverse tax engagements for local farms, partnerships, S corps, and 1040s, collaborating with a supportive team.

You will mentor junior staff, help develop seniors, and have a clear path toward partnership. The firm emphasizes balanced hours, with 50–60 hour busy seasons and a 4-day summer schedule.

Qualifications

• Tax review experience required.
• Experience with S corps, partnerships and 1040s.
• Willingness to grow into senior roles and potentially partner.

Responsibilities

• Handle tax work for local farms, trucking and manufacturing companies, and longstanding family businesses.
• Mentor and develop Seniors coming through.
• Contribute to firm culture and client relationships.

Job description

Around 30 people. Everyone knows everyone. Partners sit with the team. And when things get busy, they hire rather than just piling more work onto you.

This is very much a small firm, and that’s part of the appeal.

People talk to each other. The office is open plan. If you need help, you can ask. If someone is having a rough week, people tend to know about it.

They want their next Tax hire to enjoy that side of working somewhere smaller. Someone who wants to know the people they work with, help develop the Seniors coming through and become a big part of the firm rather than disappearing into a large department.

The tax work is varied too.

You’ll work across S Corps, partnerships and 1040s for local farms, trucking and manufacturing companies, and longstanding family businesses.

You'll also need some tax review experience.

There’s plenty of room to grow from here. If you want to become a Partner, that is a very real option. CPA would be ideal, but they’re open to EAs and people working towards their CPA too.

They’re also pretty sensible about hours.

Busy season is typically around 50 to 60 hours, and that applies to the Partners too.

They budget hours and keep an eye on workloads. When client work has increased in the past, they’ve hired rather than expecting the existing team to just work more.

Then summer looks quite different, with the firm moving to a 4 day week and closing on Fridays.

And there are lots of little things that probably tell you more about the culture than a list of benefits would.

• There’s a card box where people leave thank you notes for each other.
• During busy season, a committee organises lunches, treats and things to break up the longer weeks.
• On Tax Day, everyone finishes early and lunch is catered.
• After April 15, they have a big celebration that families are invited to as well.
• It’s not trying to be a huge corporate CPA firm.

It’s a close team, with good clients, sensible expectations and the opportunity to become a pretty important person within the firm as you grow.

Think you only have 80% of the required experience? Perfect - apply anyway. The CPA firms we partner with want diverse, interesting people, not corporate clones stamped from the same tedious mould.

Don’t overthink it. The worst outcome is a pleasant conversation about your career. The best? Well, that's where it gets rather exciting.