Tax Practice Lead

Search Services; Houston (TX); Hybrid; USD 200,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

Search Services in Houston seeks a senior tax leader to oversee and grow its tax practice, with an option for equity Partner or non-equity Managing Director track. An existing book of business is not required, though portable relationships help.

The Tax Practice Leader will drive strategy, technical quality, and client relations across domestic and international teams, guiding succession and growth through acquisitions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in accounting or taxation.
• Senior Manager level experience or above in public accounting.
• Strong experience with privately held businesses and owners.
• Proven leadership of managers and dispersed teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategy, operations, and performance of the tax practice.
• Develop and retain local and international tax professionals.
• Oversee complex engagements, quality, and risk management.
• Advise privately held businesses and owners.
• Grow client relationships and identify new opportunities.
• Oversee staffing, pricing, and engagement economics.

Skills

Tax leadership

Client relationship mgmt

Cross-border tax

People management

Strategic planning

Education

Bachelor's in Accounting/Taxation

Master's or CPA

Job description

A growing, mid-sized accounting and advisory firm headquartered in Houston is seeking a senior tax leader to oversee and continue building its tax practice.

The firm has approximately 200 professionals in the United States and internationally, a strong and well-established client base, and an active growth strategy that includes both organic expansion and the acquisition of other accounting firms.

This position may be structured as an equity Partner role or as a non-equity Managing Director position with a path to partnership. An existing book of business is not required, although portable relationships or demonstrated business development experience would be considered a plus.

Position Summary

The Tax Practice Leader will be responsible for the strategic, technical, operational, and financial leadership of the firm's tax practice.

This individual will manage local and internationally based tax professionals, oversee key client relationships, support continued practice growth, and help integrate employees and clients joining the firm through acquisitions.

The ideal candidate is an experienced public accounting tax professional with strong technical expertise, proven people leadership, executive-level client skills, and the ability to lead effectively through growth and organizational change.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the overall strategy, operations, and performance of the tax practice.
• Manage, develop, and retain local and internationally based tax professionals.
• Oversee complex tax engagements, technical quality, review standards, and risk management.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to privately held businesses, business owners, executives, families, and other clients.
• Maintain and expand relationships within an established client portfolio.
• Identify tax planning, advisory, cross-selling, and new business opportunities.
• Manage practice profitability, staffing, utilization, pricing, billing, and engagement economics.
• Improve workflows, technology, quality controls, and coordination between domestic and international teams.
• Develop managers and senior professionals into future practice leaders.
• Collaborate with firm leadership and other service lines on strategic and client initiatives.
• Support the evaluation, onboarding, and integration of acquired tax practices.
• Help newly acquired employees adapt to the firm's culture, systems, expectations, and client service model.
• Preserve client relationships and retain key employees during periods of transition.
• Build alignment and collaboration between existing and newly acquired teams.
• Represent the firm within the Houston business and professional community.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Taxation, Finance, or a related field.
• Senior Manager-level experience or above within a public accounting firm.
• Strong technical experience serving privately held businesses and their owners.
• Proven experience managing complex tax engagements and client relationships.
• Demonstrated success leading managers, professional staff, and geographically dispersed teams.
• Experience working with offshore or international accounting professionals.
• Strong executive presence, communication skills, and client-facing capabilities.
• Experience managing staffing, workflow, deadlines, quality, and engagement performance.
• Ability to lead within a hybrid environment while maintaining a visible presence in Houston.

Preferred Qualifications

• Current Partner, Managing Director, Director, or experienced Senior Manager within a regional, national, or large local CPA firm.
• Experience leading a tax practice, office, market, or significant service line.
• Experience integrating teams, clients, systems, or processes following an acquisition or firm combination.
• Demonstrated success leading employees through growth, change, or organizational transformation.
• Business development experience or an established referral network.
• Portable client relationships or an existing book of business, although neither is required.
• Master's degree in Taxation, Accounting, or a related field.

Leadership Profile

The successful candidate will be a technically credible and relationship-oriented tax leader who can balance strategic leadership with hands-on involvement in important client and team matters.

This individual should be an effective people manager, a confident client advisor, and a thoughtful change leader who can integrate new teams into a common culture while preserving the strengths and relationships that made those practices successful.

Why Consider This Opportunity

• Lead an established tax practice with a strong existing client base.
• Manage a growing domestic and international team.
• Play a central role in the firm’s acquisition and integration strategy.
• Influence the future direction of the tax practice.
• No requirement to bring a book of business.
• Opportunity to join as a Partner or enter as a Managing Director with a path to partnership.