Tax Senior Associate

Ascend; Kirkland (WA); Hybrid; USD 80,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

401(k) plan with employer match

13 paid holidays

Flexible time off

Job summary

Ascend, backed by Alpine Investors, is building a dynamic platform for regional accounting firms. The Tax Senior Associate will prepare and review federal and state returns for a diverse client base, from startups to mid-market companies, working with CAAS, Audit, and Advisory teams in Kirkland.

This role emphasizes accuracy, client communication, and mentoring staff, with a hybrid schedule in Kirkland and clear opportunities for growth within Ascend.

Qualifications

• Three to five years’ experience in public accounting.
• CPA or CPA designation.
• BA/BS in accounting.
• Excellent communication skills and interpersonal skills.
• Highly organized and detail-oriented.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite including Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and SharePoint.
• 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.

Responsibilities

• Review and prepare federal and state tax returns, including multistate filings.
• Apply working knowledge of balance sheets and profit and loss statements across operating business, individual, and trust returns.
• Prepare workpapers and supporting schedules.
• Identify and research complex tax issues.
• Manage multiple engagements simultaneously, tracking status and ensuring timely completion across a dynamic workload with seasonal peaks.
• Collaborate with staff and associates to finalize returns, providing guidance and instruction throughout the process.
• Work cross-functionally with teams across CAAS, audit, and advisory.
• Serve as a direct client contact, comfortable leading client meetings and communications after an initial training period.
• Maintain a strong understanding of federal and state tax compliance and regulations to deliver accurate and timely advice to clients.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the department managers.

Skills

Communication

Interpersonal skills

Organization

Time management

Diversity teamwork

Education

BA/BS in accounting

CPA designation

Master's degree (asset)

Tools

Microsoft Office

SharePoint

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 Senior Associate

A Tax Senior Associate plays a key role in the preparation and review 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. In this role, you will analyze tax returns, identify planning opportunities, and ensure compliance with current tax laws and regulations. You will collaborate with staff and associates to finalize returns, guide and teach others through the tax process, and serve as a direct point of contact for clients. Collaboration with CAAS, Audit, and advisory team is critical for success. Strong communication and project management skills are essential, as this is a high-volume environment requiring you to manage multiple engagements simultaneously. This position reports directly to the Tax Partner and is based in Kirkland, Washington, with a hybrid work schedule.

Specific Duties Will Include

• Review and prepare federal and state tax returns, including complex multistate filings
• Apply working knowledge of balance sheets and profit and loss statements across operating business, individual, and trust returns
• Prepare workpapers and supporting schedules
• Identify and research complex tax issues
• Manage multiple engagements simultaneously, tracking status and ensuring timely completion across a dynamic workload with seasonal peaks
• Collaborate with staff and associates to finalize returns, providing guidance and instruction throughout the process
• Work cross-functionally with teams across CAAS, audit, and advisory
• Serve as a direct client contact, comfortable leading client meetings and communications after an initial training period
• Maintain a strong understanding of federal and state tax compliance and regulations to deliver accurate and timely advice to clients
• Perform other duties as assigned by the department managers

The successful candidate will have

• Three to five years’ experience in public accounting
• CPA or CPA designation
• BA/BS in accounting
• Excellent communication skills and interpersonal skills
• Highly organized and detail-oriented
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite including Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and SharePoint
• 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

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

• Familiarity with CCH ProSystem fx Engagement and Access Tax
• One or more years of review experience
• Master's degree in Accounting, Taxation, or a related field
• Exposure to international tax disclosure, including Forms 5472 and IC-DISC
• Experience leveraging AI tools and tax research platforms to improve efficiency and accuracy

Benefits

The pay range for this role is $80,000 - $90,000 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.

• medical, dental, and vision coverage, as well as dependent coverage
• Health Care and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts
• employer-paid life and disability insurance
• 401(k) plan with employer match
• flexible time off (PTO)
• 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.