Tax Manager

Strong tax judgment. A talent for developing people. An eye for better ways to work.
The role
Good tax managers connect the details to the bigger picture. They understand the return, recognize what matters to the client, and help their team deliver work they can stand behind.
We’re looking for a Tax Manager who enjoys that combination. You’ll lead engagements, build client relationships, review technical work, and coach staff. You’ll also help us improve the processes and systems behind the work.
Interested in business development? There’s room for that. Prefer to focus on client service, technical work, and leading delivery? We value that, too. We’ll discuss how your strengths and interests fit the role, with clear expectations about what you’ll own.
RDB is growing. You’ll have opportunities to shape how we work, contribute ideas, and take on new responsibilities as your skills and interests develop.
What you’ll actually do
Lead the tax work and the client relationship
Own your engagements. Manage tax compliance and planning for individuals and closely held businesses, with trust, estate, real estate, and other assignments appropriate to your experience
Review with purpose. Review returns and workpapers for accuracy, completeness, and sound technical conclusions. Complete complex preparation when needed and give staff clear, actionable feedback
Follow the financial trail. Understand how related entities and owner returns connect. Review financial statements, reconciliations, journal entries, basis, fixed assets, and other book-to-tax items. Recognize when the accounting needs attention before the return can move forward
Bring recommendations. Research unusual issues, document the facts and authority, and explain your conclusions. Know when a significant position or unresolved question needs partner input
Make the client experience better. Explain tax results, planning opportunities, and information requests clearly. Help clients understand what matters and what happens next
Manage scope and fees. Monitor engagement budgets, identify additional services, and coordinate approval before making new commitments about work, fees, or timing. Handle billing responsibilities for assigned engagements under firm procedures
See the process through. Coordinate with accounting, advisory, and client-service teammates on information gathering, extensions, estimates, e-filing, secure delivery, and outstanding items
Develop people and keep projects moving
Delegate thoughtfully. Match assignments to experience and capacity, explain expectations, and give people enough context to do the work well
Make review useful. Explain the reasoning behind your notes, recognize patterns, and help staff become more capable and independent
Keep the work visible. Maintain clear project status, ownership, deadlines, and open questions. Raise capacity concerns before the team is in a deadline-day scramble
Contribute to the team’s growth. Participate in hiring, onboarding, training, and performance discussions in coordination with firm leadership
Improve how we operate. Help document processes, strengthen review standards, and prioritize practical improvements alongside client responsibilities
Use technology like you mean it
We want someone who understands the work well enough to make the systems better.
Make Excel earn its keep. Build and review traceable workpapers, analyze financial information, and use formulas, lookups, pivot tables, and data cleanup appropriately
Know what went into the software. Understand and validate current-year activity, carryforwards, fixed assets, and other tax data. Experience with UltraTax CS is helpful; strong experience with a comparable professional platform is welcome
Learn the broader workflow. Our work involves systems such as Practice CS, Workpapers CS, SurePrep, SafeSend, SharePoint, Notion, Missive, QuickBooks, and Double. You don’t need to arrive knowing every platform. You do need to be comfortable learning and using them
Use AI thoughtfully. Look for responsible ways to improve research, documentation, analysis, and repetitive workflows. Use firm-approved tools, protect client information, verify outputs, and remain accountable for the final work
Help others adopt better methods. Test practical improvements, document what works, and coach the team on using tools effectively without weakening accuracy or controls
How you work
You communicate before people have to ask. Clients and colleagues know where things stand. You surface missing information, risks, scope changes, and deadline concerns early.
You’re inquisitive with a purpose. You ask why, trace issues to their source, and turn what you learn into a practical recommendation.
You own your work. Mistakes happen. You speak up, correct them, and apply what you learn to the next engagement. You set that example for your team.
You combine technical depth with practical judgment. You care about the right answer and its implications. You weigh risk, effort, and value when recommending a path forward.
You care about service and teamwork. You follow through, pitch in when needed, and recognize that making teammates chase you is nobody’s love language.
You take feedback seriously. Managers keep learning, too. You ask thoughtful questions, apply coaching, and give others direct, respectful feedback.
You handle change constructively. Processes evolve, technology moves, and the perfect workflow may not exist yet. You help build something better.
What you’ll bring
At least five years of public accounting experience, including tax return preparation and review
A CPA license, EA credential, or CPA eligibility
A bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, economics, or a related field, and/or an advanced degree in accounting or taxation
Experience reviewing and/or approving tax returns and supporting workpapers
Experience managing client relationships and coordinating multiple engagements
Experience developing staff and providing useful technical feedback
Experience with client billing, time tracking, engagement budgets, and explaining the value of services
A secure, professional remote workspace, dependable internet, and availability for Pacific Time collaboration during agreed working hours
Professional references from prior employers, supervisors, or clients
Hours and performance expectations
Public accounting has demanding stretches, and we want to be direct about them.
During the heaviest filing-deadline periods, typically within February through April 15 and September through October 15, the role may require 55+ hours per week. Those hours should describe peak stretches rather than the regular year-round schedule.
Managers balance billable client work with staff development, project management, and firm responsibilities. We’ll discuss annual work and billable-hour targets, how time is categorized, and seasonal scheduling during the interview process.
Success includes accurate work, timely delivery, strong client relationships, a developing team, and sound engagement financial results. Clear timekeeping and early communication about workload are part of the job.
What we offer
Salary of $110,000–$175,000, based on experience, credentials, and agreed responsibilities
Remote work within approved U.S. states and localities, with a casual Seattle office option
Firm-provided computer and standard technology equipment
22 vacation days per calendar year, prorated based on your start date and subject to applicable firm policy and scheduling requirements
10 paid holidays: six scheduled and four floating
Paid sick and safe time using Seattle’s requirements as the firm’s minimum standard, with more protective requirements applied where applicable
Two paid volunteer days
Medical, dental, and vision benefits, with the firm currently paying 100% of employee premiums. Dependent coverage is available at the employee’s cost. Coverage begins the first day of the month following your start date, subject to plan terms
A 401(k) match up to 3% of eligible pay, subject to plan terms
Continuing education and growth opportunities, including reimbursement for approved certification, licensing, and professional membership expenses
Optional participation in the firm’s cell-phone plan under firm policy
Personal tax preparation software access and reasonable guidance from firm principals, subject to firm policy
Who we are
R.D. Barnett PLLC provides accounting, tax, and advisory solutions to private companies, individuals, trusts and estates; specializing in the real estate, veterinary, technology, medical, retail, and professional services industries. While currently a small public accounting firm, our big, audacious goal involves an ambitious growth strategy that will land us in the top 300 U.S. public accounting firms by 2030.
Three qualities define our approach: entrepreneurial, proactive, and no bullshit. We ask questions, look ahead, and give clients clear answers, including when the answer is complicated or uncomfortable.
We take the work seriously, enjoy the people we work with, and are proud to be tax nerds.
Interested?
Send us your resume. We’d like to hear what you want from your next role and what you’d bring to RDB.
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Work arrangement
Yes