Associate Director, Tax

Location: Hybrid, 3 days per week in the Cupertino, Santa Cruz, or Pleasanton, California offices; North Bay locations may also be possible. Extended hours are required during peak tax season and as needed to meet client deadlines, with occasional travel for client meetings or practice events.

Salary: $225,000–$250,000 annually.

Company

Aardvark Tax Advisors is a full-service tax, accounting, and advisory firm serving small businesses and entrepreneurs. As hirify.global’s accounting and client services practice, it uses proprietary AI to reduce routine work while keeping people accountable for client outcomes.

What you will do

• Own higher-fee, complex client relationships across tax planning, compliance, and consulting.
• Lead preparation and review of complex federal, state, and local returns for corporations, partnerships, individuals, trusts, estates, and closely held businesses.
• Deliver multi-year planning covering entity structure, owner compensation, legislative changes, and clients’ business and personal finances.
• Act as the senior escalation point for managers and staff, resolving difficult technical and client issues.
• Mentor managers and senior staff and help develop tax professionals.
• Plan engagements, scope and price out-of-scope work, drive fee realization, grow client relationships, and manage tax risk.

Requirements

• Active CPA or EA required.
• 15+ years in public accounting or tax, including deep experience in compliance, planning, and advisory for individuals, partnerships, S corporations, and closely held businesses.
• Track record managing a substantial book of higher-complexity, higher-fee clients.
• Proven experience managing and developing tax professionals.
• Strong knowledge of federal, state, and local tax regulations, complex returns, and multi-entity planning.
• Experience scoping engagements, identifying out-of-scope work, and driving fee realization.
• Proficiency with professional tax software such as UltraTax, CCH Axcess, Lacerte, or similar.

Nice to have

• Experience in a CFO, controller, or other finance leadership role inside an operating business.
• Experience running a practice or client book.
• Experience taking over and maintaining client relationships through practice transitions.

Culture & Benefits

• Hybrid work with three office days per week and potential North Bay locations.
• Health, dental, and vision coverage; life insurance; short- and long-term disability coverage.
• 401(k) retirement plan, stock option plan, unlimited vacation, sick leave, and public holidays.
• Fast-growing practice with defined advancement criteria and performance-based opportunities for greater responsibility and equity.