Summary
We are a small, but awesome CPA firm with a tax practice in Pacific Grove! Including yourself, there would be seven people on our office team – a mix of part and full-time people. We have an immediate opening for a great assistant that can help us with all kinds of administrative tasks that pertain to keeping tax returns flowing and clients happy!
Hours
This position works great for someone that doesn't really need a full-time year-round job, but would like to stay connected with great people in the professional workforce, working full-time for a few months and then lightening up substantially, and providing loads of flexibility to pursue other interests the rest of the year. During the tax season each year from February through April, the expectation will generally be 30-40 hours a week, but depending on workload, especially as we approach April 15, we may need limited evening overtime and/or some extra hours on Saturday or Sunday. After tax season the position would lighten up to 5-10 hours a week for most of the rest of the year. There would also be a lot of flexibility in the offseason if you are interested in taking extended time off for traveling, etc. We also have a higher need of 20-40 hours per week during the last two-three weeks leading up to October 15. You will also have our seasoned Tax Administrative member to help train you into the position as she starts dialing back her hours.
So what kinds of things does this position include?
Well, it includes things like:
1) Answering phones with joy
2) Setting and confirming appointments with flexibility
3) Greeting clients with warmth
4) Assembling mailings with purpose
5) Assembling tax returns and DocuSigns with precision
6) Printing/copying/scanning documents with clarity
7) Playing a tasteful practical joke on an officemate with humor
8) Filing digitized documents in the computer with orderliness
9) Perhaps entering data into QuickBooks with understanding
10) Driving on occasion to deliver or pick up items with care
11) Proofreading with accuracy
12) Electronically tracking and submitting tax returns with excellence
13) Data entry in Lacerte tax software with diligence
14) And basically anything else you can take off our plate - with happiness!
What kind of skills do you need?
Well, of course you need standard computer skills such as Microsoft Windows, Word, Excel, e-mail, the ability to work with .pdf files, and the ability to perform most of the items above. We will train you on specifics as needed, cheer you on, and try not to laugh or cry too hard as you learn new things. QuickBooks experience is always a plus. Prior work for a tax office would clearly be a feather in your cap, as would familiarity with Lacerte tax software.
Here are a few other helpful skills:
1) Precision and proficiency is important. This is a detailed, and at times, fast-paced environment where we can't afford mistakes. If you have a tendency to move too fast and gloss over details, it won't work, but we also have to get things done!
2) A self-starting mentality is a great asset.
3) A good memory is helpful.
4) A problem solving mentality is an advantage versus people that would rather have problems solved for them.
5) Taking ownership and a sense of responsibility in your work and valuing what you do are important.
6) Treating clients as kings and queens and fellow staff members as princes and princesses goes a long way.
7) Candidates must be able to pass a background check and be drug-free.
Fun Stuff
Now that we have the business out of the way, we are a fun group of people looking for someone who is upbeat, cheerful, and humorous, as we need that during tax season! We are in a building with several office suites, which includes two other CPAs, an estate planning law firm, and a financial advisor - it is a great community and you would be sure to get a birthday card signed by the whole building (just try to stop them)! In the past we have occasionally had root beer float days, Chicago hot dog days, pastry days, etc. Our office is clean and modern and your computer is not a junker. We typically keep the kitchen fridge stocked with water and sodas. We have a plethora of tea options and a few people in the building drink a strange, bitter, black drink called coffee! It is a professional environment, so jeans and t-shirts are generally a little too casual - I wear a bow tie most days just for fun, but business casual is okay!
If this sounds like an environment you may like to be a part of, we ask (and as an initial test to see if you caught this detail and can follow directions!) that you please reply only to this e-mail and send us three things: your cover letter, your resume, and your favorite ice cream flavor!
