Role Description:
- This is a remote, contract position for an experienced Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or Enrolled Agent (EA) with Zakon Financial Group LLC.
- The Tax Reviewer is responsible for reviewing complex individual, business, trust, estate, and nonprofit tax returns prepared by other tax professionals and ensuring each return is accurate, compliant, well-supported, and ready for final approval.
Roles and Responsibilities:
- Perform detailed reviews of federal, state, and local tax returns, including Forms 1040, 1065, 1120, 1120-S, 1041, and 990.
- Verify that tax returns agree with source documents, financial statements, trial balances, workpapers, prior-year returns, and tax software diagnostics.
- Identify calculation errors, missing information, inconsistent reporting, compliance risks, and unsupported tax positions.
- Evaluate complex tax matters and confirm that positions comply with current federal and state tax laws.
- Review depreciation, amortization, basis, capital gains, passive activities, reasonable compensation, estimated payments, and carryforward schedules.
- Review multi-state, foreign income, and foreign tax reporting when applicable.
- Perform year-over-year analytical reviews and investigate significant or unusual changes.
- Ensure elections, disclosures, statements, and supporting schedules are properly completed and included.
- Identify legitimate tax-saving opportunities while maintaining compliance and appropriate professional judgment.
- Prepare clear, concise reviewer notes explaining required corrections, additional documentation, and unresolved technical matters.
- Work collaboratively with tax preparers to resolve review comments and technical questions.
- Confirm that all reviewer notes have been properly addressed before recommending a return for final approval.
- Escalate material, unusual, or high-risk tax matters to firm leadership.
- Maintain organized review workpapers and document the basis for significant conclusions.
- Protect confidential client information and follow firm security and documentation requirements.
- Meet established turnaround times and communicate promptly regarding missing information, delays, or potential filing risks.
- Remain current on changes in federal and state tax laws, IRS guidance, professional standards, and tax-software updates.
- Support and mentor tax preparers by providing constructive feedback that improves accuracy and strengthens the firm’s overall tax preparation process.
