Tax Manager

Title: Tax Manager

Location: Tampa Bay, FL

Availability: Full-time, hybrid role

Department: Finance

Company: Surge Tax - https://surge-tax.com/Umbrella Company: Rise Collective - https://rise-collective.com/Surge Tax is a rapidly growing tax strategy and accounting firm specializing in proactive tax planning, tax compliance, and accounting services for real estate investors, short-term rental (STR) owners, entrepreneurs, and high-income individuals. We take a proactive, strategy-driven approach to helping clients understand their tax positions, identify opportunities, implement tax-saving strategies, and maintain accurate financial records. Our services extend beyond annual tax preparation to include quarterly tax projections, ongoing advisory, accounting and bookkeeping, sales tax compliance, and strategic guidance throughout the year. As we continue to scale, we are building a team of experienced tax professionals who are passionate about delivering exceptional client service, developing innovative solutions, and helping shape the future of a modern tax advisory firm. Surge Tax is seeking an experienced and motivated Tax Manager to oversee tax compliance and advisory engagements while helping build and scale our growing tax practice. This individual will play a key role in managing client relationships, reviewing complex individual and business tax returns, developing and implementing tax strategies, and ensuring the timely and accurate delivery of client engagements. The ideal candidate is a technically strong tax professional who can operate independently, communicate complex tax concepts in a practical and understandable manner, and thrive in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment. This person should be comfortable balancing hands-on technical work with client advisory responsibilities, team development, and process improvement. This is an opportunity to join a high-growth firm at an exciting stage of development, with meaningful responsibility, direct access to leadership, and the opportunity to help shape the firm's long-term direction.$125,000 -$135,000/year The successful candidate will demonstrate the following characteristics: Ownership mentality: Takes responsibility for client engagements, deadlines, deliverables, and outcomes without requiring constant oversight. Technical excellence: Maintains strong tax technical knowledge and exercises sound professional judgment. Advisory mindset: Looks beyond compliance to identify planning opportunities and help clients make informed financial decisions. Client-first approach: Builds trusted relationships through responsiveness, clear communication, and reliable execution. Entrepreneurial mindset: Enjoys building processes, solving problems, and contributing to a growing business. Leadership: Provides constructive feedback, develops team members, and helps establish a culture of accountability and continuous improvement. Adaptability: Comfortable operating in a dynamic environment where priorities, processes, and responsibilities may evolve as the firm scales. At Surge Tax, you'll have the opportunity to be part of a growing firm that is redefining how tax and accounting services are delivered to real estate investors and entrepreneurs. Rather than focusing exclusively on annual tax compliance, our approach emphasizes year-round relationships, proactive planning, strategy implementation, and integrated financial support. As a Tax Manager, you'll have the opportunity to take ownership of meaningful client relationships, influence how the firm operates, help develop a growing team, and contribute directly to the continued expansion of the practice. If you're a technically strong tax professional who enjoys working directly with clients, developing practical tax strategies, and building something meaningful in a high-growth environment, we'd love to hear from you.

Key Responsibilities: Tax Compliance & Technical ReviewManage the preparation, review, and timely filing of federal and state tax returns for individuals, partnerships, S corporations, C corporations, and other applicable entities. Review complex individual returns, including Forms 1040, Schedules C and E, K-1s, and returns involving multiple entities, real estate investments, and pass-through income. Oversee business tax compliance, including Forms 1065, 1120-S, and 1120, as applicable. Review tax workpapers, supporting documentation, reconciliations, and client deliverables for technical accuracy and completeness. Identify potential tax issues, compliance risks, and planning opportunities during the preparation and review process. Manage filing deadlines, extensions, estimated tax payments, and other compliance requirements across an assigned client portfolio. Research complex federal and state tax matters and develop well-supported recommendations.

Tax Strategy & Advisory: Develop and deliver proactive tax planning strategies for real estate investors, short-term rental owners, entrepreneurs, and high-net-worth individuals. Prepare and review quarterly tax projections, estimated tax calculations, and year-end tax planning analyses. Evaluate client-specific opportunities involving real estate depreciation, cost segregation, bonus depreciation, short-term rental tax treatment, material participation, entity structuring, and other applicable tax strategies. Help clients understand the requirements, potential benefits, limitations, and implementation steps associated with recommended strategies. Monitor changes in federal and state tax laws and assess their implications for clients. Collaborate with leadership and other advisors to develop comprehensive tax strategies tailored to each client's financial circumstances and objectives. Assist clients with implementing recommended strategies and maintaining appropriate supporting documentation.

Client Relationship Management: Serve as a primary point of contact for an assigned portfolio of tax compliance and advisory clients. Lead client meetings to discuss tax projections, annual tax results, planning opportunities, and implementation requirements. Communicate complex tax concepts clearly and effectively to clients who may not have an accounting or tax background. Proactively identify client needs and recommend additional services when appropriate. Maintain strong client relationships through responsiveness, organization, accountability, and consistent follow-through. Manage client requests, outstanding information, deliverables, and engagement timelines. Help clients navigate tax notices, examinations, and other tax-related matters, coordinating with leadership or outside specialists as needed.

Accounting & Financial Advisory: Oversee accounting and bookkeeping engagements for applicable clients, including review of financial statements, reconciliations, and general ledger activity. Identify accounting issues that may affect tax reporting, financial statement accuracy, or tax planning recommendations. Review year-end adjustments, depreciation schedules, fixed asset activity, and tax-to-book differences. Assist clients with accounting process improvements, financial reporting, and tax-ready bookkeeping. Coordinate with internal accounting personnel to ensure accurate and timely delivery of integrated accounting and tax services. Support sales tax compliance and registration engagements as applicable to client operations and jurisdictions.

Team Leadership & Practice Development: Provide technical guidance, mentorship, and review feedback to staff accountants, tax preparers, and other team members. Manage engagement assignments, monitor workflow, and help ensure work is completed accurately and on schedule. Establish and improve standardized procedures, review checklists, documentation requirements, and quality control processes. Identify opportunities to automate manual work, improve technology utilization, and increase operational efficiency. Assist leadership with recruiting, onboarding, training, and developing the tax team. Contribute to the development of new tax advisory services, internal training materials, and client-facing resources. Help establish a culture centered on technical excellence, client service, ownership, and continuous improvement. Desired Experience & Competencies:

Preferred Qualifications: Experience serving real estate investors, short-term rental owners, entrepreneurs, and high-net-worth individuals. Familiarity with short-term rental tax strategies, including material participation, depreciation planning, and related real estate tax considerations. Experience with cost segregation studies, bonus depreciation, and real estate entity structures. Experience preparing and reviewing Forms 1040, 1065, and 1120-S.Experience with UltraTax CS or comparable professional tax preparation software. Experience with QuickBooks Online and other cloud-based accounting platforms. Prior experience in a public accounting firm, boutique tax advisory firm, or high-growth professional services organization. Experience managing, mentoring, or supervising tax and accounting professionals. Experience building processes, managing workflow, and improving operational efficiency within a growing practice.

Insurance/Benefits: Rise Collective contributes $250 towards health insurance for the employee. We also have different insurance plans that you can enrol into depending on your circumstances. We offer vision, dental, and various life insurance plans as well