Tax Support Specialist

Description

About Our Firm – 

Smith Leonard is a growth-minded, regional CPA firm with offices in High Point, Hickory, Winston-Salem, and Lexington, NC. We’ve discovered that public accounting is not a one-size fits all proposition. Different firms offer varying experiences, culture and work environment. Smith Leonard is proud to be a firm that offers an approachable, yet professional culture with great work/life balance, including 1/2-day Fridays in the summer. We are consistently rated one of the “Best Firms to Work For” by Accounting Today in their annual employee survey.   Also, we’re proud to be named the Triad Business Journal’s #1 Best Place to Work (Medium-Sized Companies) in both 2024 and 2025.  

Our team is empowered and energized by the autonomy of local decision-making and community impact, but our affiliation as a BDO Alliance firm gives us access to scalability and far superior technical resources than you would expect from a firm that can also provide top-notch local customer service. Our daily work benefits include flexible schedules and dress for your day every day. We offer a casual environment for our team while delivering professional-level service to our clients and community. 

Smith Leonard offers a competitive compensation and benefits package, an excellent learning environment, and an appreciation for work-life balance. The benefits package includes health insurance (one option is 100% employer paid!), dental, vision, disability, life insurance, paid parental leave, holiday and PTO pay, Thank You Days (floating holidays), Day of Service (company Volunteer Day), a wellness program with free health coaching and monthly lunch and learns, and 401K with a generous company contribution. Smith Leonard believes happy employees make happy clients, which is why we are so proud of the team we’ve built together.   

Position Overview

The Tax Support Specialist plays a vital role in helping the tax team operate efficiently and deliver exceptional service to clients. This position supports the tax professionals at Smith Leonard by coordinating administrative tasks, assisting with client communication, managing workflows, and contributing to the overall accuracy and timeliness of tax engagements. The ideal candidate thrives in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment and brings a customer-focused mindset to their daily interactions. This role provides exposure to a variety of tax processes and offers opportunities to grow in a professional services setting.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Coordinate scheduling requests and assist in staffing for projects
• Meet regularly with assigned team members to review the status of work and provide support, including but not limited to:
  • Contacting clients via phone, email, or text to request documents or signatures
  • Tracking engagement progress to help meet deadlines
  • Assisting with tax return processing
  • Generating and distributing invoices
  • Coordinating other administrative tasks on behalf of the team
• Maintain and update system data (e.g., workflows, contact information, routing statuses, portals)
• Validate the accuracy of incoming client data and scan/import into tax software
• Prepare basic tax returns as time allows
• Provide support for Form 1099 coordination
• Serve as backup to the administrative team when needed
• Assist with special projects as assigned
• Run or monitor reports to help ensure timely completion of work

Key Attributes and Skills

• Work closely with an assigned group of tax team members to support their client responsibilities
• Maintain a strong customer service orientation in all interactions
• Excel in high-energy, collaborative environments where multitasking is essential
• Enjoy an active, varied workday that may include client communication
• Thrive working independently in a dynamic, fast-paced setting
• Demonstrate professionalism, discretion, and confidentiality
• Apply critical thinking and problem-solving skills with a process improvement mindset
• Exhibit resourcefulness, attention to detail, efficiency, and urgency when necessary

Qualifications, Experience & Education

Required:

• Associate’s degree or higher in Accounting, Business Administration, or a related field
• 1–3   years of relevant experience in a professional office environment
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, especially Excel and Outlook
• Strong attention to detail and organizational skills
• Effective written and verbal communication
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines with minimal supervision
• Professional demeanor and commitment to high-quality client service

Preferred:

• Experience working in or supporting a tax department (CPA firm or corporate tax office)
• Familiarity with tax software (e.g., CCH ProSystem fx or similar)
• Experience with e-filing, client portals, and document management platforms such as ShareFile
• Basic understanding of tax return types (individual, business, trust, etc.)

Nice to Have:

• Exposure to project tracking or workflow systems
• Bookkeeping or accounting coursework/experience
• Willingness to pursue additional training or certifications as needed

Physical and Work Environment Requirements:

•Prolonged periods of sitting and working on a computer.

•Ability to maintain focus and attention to detail for extended periods.