Associate 2027

About the Role

This Associate position at RKL LLP supports Tax, Audit, and Small Business functions. Associates act as trusted business advisors, providing exceptional client service, offering advice, and helping organizations and individuals understand various financial and tax implications.

Key Responsibilities

• Tax:
• Prepare tax returns and complete working papers for assigned clients.
• Help clients improve their tax function to control risk and facilitate better decision-making.
• Work as part of a team reviewing tax strategies, ensuring tax compliance, and increasing post-tax profits.
• Independently prepare tax returns for various entities (corporations, partnerships, estates, trusts, non-profits) across industries.
• Assist on tax-related projects on an ad hoc basis.
• Review data input, resolve technical tax issues, and respond to inquiries from the IRS and other taxing authorities.
• Provide guidance to Tax Interns in scanning and preparation of tax returns.
• Keep up to date with local and national business and economic issues.
• Participate in continuous learning and active research to improve and develop technical expertise.
• Collaborate with leaders to identify opportunities for efficiencies and proactive engagement management.
• Audit:
• Assist in detailed testing procedures of the balance sheet and income statement accounts.
• Prepare and test financial statements and disclosures.
• Review and audit business transaction cycles (treasury, cash, capital expenditures, etc.).
• Visit client onsite for required audits and/or other financial inquiries.
• Produce quality service and statements with minimal corrections.
• Review audit issues and financial information using available technology tools and research engines.
• Read prior year financial statements and client websites, and seek information from team members for client business and industry understanding.
• Proactively inform the engagement team of work status and request information from clients as needed.
• Develop an understanding of other firm services and their application to client needs.
• Keep up to date with local and national business and economic issues.
• Participate in continuous learning and active research to improve and develop technical expertise.
• Collaborate with leaders to identify opportunities for efficiencies and proactive engagement management.
• Small Business:
• Work with clients on general bookkeeping, financial statement preparation, and business and individual tax returns.
• Ensure all work papers, journal entries, and tax documents are completed diligently, in a timely manner, and efficiently.
• Prepare necessary work papers, journal entries, financial statements, and tax returns for review.
• Onsite client work as deemed necessary.
• Produce quality documentation, financial statements, and tax returns with minimal corrections.
• Develop an understanding of the relationship between financial statement outcomes and tax implications for clients.
• Read prior year financial statements, tax returns, and client websites, and seek information from team members for client business and industry understanding.
• Prepare tax returns and conduct self-reviews before submission to the reviewer.
• Proactively inform the engagement team of work status and request information from clients as needed.
• Develop an understanding of other firm services and their application to client needs.
• Keep up to date with local and national business and economic issues.
• Participate in continuous learning and active research to improve and develop technical expertise.
• Collaborate with leaders to identify opportunities for efficiencies and proactive engagement management.
• Client Service & Communication (Common to all areas):
• Answer client calls and emails in a timely manner with a solution-oriented approach.
• Ensure client deliverables are completed within expectations.
• Identify and introduce other firm services based on client needs and discovered opportunities.

Success Factors

• People Management/Relationships:
• Takes initiative to be a team player.
• Treats everyone with respect.
• Develops loyalty and trust with the team.
• Successfully adapts to different personalities and working styles.
• Proactively and effectively communicates status and issues to team members.
• Holds self-accountable for assigned work and seeks continuous feedback.
• Business Growth:
• Possesses an understanding of RKL’s business, service lines, competitors, and client service capabilities.
• Understands the impact of technology on the firm’s growth and success.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• Required Skills:
• Excellent organization skills and strong attention to detail.
• Ability to multitask and prioritize work.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with a strong client service focus.
• Strong analytical and interpersonal skills.
• Understanding of general accounting and tax principles.
• Willingness to learn and drive for self-improvement.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office suite products and technologically savvy.
• Self-motivated and willingness to enhance accounting and advisory knowledge.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook.
• Education, Experience and Certifications:
• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting.
• Graduating students should have 150 credit hours and a GPA of 3.0 or above.
• Actively pursuing CPA licensure, if not already obtained.
• Essential Functions:
• Regularly required to perform manual tasks, concentrate, think, learn, communicate, sit, stand, walk, use hands and fingers, grasp, handle or feel objects, reach with arms, talk and hear.
• Must be able to remain in a stationary position as needed.
• Occasionally move about inside the office and on client locations, stoop, kneel, crouch, push, and pull.
• Vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus.
• Constantly operates a computer and other office productivity machinery (calculator, copy machine, printer).
• Ability to communicate in a professional manner and exchange information with internal and external actors.
• Ability to lift/carry up to 20 pounds.
• Ability to work outside of normal business hours and weekends as needed.
• Ability to travel to local and non-local clients and events as needed, overnight travel may be required.

Salary Range

$60,000 - $70,000