Manager, Small Business Advisory

Experience the Kreischer Miller Difference Kreischer Miller’s Small Business Advisory department works closely with owner-operated private companies, family-owned businesses, ESOPs, business owners, and high-net-worth individuals. The Manager role is responsible for managing integrated accounting, tax, and advisory engagements; developing strong client relationships; supervising and mentoring staff; and contributing to the continued growth and quality of the practice.

Backed by private equity from people-focused Alpine Investors, Ascend is building a dynamic platform for regional accounting firms that enables them to stay independent while accessing the resources of a Top 25 firm to help them grow. Ascend provides access to growth capital, robust talent acquisition and training, leading quality management resources, best-of-breed technology, AI tools, an offshore captive, shared back-office services, a catalytic leadership system, and modernized equity incentives so that firms can surmount today’s industry challenges to reach their full potential.

For more information, visit

The Manager is responsible for leading concurrent client engagements that combine tax compliance and planning, accounting support, financial statement services, and business advisory work. This position serves as a primary day-to-day relationship manager for assigned clients, coordinates work across internal teams, manages engagement deadlines and economics, and ensures deliverables are accurate, timely, and aligned with client needs.

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting.
• CPA license or equivalent professional certification preferred.
• Six to eight years of recent public accounting experience, with exposure to both tax and accounting services.
• Demonstrated progression in managing client relationships, reviewing work papers and returns, supervising staff, and handling increasingly complex technical matters.
• Experience serving privately held, owner-operated, family-owned, or emerging growth businesses preferred.

• Strong working knowledge of federal, state, and local tax laws and regulations, including tax compliance and planning for individuals and business entities.
• Ability to review moderate to complex individual, partnership, S corporation, C corporation, trust, and related tax returns, as applicable to client needs.
• Competence in reviewing accounting records, work papers, and financial statement deliverables for accuracy, completeness, and technical quality.
• Ability to research accounting and tax matters, evaluate alternatives, document conclusions, and communicate recommendations clearly to clients and internal leadership.
• Experience addressing tax notices and coordinating with federal, state, or local tax authorities is helpful.
• Ability to identify accounting process improvements, client efficiencies, and opportunities for broader advisory support.

• Coordinate client fieldwork, information requests, engagement schedules, and expected deadlines with clients and staff.
• Review accounting work papers, permanent file documents, financial statements, footnotes, and related client deliverables.
• Coordinate tax information gathering, year-end planning, tax return preparation workflows, and related client communications.
• Review tax returns and supporting work papers for technical accuracy, completeness, and consistency with client facts and applicable standards.
• Research technical tax and accounting topics, consult with quality control or engagement leadership as needed, and present conclusions in a clear and practical manner.
• Correspond with clients on technical and non-technical matters and serve as a responsive point of contact for day-to-day engagement needs.
• Review engagement letter scope, monitor engagement economics, proactively manage billing, and follow up on open invoices or additional billing matters.
• Identify opportunities for client efficiencies, cross-selling services, and additional advisory support based on a strong understanding of each client’s business.
• Coordinate staff scheduling, provide timely feedback, complete staff…