About Ascend
At Ascend, we understand the struggles that accounting & finance professionals face in traditional public accounting firms - from rigid hierarchies, overwhelming workloads, and the elusive work-life balance. It’s time for a transformative change. We believe your ambition should not be constrained by outdated practices or opaque career paths. Here, you're not just a number; you’re a valued member of a community that supports & celebrates your professional & personal fulfillment. Our mission is to transform the public accounting experience into one where work-life harmony is a reality, and where your career advancement is supported by a nurturing network and comprehensive resources.
Ascend empowers entrepreneurial CPAs to reach their goals with an innovative growth model that brings our partner firms into the new age. Backed by private equity from people-focused Alpine Investors, Ascend is building a modern platform for regional accounting firms that enables them to stay independent while having access to resources of a large CPA firm. These resources include growth capital, robust talent acquisition, best-of-breed technology, a catalytic leadership system, shared back-office services, and modernized equity incentives.
Founded in January 2023, Ascend attained revenues sufficient to qualify it as a Top 100 U.S. accounting firm within six months of operation. Explore Ascend, where your career soars without sacrificing your quality of life.
About RLB
From the standpoints of professional experience, team depth and scope of multiple service disciplines, RLB’s performance promise of Strength In Numbers succinctly captures the core value proposition we bring to every client relationship.
Formed in 2009 by the combination of four major Lehigh Valley-based accounting firms, RLB currently employs more than 30 professionals guided by a Leadership Team of six CPAs with uncommon levels of credentialed knowledge and best-in-practice expertise. RLB Offices are located in Allentown, Easton and Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. Explore RLB.
The Role
We are seeking a Senior Manager to join our dynamic team based out of our Allentown, PA office. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in A&A with a strong desire to grow. This is an exciting opportunity to join a team-oriented firm that is dedicated to its employees and clients. This individual will work with RLB management to help set the tone at the top that encourages quality while helping to guide the less experienced staff members.
Key Responsibilities
- Maintain a client base and the associated relationships approximating $700,000 in firm billing annually.
- Primary contact with assigned client base for various inquiries.
- Primary responsibility for performing and overseeing the work on various audit, review and compilation engagements for clients both annually and quarterly, as needed. Includes occasional field supervision of the team.
- Act as firm’s primary on-site expert in accounting and auditing matters, interfacing with our technical support director on an ongoing basis.
- Oversee the firm’s business valuation and forensic accounting practice
- Primary responsibility for preparing and overseeing the work on various client business tax returns including corporations, partnership, trusts and limited liability companies.
- Primary responsibility for preparing and overseeing the work on various client individual income tax returns.
- Coordinate responses to various tax notices received by clients.
- Conduct annual business client tax planning meetings and perform annual tax planning for key business owners as needed.
- Oversee the firm’s quality control of the A&A practice.
- Manage the firm’s peer review process every three years and the interim internal review process on an annual basis.
- Perform various HR functions in regard to certain direct report employees including annual reviews, response to time requests, etc.
Required Qualifications
- 10+ years of audit attest experience within a public accounting firm
- Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting
- CPA is required
- In-depth knowledge of US GAAP guidelines
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Strong ambition and energy
- Ability to manage client relationships
- Excellent time management and organizational skills
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience in the construction industry is a plus
- Tax experience is a plus
Top Skills
What We Do
Ascend empowers entrepreneurial CPAs to reach their goals with an innovative growth model that brings their firms into the new age. Backed by private equity from people-focused Alpine Investors, Ascend is building a modern platform for regional accounting firms that enables them to stay independent while accessing the resources of a large CPA firm to help them grow. Ascend provides access to growth capital, robust talent acquisition, best-of-breed technology, a catalytic leadership system, shared back-office services, and modernized equity incentives so that firms can surmount today’s industry challenges and reach their full potential. Founded in January 2023, the company attained revenues sufficient to qualify it as a Top 100 U.S. accounting firm within six months of operation.
