Sr. Tax Associate, R&D

About Us

Burkland's core purpose is to Accelerate Dreams. So often, turning dreams into reality helps change the world. We thrive at the forefront of this transformation. Startups desire our professionals as they are the best in the business. Startups seek our content because we are an industry thought leader. Startups trust our expertise, so founders can focus on their companies, products, and value-add. Because of our demonstrated value, our clients have raised over $17.8B!

At Burkland, we lead with our Core Purpose. We do this for both our clients and our employees. We believe that leaning on our Core Values (Fresh Perspectives, Exponential Value, Empathy, Trusted Partner) will lead to happy clients and happy employees.

We are a remote-first company with over 180 team members, more than 800 clients, and a culture built on doing meaningful work with people who genuinely care about helping our clients grow. Come build something with us!

The Role

We are looking for a Sr. Tax Associate, R&D to help optimize our in-house R&D offering conducting and documenting technical interviews with clients and subject matter experts. performing relevant tax research, and calculating R&D Tax Credits and Sec. 174/Sec. 174A analyses according to all applicable standards. This individual will manage day-to-day engagement responsibilities, provide technical guidance to team members, and support engagement economics and business development. This is a fully remote role within a heavy, multi-client environment — you'll be managing a high volume of engagements across multiple organizations and industries at once, so comfort juggling many client relationships simultaneously is essential. It's a unique opportunity to take on a leadership role in a growing department, working across multiple organizations and companies as they grow and scale.

Your Typical, Atypical, Day

• Manage the day-to-day responsibilities on R&D Tax Credit and Sec. 174/Sec. 174A engagements, including leading technical interviews with clients and subject matter experts.

• Conduct virtual interviews with clients to document their applicability for the R&D credit.

• Produce technical reports reflecting client interviews.

• Prepare and review work papers, deliverables, and tax forms.

• Identify R&D opportunities for clients by performing detailed analysis of client financial statements and tax documents.

• Prepare and review calculations of R&D credits, including Sec. 174/Sec. 174A considerations, for client delivery.

• Supervise and mentor R&D Tax Associates, providing technical guidance and reviewing their work to support their development.

• Assist in managing engagement economics, including budgeting and billing, to support timely and quality delivery across all phases of an engagement.

• Act as Power of Attorney on behalf of clients in phone meetings with the IRS.

• Balance multiple client engagements and priorities while communicating quickly and effectively with the team.

• Serve as a point person for technical R&D research at Burkland, helping strengthen our industry expertise and market prominence.

• Participate in business development activities, including contributing to proposals for prospective and current clients.

• Stay current on the latest developments in tax law and regulations as they apply to the R&D credit.

About You

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Accounting, Tax, Finance, or a related field.

• 3-5 years of experience in R&D tax, with hands-on responsibility for R&D Tax Credit and Sec. 174/174A analyses.

• CPA, EA, or in progress preferred; Attorney (admitted to practice in a U.S. jurisdiction) also considered . An advanced credential allowing for IRS client representation is a plus.

• Experience with Kipsi R&D tax software is a plus (instead of or in addition to Alteryx/Power BI)

• Demonstrated experience supervising, mentoring, or training junior staff.

• Intermediate-to-advanced Excel skills, with experience in detailed calculation work and financial analysis drawing on data inputs from multiple sources; experience with tools such as Alteryx or Power BI is a plus.

• Self-motivated and comfortable working independently in a fully remote setting.

• Technical understanding of software and/or biotechnology industries, and comfort speaking with technical leads about R&D opportunities available to their companies.

• Comfortable translating relevant accounting concepts to software and technical teams.

• Working knowledge of accounting methods is a plus.

• Strong computer skills, including Google Workspace suite of tools, Slack, and the capacity to quickly learn new software.

• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills.

• Proven ability to manage a high volume of client engagements simultaneously while consistently meeting deadlines and delivering high-quality work.

• Strong analytical, research, organizational, and communication skills, with sharp attention to detail.

• Genuine passion for delivering exceptional client service, as this role involves extensive client interaction.

• Comfortable working in a camera-on culture, confidently leading and facilitating meetings via Google Meet or Zoom.

What We Offer

• 100% remote, work-from-anywhere flexibility. Forget the commute! We're a remote-first workplace, so you can set up your office at home, at a coworking space, or on the beach if you'd like — as long as you have a reliable internet connection.

• Flexible work schedule to promote a healthy work-life balance.

• A generous home office expense reimbursement so you have the office you need to be productive.

• Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance for you and your dependents, with premiums fully covered for individual employee coverage on select plans.

• Flexible PTO — take time off from work when you need it.

• 401k with a company match to ensure you are ready for retirement.

• Short & Long Term Disability Insurance to support you when you need it the most.

• A collaborative, communicative culture driven by our Core Purpose + Values. We work with incredibly smart people who love to learn and share what they know. If this sounds like a team you'd like to be a part of, we'd love to hear from you.

Burkland Associates is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. Burkland Associates is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate based on race, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, disability, age, or other legally protected status. For individuals with disabilities who would like to request an accommodation, please visit our careers page at https://burklandassociates.com/careers/.

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

The base pay range target for the role described in this job description is $80,000 – $100,000. Final offer amounts depend on multiple factors such as candidate experience and expertise, geographic location, total compensation, and market data. In addition, full-time regular positions are eligible for 401(k), health benefits, and other benefits; some of these benefits may be available for part-time.