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Tax Senior Associate

Baker Tilly · Madison, WI · $74,900–$98,990 a year · Full time

Posted Sep 16, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

As a senior, how do you review a staff associate's return and decide what to send back?

What they are checking: Whether they are moving from preparer to reviewer and can coach instead of quietly redoing work.

Tell me about a time you had to tell a client something they didn't want to hear about their tax bill.

What they are checking: Whether they can deliver bad news clearly and calmly while keeping the client's trust.

Where are you in the CPA process, and how are you fitting it around work?

What they are checking: Their commitment to licensure and whether they have a realistic plan to finish it while working full time.

What would you do

A client sends their information two weeks before the extended deadline, and it's incomplete. What do you do?

What they are checking: How they manage late clients, set clear expectations and protect the team from a last-minute crunch.

How do you keep several client projects moving during busy season without letting one fall behind?

What they are checking: Their workflow habits and whether they raise capacity problems with a manager before deadlines slip.

About the work

Walk me through how you prepare and review a partnership return with multiple K-1s.

What they are checking: Whether they have hands-on 1065 experience and know where allocations and basis issues usually hide.

How do you approach a book-to-tax reconciliation, and which differences come up most often in your work?

What they are checking: Whether they understand the link between financial statements and the return, not just how to fill in forms.

Tell me about a tax research question you worked through. How did you find the answer and document it?

What they are checking: Whether they can research independently and write up a position that a manager can rely on.

How do you handle state and local tax issues for a client doing business in Wisconsin and several other states?

What they are checking: Whether they know nexus and apportionment basics, which come up constantly for Madison-area business clients.

What's a recent tax law change that affected your clients, and how did you explain it to them?

What they are checking: Whether they keep current and can turn a law change into practical advice for a specific client.

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The full job description

As published by Baker Tilly.

Overview Baker Tilly is a leading advisory, tax and assurance firm, providing clients with a genuine coast-to-coast and global advantage in major regions of the U.S. and in many of the world’s leading financial centers – New York, London, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago and Boston. Baker Tilly Advisory Group, LP and Baker Tilly US, LLP (Baker Tilly) provide professional services through an alternative practice structure in accordance with the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct and applicable laws, regulations and professional standards. Baker Tilly US, LLP is a licensed independent CPA firm that provides attest services to its clients. Baker Tilly Advisory Group, LP and its subsidiary entities provide tax and business advisory services to their clients. Baker Tilly Advisory Group, LP and its subsidiary entities are not licensed CPA firms. Baker Tilly Advisory Group, LP and Baker Tilly US, LLP, trading as Baker Tilly, are independent members of Baker Tilly International, a worldwide network of independent accounting and business advisory firms in 141 territories, with 43,000 professionals and a combined worldwide revenue of $5.2 billion. Visit bakertilly.com or join the conversation on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram. Please discuss the work location status with your Baker Tilly talent acquisition professional to understand the requirements for an opportunity you are exploring. Baker Tilly is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability or protected veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected basis, in accordance with applicable federal, state or local law. Any unsolicited resumes submitted through our website or to Baker Tilly Advisory Group, LP, employee e-mail accounts are considered property of Baker Tilly Advisory Group, LP, and are not subject to payment of agency fees. In order to be an authorized recruitment agency ("search firm") for Baker Tilly Advisory Group, LP, there must be a formal written agreement in place and the agency must be invited, by Baker Tilly's Talent Attraction team, to submit candidates for review via our applicant tracking system. Job Description: Responsibilities Are you interested in joining one of the fastest growing public accounting firms? If yes, consider joining Baker Tilly (BT) as a Tax Senior Associate! This is a great opportunity to be a valued business advisor delivering industry-focused tax advisory and compliance services to middle market clients. As one of the fastest growing firms in the nation, BT has the ability to offer you upward career trajectory, flexibility in how and where you get your work done and meaningful relationships with clients, teammates and leadership who truly care about you and your development. You will enjoy this role if: • You are looking for an opportunity to build your career in a specific industry, becoming an industry expert to the clients you serve • You can see yourself as a trusted business advisor, working face-to-face with clients to find creative solutions to complex accounting and business challenges • You want to work for a leading CPA advisory firm that serves middle market clients and whose owners have both their clients’ and employees’ best interests in mind and are transparent in their decisions • You value your development and want to work for a firm that provides you the autonomy to own your schedule and career through structured programs (ask us about My Time Off, My Development and Dress for Your Day!) • You want to grow professionally and develop your client service and technical accounting skills to build a career with endless opportunities now, for tomorrow What you will do: • Be a trusted member of the engagement team providing various federal tax compliance and consulting services to industry specific clients: • Provide tax compliance and advisory services to S-corporations, partnerships, individuals and corporations ranging from middle market to multinational companies • Participate in tax research projects on a variety of tax issues, help to draft IRS responses and address other tax authority inquiries • Team with leaders on special projects in various areas of corporate and flow through taxation such as accounting methods and ASC740 • Develop recommendations for the client to consider and share with leadership to discuss and strategize • Communicate and team with specialty tax practices on complicated tax matters in the state and local, high net worth, international, research and development along with credits and incentives areas • Learn and grow from direct on the job coaching and mentoring along with participating in firm wide learning and development programs • Utilize your entrepreneurial skills to network and build strong relationships internally and with your clients • Support the growth and development of team members through the Baker Tilly Care and Teach philosophy, helping associates meet their professional goals • Enjoy friendships, social activities and team outings that encourage a work-life balance Qualifications: • 4-year degree, and License eligible • CPA, Law License, or Enrolled Agent preferred • Two (2) years of experience providing federal tax compliance and consulting services in a public accounting firm • Demonstrated skills in the areas of time management, communication, interpersonal skills, relationship building, collaboration, and problem solving • Strong leadership, project management, organizational and analytical skills, initiative, adaptability • Microsoft Suite skills • Highly developed software and Microsoft Suite skills • Eligibility to work in the U.S. without sponsorship preferred The pay rate range for this job position is $74,900 to $98,990. Actual compensation is influenced by a variety of relevant factors including but not limited to applicant’s skills, prior experience, qualifications, degrees, professional certifications, work arrangements and geographic location. Baker Tilly offers a comprehensive compensation and benefits package to eligible employees.

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