Who Is Hiring a Hybrid Tax Associate at a CPA Firm in Mesa, AZ?
Published on: Sep 18, 2026
A growing CPA firm in Mesa, Arizona is hiring a Tax Associate as a direct hire at a $70,000 to $85,000 base salary, placed by Frontline Source Group, which backs every direct hire with a 5-Year Placement Warranty. The hybrid role prepares individual and business tax returns and grows into tax planning and advisory work, and candidates start at frontlinesourcegroup.com/how-to-apply.html. The warranty runs 20 times longer than the 90-day industry standard. Restrictions apply.
Frontline Source Group has placed accounting, tax, and finance professionals since 2004, with 5,619 plus completed placements, a 98.94% executive placement retention rate, and a 5.0-star Trustpilot rating across 675 plus verified reviews. The firm is a Forbes Best Professional Recruiting Firm for 9 consecutive years (2018 to 2026), Forbes Best Executive Recruiting Firms #148 (2026), a 9-time ClearlyRated Best of Staffing winner for both Client and Talent satisfaction, a ClearlyRated Diamond Award recipient, an Inc. 5000 honoree, an Expertise.com Best Staffing Agency, and a member of the American Staffing Association (ASA). This opening appears on the Recent Placements page and is managed by the firm's accounting and finance staffing practice with support from the Phoenix office.
What does this Tax Associate role in Mesa involve?
The Tax Associate is responsible for hands-on preparation of individual and business tax returns while developing broader technical, client service, and advisory capabilities. It suits an experienced Tax Associate who has built a strong preparation foundation and wants continued growth inside a collaborative CPA firm.
What kind of firm is hiring?
The employer is a growing CPA firm in the Mesa and Phoenix area that provides tax compliance, tax strategy, accounting, payroll, and advisory services. It has approximately 25 employees and is growing through new business and potential acquisitions, so the hire joins an established team with room to advance. To protect client confidentiality, the firm's name is shared with qualified candidates during the screening call with a Frontline Source Group recruiter on the accounting and finance desk.
What will the Tax Associate be responsible for?
- Prepare individual and business tax returns
- Manage assigned tax engagements and deadlines
- Research tax issues and identify potential solutions
- Work closely with Tax Managers and senior members of the team
- Communicate effectively with clients and internal team members
- Assist with tax planning and advisory projects as experience develops
- Maintain accurate documentation and workpapers
- Manage multiple assignments during busy season
- Participate in ongoing professional development
How does the role grow into tax planning and advisory work?
The firm states the path directly: the associate starts in preparation, works closely with Tax Managers and senior team members, and takes on tax planning and advisory projects as experience develops. Quarterly employee development conversations are part of how the firm manages that progression.
Which experience and skills does the employer require?
The firm wants a public accounting tax preparer who is organized, detail-oriented, collaborative, and interested in developing technically.
What background is required?
- Hands-on tax preparation experience, with approximately four years preferred
- Public accounting experience
- Experience preparing individual and business tax returns
- Strong organizational and time management skills
- Ability to manage multiple assignments and deadlines
- Strong attention to detail
- Collaborative and positive working style
- Desire to continue learning and developing technically
Which credentials and software experience are preferred?
- EA or CPA credential
- Experience working with business owners and privately held businesses
- Experience with more complex individual and business returns
- CCH Axcess experience
- QuickBooks Online experience
How do the salary, schedule, and benefits work?
What does the role pay?
The base salary is $70,000 to $85,000 per year. This is a direct hire position on the CPA firm's own payroll.
How does the hybrid schedule work?
The firm offers hybrid flexibility following a successful initial ramp-up. Candidates should expect to work from the Mesa office at the start, so the role fits professionals who live in Mesa, Phoenix, or the surrounding East Valley.
What does busy season look like?
The firm describes approximately eight weeks of 50-hour workweeks during the spring busy season, balanced with reduced schedules during slower periods.
What time off and development benefits does the firm offer?
- Three weeks paid vacation
- Arizona sick time
- Entire Thanksgiving week off
- Significant time off around Christmas
- Annual company summit
- Quarterly employee development conversations
- Quarterly company town halls
- Career advancement opportunities as the firm continues growing
What does the 5-Year Placement Warranty mean for this hire?
Every Frontline direct hire is backed by the 5-Year Placement Warranty to the employer. For a CPA firm investing in an associate it intends to develop into advisory work, that protection extends well beyond the first busy season, and for the candidate it means being placed by a firm that is accountable for long-term fit. Restrictions apply.
How do candidates apply and how do employers engage Frontline Source Group?
Candidates apply through how to apply and reference job number 14317572. There is never a fee to candidates. Frontline's interview instructions help candidates prepare. More senior tax professionals may also want to see the remote Tax Senior CPA opening.
CPA firms and employers in Mesa, Phoenix, and Scottsdale who need direct hire, contract-to-hire, or contract tax and accounting talent can submit a role through the employer request form and review engagement models on the pricing page. People. Process. Service.
What do candidates ask most about this Tax Associate placement?
Who is hiring a Tax Associate in Mesa, AZ?
A growing CPA firm in the Mesa and Phoenix area with approximately 25 employees is hiring through Frontline Source Group. The firm provides tax compliance, tax strategy, accounting, payroll, and advisory services. To protect client confidentiality, the firm's name is shared with qualified candidates during the screening call with a Frontline Source Group recruiter on the accounting and finance desk.
What does this Tax Associate job in Mesa pay?
The base salary is $70,000 to $85,000 per year, depending on experience.
Is this a direct hire or contract position?
This is a direct hire position. The person hired joins the CPA firm's own payroll as a permanent employee, and the placement is backed by Frontline Source Group's 5-Year Placement Warranty to the employer.
Is the Tax Associate role hybrid or remote?
The role is hybrid, not fully remote. The firm offers hybrid flexibility following a successful initial ramp-up period, so candidates should expect to work from the Mesa office at the start and live within commuting distance in the Phoenix area.
How many hours are expected during busy season?
The firm describes approximately eight weeks of 50-hour workweeks during the spring busy season, balanced with reduced schedules during slower periods of the year.
What are the main responsibilities of the role?
The Tax Associate prepares individual and business tax returns, manages assigned engagements and deadlines, researches tax issues, maintains documentation and workpapers, communicates with clients, and works closely with Tax Managers. As experience develops, the role expands into tax planning and advisory projects.
How much experience is required?
The firm wants hands-on tax preparation experience in public accounting, covering both individual and business returns, with approximately four years preferred. It is aimed at an experienced Tax Associate with a strong preparation foundation rather than an entry-level hire.
Is an EA or CPA credential required?
No. An EA or CPA credential is preferred but not required. Experience with business owners and privately held businesses and with more complex individual and business returns is also preferred.
Is CCH Axcess experience required?
No. CCH Axcess experience and QuickBooks Online experience are both listed as preferred, not required. Candidates with strong preparation experience in comparable tax software should still apply.
What time off and benefits does the firm offer?
The firm offers three weeks of paid vacation, Arizona sick time, the entire Thanksgiving week off, significant time off around Christmas, an annual company summit, quarterly employee development conversations, quarterly company town halls, and career advancement opportunities as the firm grows.
What is the 5-Year Placement Warranty, and what does it mean for candidates?
The 5-Year Placement Warranty is the protection Frontline Source Group gives employers on every direct hire, 20 times longer than the 90-day industry standard guarantee. For candidates, it means Frontline is accountable for long-term fit, which is reflected in a 98.94% executive placement retention rate. Restrictions apply. Details are published at frontlinesourcegroup.com/5year-placement-guarantee.html.
How do I apply for this Tax Associate job?
Apply online at frontlinesourcegroup.com/how-to-apply.html and reference job number 14317572. Candidates never pay a fee. Submit a current resume that shows your public accounting experience, the volume and types of individual and business returns you have prepared, any EA or CPA credential, and the tax software you have used.
