Brown, Kaplan & Liss, LLP, a high quality CPA/consulting firm located in Evanston, Illinois has a support position opening for a paraprofessional and executive Assistant to provide a wide range of services to the BKL partners and professional staff. The personal skills needed to fulfill the job are the key to success in this position. Those skills will be used differently as the types of support needed by the professional staff and partners in the dynamic BKL environment changes over time. Those skills are as follows:
· the ability to analyze complex, sometimes ambiguous and, occasionally, disorganized data
· the ability to create and execute solutions to complex problems
· the ability to communicate both verbally and in writing with clients, co-workers, government tax agencies and other professionals
· the ability to think and work quickly and independently
· the ability to think ahead and be creative
· the desire to be successful
Initially, duties of the position will include the following:
· time and billing software
o learn BKL's time and billing software - in and out
o design and implement new billing procedures
o manage the time and billing process
o supervise the BKL monthly billing and maintain controls
· supervise and maintain data bases
o consolidate the firms data bases and coordinate data base use for disparate purposes
o create systems and procedures for mass hard document mailings
o create systems and procedures for mass electronic mailings
· marketing
o prepare marketing letters
o using contact management software, creating mail merges for distribution of marking letters
o post and update documents, information and links on the BKL web site
o develop prospect and networking lists
o assist partners and staff in mining those lists by making appointments (and reservations, ass necessary)
o prepare prospect and networking follow up letters
o maintain a firm-wide marketing and networking calendar
o prepare marketing and prospect presentations
o prepare proposal letters
· payroll, information and sales tax compliance
o preparing client payroll tax and sales returns
o preparing client w-2s and 1099s
· client accounting
o input checks, cash receipt and journal entries to client QuickBooks or the BKL write-up software
o Prepare bank reconciliations
o prepare account analysis, as needed
· income tax return administration
o scan client tax return documents and preparer workpapers to the BKL electronic document management software
o maintain control lists of open tax returns and extensions and make staff and partners aware of open tax returns
o make follow up calls to clients who have not sent in their tax return documents or who have not made tax return preparation appointments
o print out and assemble completed tax returns
· paperless office and file management
o scan tax return and accounting documents to the BKL electronic document management software
o track paper files in the office and at storage
o organize and rearrange paper files for minimum office space usage and ease of accessibility
· government tax correspondence
o investigate client's government tax notices
o prepare responses to government tax notices
o follow up to make sure that government tax notices are resolved
Skill is required in the following software applications:
· write-up
· QuickBooks
· Excel - design and presentation, formulas, graphing and linking; use of macros a plus
· Word - design and presentation; mail-merge a plus
· Outlook
· internet
· PowerPoint
· contact management data bases
· data base programming a plus
Brown, Kaplan & Liss has been providing high quality services to a large range of privately held businesses, high income/net worth individuals, not-for-profits, trusts and estates for nearly forty-five years. We are integrally involved with our clients businesses and personal finances. We do not just perform compliance and attest services; we are proactive in helping our clients achieve their financial goals. Staff deals directly with partners and clients. As a firm of ten professionals, we are adroit, quick and adaptable. As a member of the Plante and Moran Network, a regional firm of 1,700 professionals, we have access to deep expertise in almost every field.
The right applicant must be desirous of a career position, with a goal of achieving growth as the firm grows. He or she must be a self-starter and eager to accept increasing responsibility. Because of BKL's excellent pre-employment screening and nurturing work environment, staff turnover is rare.