Income Tax & R&D Associate

About The Back Room

We exist to free our clients' time so they can focus on what they do best — growing their business. We deliver smart, efficient solutions that liberate teams from the everyday admin, and we hold ourselves to the same standard. Time is the ultimate currency, and we treat it like it.

About the Client
Our client is a US-based professional services firm specialising in CFO, accounting, and tax services for venture-backed startups. With over 800 clients and a team of 180+, they work with some of the most innovative companies in software, biotech, and fintech. Their clients raised over $3B last year alone. This role exists to support Burkland's Tax practice across two high-impact areas: corporate direct tax compliance and R&D Tax Credit Studies.

The Role
This is a dual-focus tax associate role — split across corporate income tax compliance and R&D Tax Credit Studies for a portfolio of US startup clients. You'll be preparing and reviewing federal, state, and local corporate returns, building out R&D credit studies end-to-end, and working closely with managers and clients to keep engagements on track. If you're a tax professional who wants breadth, real ownership, and exposure to fast-moving industries like software and biotech — this is a seat worth taking.

What You'll Do

• Prepare and review federal, state, and local corporate income tax returns (including international forms); manage client files and communications to keep engagements moving

• Conduct direct tax research to stay current on legislation, monitor client businesses, and support timely, relevant tax advice in collaboration with managers

• Maintain accounting and tax records to support filed returns and financial statement accounting; identify and implement best practices across the direct tax function

• Prepare and deliver R&D Tax Credit Studies from end to end — including Sec 174 calculations, work papers, technical interview documentation, and R&D Study Reports

• Review financial statements to identify R&D opportunities; grow working knowledge of software and biotech industries to accurately support qualified research activities

• Manage multiple R&D projects simultaneously; update the team project tracker regularly and flag risks early

• Learn and leverage the firm's tax software suite; identify opportunities to improve processes through data analytics and cross-functional collaboration

  What We're Looking For

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, Economics, Tax, or a related field, with 2–4 years of hands-on experience in income tax and/or R&D tax credits

• Solid understanding of tax principles with strong attention to detail and accuracy

• Strong Excel skills and comfort with data analysis and calculations

• Able to manage multiple priorities and projects without dropping the ball

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills — this is a remote, client-facing role and responsiveness matters

• Self-driven and genuinely curious — someone who grows through research, continuing education, and asking the right questions

  Nice to Have

• Hands-on experience with R&D Credit, Sec 174, and/or Corporate Direct Tax

• Familiarity with SaaS, FinTech, or life sciences taxation and international income tax

• Proficiency in UltraTax and/or experience with tax provision work

• CPA, EA, or progress toward a Master's in Taxation

• Experience presenting tax findings or solutions directly to clients

Why This Role

Most tax roles at this level keep you in one lane. This one gives you two — direct tax compliance and R&D credits — across a client base of high-growth US startups. You'll build dual expertise that's genuinely rare at the associate level, with a clear path toward client ownership and more senior responsibility. Burkland is a remote-first firm that invests in its people, and this seat is for someone who wants to grow, not just execute.

This role is open to Philippine citizens currently based in the Philippines.

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