Tax Director / Austin Market Leader — Principal Track in Leander, Texas at KEYSTONE CPAS LLC

Keystone CPAs LLC

Location: Austin, Texas — Remote to Start; Transitioning to In-Office

Job Type: Full-Time

Compensation: $150,000–$300,000, depending on experience

Bonus: Performance-based bonus with a defined pathway to Principal ownership

Build Something Bigger Than a Tax Practice

At Keystone CPAs, we believe CPAs should be trusted advisors—not simply tax preparers.

We are looking for an entrepreneurial Tax Director / Austin Market Leader who wants more than another busy season or another traditional tax leadership role. This is an opportunity to help establish, build, and ultimately lead Keystone’s Austin presence while becoming part of a rapidly growing, multidisciplinary advisory firm.

We are also open to an exceptional Senior Tax Manager who is ready to take the next step into practice leadership.

Keystone has grown significantly in less than five years by building an integrated advisory model that goes well beyond traditional tax compliance. Our professionals collaborate across:

• Tax
• Accounting and Client Advisory Services
• CFO Advisory
• Wealth Management
• Business Brokerage and M&A Advisory
• Payroll
• Tax Planning and Consulting

That model allows our professionals to build deeper client relationships and create meaningful value for business owners and high-net-worth families.

This role is designed for someone who wants to build something.

Initially, you will assume meaningful client, technical, and leadership responsibilities within the existing Keystone organization. As the Austin practice develops, you will increasingly focus on building the local office through business development, recruiting, client relationships, referral relationships, team leadership, and overall market growth.

The right person will have the opportunity to earn their way into ownership by helping create the Austin practice—not simply by waiting for tenure.

The Opportunity

The successful candidate will combine strong technical tax skills with leadership, client development, and an entrepreneurial mindset.

You will initially manage a sophisticated client portfolio and work closely with Keystone leadership and our existing tax professionals.

Over time, you will take increasing responsibility for:

• Building Keystone’s presence in the Austin and Central Texas market
• Developing new client and referral relationships
• Recruiting and developing the Austin team
• Establishing a strong local professional network
• Leading the Austin office
• Expanding the practice beyond traditional tax compliance
• Helping shape Keystone’s future service offerings and growth strategy

For the right individual, this position provides a genuine pathway to Principal and ownership.

Principal consideration is based on demonstrated performance—not simply years of service. Relevant factors include leadership, client retention, business development, team development, financial performance, cultural contribution, and the ability to help build a sustainable practice.

Initial Responsibilities

Client Leadership

• Manage a diverse portfolio of business and individual tax clients.
• Develop trusted-advisor relationships with business owners, executives, entrepreneurs, and high-net-worth individuals.
• Lead proactive tax planning engagements that create measurable client value.
• Identify opportunities where Keystone's broader advisory capabilities can benefit clients.
• Maintain strong client retention and service standards.
• Participate in business development and professional networking within the Austin market.

Technical Tax Leadership

• Review complex federal and state tax returns, including:
• Individuals
• Partnerships
• S Corporations
• C Corporations
• Trusts and estates
• Conduct tax research and provide technical guidance to clients and team members.
• Review quarterly estimates and tax projections.
• Assist clients with IRS examinations, tax notices, and controversy matters.
• Collaborate on mergers, acquisitions, entity structuring, transaction planning, and other complex tax engagements.
• Serve as a technical resource for developing professionals within the firm.

Team Leadership

• Mentor and develop tax professionals.
• Review staff work and provide meaningful coaching and feedback.
• Manage workflow, deadlines, and engagement priorities.
• Create accountability for engagement budgets, timelines, and client commitments.
• Support recruiting and interviewing efforts.
• Help build a collaborative, high-performance team culture.

Practice Leadership

• Manage client profitability, realization, billing, and engagement economics.
• Participate in operational planning and strategic initiatives.
• Help improve processes, technology, and firm best practices.
• Work directly with Keystone leadership on growth opportunities.
• Help identify and develop new advisory services.

As the Austin Practice Grows

This position is intended to evolve beyond traditional tax management.

The successful candidate will increasingly assume responsibility for:

• Leading Keystone’s Austin office
• Building a local team
• Developing centers of influence and referral relationships
• Generating new business
• Expanding existing client relationships
• Representing Keystone in the Austin business community
• Managing the financial performance of the Austin practice
• Developing future managers and leaders
• Helping establish Keystone as a significant advisory firm in Central Texas

We are not looking merely for someone to review tax returns.

We are looking for someone who sees an opportunity to build a market, develop a team, grow client relationships, and create substantial long-term value.

What Makes This Opportunity Different

At many accounting firms, advancement means managing a larger book of tax compliance work while waiting for a partnership opportunity.

Keystone offers a different path.

Our integrated platform allows tax professionals to work alongside advisors in wealth management, business brokerage and M&A, CFO advisory, accounting services, payroll, tax planning, and broader business consulting.

That creates opportunities to advise clients throughout the lifecycle of their businesses—from growth and tax planning through transactions, wealth creation, succession, and exit.

For an entrepreneurial CPA, it also creates something increasingly rare in public accounting:

The opportunity to help build a new market and participate economically in what you create.

Why Austin?

Austin and Central Texas offer an exceptional environment for a proactive advisory firm, with a substantial concentration of entrepreneurs, privately held businesses, technology companies, real estate investors, family-owned businesses, and high-net-worth individuals.

Keystone is making a long-term investment in Central Texas.

We want a leader who sees that opportunity and wants to help build the practice with us.

Compensation & Principal Opportunity

Base Salary: $150,000–$210,000, depending on experience and demonstrated capabilities.

The position also includes a performance-based bonus opportunity.

For exceptional performers, the long-term economic opportunity extends beyond salary and annual bonus.

The successful candidate will have a defined opportunity to be considered for Principal ownership based on measurable contributions to:

• Business development
• Client growth and retention
• Team development
• Leadership
• Practice profitability
• Austin market development
• Firmwide strategic initiatives

Our goal is to create an environment where entrepreneurial professionals can meaningfully participate in the value they help create.

Benefits & Perks

Keystone offers:

• Competitive base compensation
• Performance-based bonus opportunities
• Defined pathway to Director and Principal ownership
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) with company match
• Company-paid life insurance
• Paid Time Off and paid holidays
• CPA licensing, CPE, and professional membership reimbursement
• Leadership development and mentoring
• Company-issued laptop and technology
• Direct access to firm leadership
• Collaborative and entrepreneurial culture

Remote-to-Office Transition

This position will begin remotely while Keystone establishes its Austin office.

Once the Austin office is operational, this position will transition to an Austin-based, in-office leadership role.

Candidates must therefore reside in, or be willing to relocate to, the Austin area.

During the initial remote period, candidates must have:

• Reliable high-speed internet
• A dedicated professional workspace
• Dual monitors
• A professional, camera-ready environment for client and team meetings
• Ability to travel periodically for client meetings and firm collaboration

Who Should Consider This Opportunity?

This role is particularly well suited for a CPA who is technically strong and successful in public accounting but wants greater control over their career trajectory.

You may currently be a Senior Tax Manager or Director at a regional or national accounting firm and find yourself asking:

Do I want to spend the next several years waiting for someone else to decide whether I can become a partner—or do I want to help build something of my own?

If you want to lead people, advise sophisticated clients, develop business, build a market, and create a genuine path toward ownership, we would like to meet you.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Keystone CPAs is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive workplace for all employees and applicants.

Employment decisions are made based on qualifications, merit, performance, and business needs without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Qualifications

Required

• Active CPA license
• 8+ years of recent public accounting experience
• Significant experience reviewing complex business and individual tax returns
• Strong technical tax research and planning skills
• Experience managing client relationships
• Experience supervising, mentoring, and developing professionals
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Demonstrated leadership ability
• Entrepreneurial mindset and desire to help grow a practice

Preferred

• Senior Manager, Director, or similar experience with a strong regional, national, or large local public accounting firm
• Existing relationships within the Austin or Central Texas business community
• Demonstrated business development experience
• Experience with complex tax planning, M&A, transaction structuring, IRS controversy, or closely held businesses
• Master’s degree in Taxation or other advanced tax education
• Experience with CCH Axcess

A specific undergraduate accounting degree is not required if the candidate otherwise possesses the CPA credential and the experience necessary to succeed in the role.