Manager, Firm Operations

Manager, Firm Operations

About KSDT

KSDT has long been recognized as one of Forbes Best Accounting and Tax Firms in America and one of the South Florida Business Journal’s Best Places to Work. Now, with our exciting new partnership with Ascend, we’re stepping into the next phase of growth and opportunity.

What hasn’t changed is our culture: the “secret sauce” that sets us apart. We foster a fun and creative environment, keep politics out, and make work-life balance a priority. We seek highly motivated individuals who want not only true career advancement, but also the chance to shape and grow alongside a firm that is scaling rapidly. Our partners and knowledgeable professionals remain accessible for hands-on learning, mentorship, and development.

In September 2025, KSDT made the strategic decision to join Ascend! With Ascend’s partnership and shared resources, KSDT is well positioned for strong innovation and growth in the years to come.

About Ascend

At Ascend, we recognize the struggles that accounting & finance professionals face in traditional firms - from rigid hierarchies and overwhelming workloads to the elusive work-life balance. We believe your ambition should not be constrained by outdated practices or opaque career paths. Here, you're not just a number but a valued member of a community that champions both your professional and personal fulfillment. Our mission is to transform the public accounting experience into one where work-life harmony is a reality, and where your career advancement is supported by a nurturing network and robust resources.

Backed by private equity from people-focused Alpine Investors, Ascend is building a dynamic platform for regional accounting firms that enables them to stay independent while accessing the resources of a Top 25 firm to help them grow. Ascend provides access to growth capital, robust talent acquisition and training, leading quality management resources, best-of-breed technology, AI tools, an offshore captive, shared back-office services, a catalytic leadership system, and modernized equity incentives so that firms can surmount today’s industry challenges to reach their full potential.

For more information, visit www.ascendtogether.com.

Position Summary

The Manager of Firm Operations will own the processes, systems, data and reporting that keep KSDT running. The role standardizes how work gets done across departments and service lines, administers the firm’s core systems, and delivers the performance reporting that partners use to run their practices. About 20% of the role is dedicated to special projects that move firm priorities forward.

Reporting to the Chief Growth Officer, this is a hands-on role for someone who likes improving how things work, not just reporting on them. You will work directly with partners and staff at every level, use AI and automation to take manual effort out of recurring work, and help the firm build an operating model that scales as it grows.

Key Responsibilities

Process Ownership and Improvement

• Own the firm’s core operating workflows end to end, including the client lifecycle, employee onboarding and offboarding, and tax busy-season production
• Identify bottlenecks, recurring errors and operational risks; design practical fixes and see them through to adoption
• Standardize procedures, forms and templates across departments and service lines; maintain standard operating procedures and train staff so they hold up when people change
• Implement better workflow designs and automation to remove manual steps from recurring work

Systems, Data and Automation

• Administer the firm’s core systems, including practice management, client portal and engagement letter platforms, and serve as the firm’s subject matter expert on how they are used
• Configure systems around how the work should flow, and keep client, staff and engagement data accurate and consistent across platforms
• Keep staff access and settings current across systems for new hires, departures and role changes
• Apply AI and automation to the firm’s operational workflows and support adoption of existing improvements on the roadmap
• Manage software licenses and coordinate technology requests in partnership with IT

Performance and Operating Rhythm

• Produce and continually automate the firm’s weekly and monthly performance reporting, including dashboards, scorecards and key performance indicators
• Give partners and engagement teams clear visibility into work in process, receivables, project budgets and deadlines, and work with the billing team on at-risk balances
• Deliver analysis on project delivery, profitability and staff capacity, and support the leadership meeting cadence by tracking priorities and action items to completion

Special Projects (approximately 20%)

• Support execution of key operational initiatives, ensuring strong project management, timelines, and accountability
• Support operational integration of newly joined teams, offices and practices on the firm’s systems, workflows and reporting standards

Desired Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, business, information systems or a related field
• 5+ years of experience in operations, practice management, finance or analytics in a CPA or professional services firm
• Demonstrated experience mapping, documenting and standardizing workflows, and owning recurring processes end to end
• Advanced Excel proficiency and comfort building dashboards using different data sources
• Strong working comfort with AI tools and an instinct to leverage them to work faster and smarter
• Clear and direct communicator, with the ability to articulate what is changing, why it matters and what people need to do differently
• Experience administering practice management, engagement letter, billing or client portal systems; CCH Axcess familiarity strongly preferred

Location

Miami, FL 

We prefer candidates based in South Florida who can work from our Miami office; out of state candidates will be considered

Benefits and Perks

• Health, Dental, Vision, Short and Long-Term Disability
• Flexible Time Off
• FSA & HSA
• Employee Assistance Programs
• 401(k) Matching
• Commuter Benefits
• Paid Parental Leave
• Modernized Incentives and Equity Participation

KSDT is dedicated to ensuring equal opportunity in all aspects of employment, including hiring, promotion, compensation, and workplace culture.

KSDT is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. We comply with all applicable federal, state, and local employment laws and do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, pregnancy, childbirth, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, or any other protected category under applicable law.

We provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities, pregnancy-related conditions, and religious beliefs, unless doing so would impose an undue hardship.

This job description is intended to provide a general overview of the responsibilities and qualifications of the position. It is not an exhaustive list, and additional duties may be assigned as needed.

Job description is subject to change

KSDT has long been recognized as one of Forbes Best Accounting and Tax Firms in America and one of the South Florida Business Journal’s Best Places to Work. Now, with our exciting new partnership with Ascend, we’re stepping into the next phase of growth and opportunity.

What hasn’t changed is our culture: the “secret sauce” that sets us apart. We foster a fun and creative environment, keep the politics out, and make work-life balance a priority. We seek highly motivated individuals who want not only true career advancement, but also the chance to shape and grow alongside a firm that is scaling rapidly. Our partners and knowledgeable professionals remain accessible for hands-on learning, mentorship, and development.

If you want to join an accounting firm with "out of the box" thinking, and one that’s now positioned for even greater reach with Ascend, apply here!

Locations: Miami, Florida OR Weston, Florida OR Boca Raton, Florida OR Charlotte, NC OR Remote OR Hybrid

Responsibilities 

• Partner with clients to provide innovative tax services, including planning, research, compliance, and general mergers and acquisitions activities.
• Manage and drive the success of multiple engagements in corporate, individual and partnership taxation.
• Provide proper representation with taxing authorities for clients under federal or state examination.
• Possess strong writing skills for responding to problem resolutions for tax notices.
• Work closely with Partners, Senior Managers and staff on client management, professional development and business development activities.
• Manage team's activities, charge-ability and budgets.
• Develop team's technical and industry skills and mentor career growth.
• Be involved in practice development efforts of the firm.
• Assist partners with preparation of engagement budgets, client billing and staff performance reviews
• Review staff work product and ensure firm processes and quality control procedures are being executed.
• Identify and pursue outside business contacts through social, charitable, and business organizations. Become an active participant in these networking channels.
• Pursue professional development through public speaking opportunities, seminar delivery, and through the writing of articles.
• Assist in preparing proposals and presentations.

 Desired Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree with a major in accounting.
• Masters in Taxation or LLM in Taxation a plus.
• CPA eligible.
• Experience at a public accounting firm, with a substantial dedication of time to providing corporate and individual tax compliance and consulting services.
• Strong technical skills pertaining to tax preparation and review, tax compliance, agency correspondence and tax research.
• Excellent analytical, organizational, written, and verbal communication skills
• Proven ability to attract and develop profitable, sustainable client relationships
• Ability to multi-task and manage conflicting priorities in a fast-paced environment 
• Strong technology skills, including Microsoft Office Suite
• Strong attention to detail and organizational skills

Benefits and Perks:

• Health, Dental, Vision, Short and Long-Term Disability
• Flexible Time Off
• FSA & HSA
• Employee Assistant Programs
• 401(k) Matching
• Commuter Benefits
• Parental Leave
• Modernized Incentives and Equity Participation

KSDT is dedicated to ensuring equal opportunity in all aspects of employment, including hiring, promotion, compensation, and workplace culture.

KSDT is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. We comply with all applicable federal, state, and local employment laws and do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, pregnancy, childbirth, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, or any other protected category under applicable law.

We provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities, pregnancy-related conditions, and religious beliefs, unless doing so would impose an undue hardship.

This job description is intended to provide a general overview of the responsibilities and qualifications of the position. It is not an exhaustive list, and additional duties may be assigned as needed.