Temporary Help For CPA Firms and Tax Preparation Services Firms

I have had a change of direction since I last posted.  I want to do CPA work, taxes, accounting and consulting.  However, my main source of clients will be CPA firms and tax preparation firms.  My goal is to help these firms during times when they are especially busy and need temporary support.  My major focus now is tax preparation; however, I can also help out on audits, reviews, compilations, and consulting work.

I am looking to work full time during the busy season, and as much as needed in the off season.

Below is the cover letter and resume that I am presenting to potential employers.

Gary Waltrip, CPA
Hollister, CA 95023

(408) 427-2849 Cell

E-mail: gwcpa1@gmail.com

Cover Letter

December 14, 2014

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am a semi-retired CPA with an active license (CA 24228) in good standing.  I am seeking work as a tax preparer for CPA firms or other tax service providers.  My rates are very reasonable and I am flexible on compensation.

I have over twenty years of experience in all phases of CPA firm work, including audits, reviews, compilations and corporate consulting work.  I am familiar with QuickBooks, paperless working paper systems (Prosystems fx) and peer reviews.  Most of my tax work has been through the Lacerte software package.  I also have extensive experience in responding to IRS and FTB inquiries.

For the past four years I have concentrated on income tax preparation, mostly for individuals, but also for corporations, partnerships, LLCs, homeowners associations, and some trusts.  I truly enjoy tax preparation and working directly with clients, and that is my preferred focus at this stage of my career.  Polls of clients at my last assignment showed me to be the highest rated tax preparer in terms of client satisfaction.  I treat all clients with courtesy and respect, from the simplest return to the most complex.  I am enthusiastic about tax work, and I believe I will make a favorable impression on your clients and help ensure repeat business for your firm.

I am primarily looking for tax season work, but am available in the off season on an as-needed basis.   Payment can be on a 1099 basis, which saves the employer on payroll taxes and benefits.  Payment on a W-2 is acceptable if the employer prefers.

Rest assured, I am not interested in starting my own practice, and I will not solicit or accept separate work from your clients.  I understand the necessity of client confidentiality and I am an ethical practitioner.  I would hope to create an ongoing relationship with your firm that is based on trust and value provided.

Although not required for a CPA, I am voluntarily engaged in the CTEC program, and passed the CTEC 2014 tax update test with a score of 97%.  I am bonded and have an active PTIN number, so I can “hit the ground running” at the start of the season.  I am available for interviews at your convenience.  Feel free to contact me by phone or email.  My resume follows this page.

GARY WALTRIP, CPA

RESUME

Gary Waltrip, CPA

Hollister, CA 95023

(408) 427-2849 Cell

E-mail: gwcpa1@gmail.com

Professional Objective:  Experienced professional seeks work in tax preparation of individual, corporate and partnership tax returns for the coming busy season, on a temporary or per diem (1099) basis (W-2 is acceptable, per employer’s option).  I also have substantial experience in audits, reviews and compilations as well, and can assist in these areas as well. I have over 20 years of experience in preparation of individual, corporate and partnership tax returns.  I am flexible and affordable.

Current, Relevant Experience: 

2011 – 2014: 

Master Tax Advisor, H&R Block, 351 Tres Pinos Rd #2, Hollister, CA 95023

(831) 637-0255; reported to Manager Pamela Alvarado.  Interviewed tax clients, prepared tax returns, mentored new preparers, answered IRS and Franchise Tax Board inquiries.

I worked for H&R Block for the tax years 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013, preparing mostly individual tax returns, from the simple to the complex.  For the 2013 tax returns season, I completed over 150 individual tax returns, one corporate return and one trust return.

I enjoy working directly with clients and relate well to them.  Last tax season’s client surveys showed me to be the most popular preparer in the office, with the highest customer satisfaction.

Reason for leaving:  The experience was excellent, but I seek better compensation.

January – August, 2012:

Auditor and Corporate Tax Preparer, Douglas A Taylor, CPA, 214 Broadway, Millbrae, CA 94030, 650-697-7907.  Working directly for Douglas Taylor, I performed audits and reviews of homeowners associations, a housing cooperative, and a large taxi cab company.  I also performed reviews and compilations of construction contractors.  I prepared corporate, partnership, LLC and 1120-H tax returns for these clients using Lacerte software.

Reason for leaving:  Due to the distance from home and necessity of hotel stays, I opted not to return for the following season.

Education:  B.S. Degree, Accounting, San Jose State University

License:  California CPA License 24228, Active and in Good Standing; CTEC certified, Bonded and I have an active PTIN.

Software Skills:  Excel and Word, advanced; QuickBooks; Lacerte Tax Preparation Software; Tax Act Tax Preparation Software.

References:  Professional references (and a longer resume) will be supplied upon request.

Dealing With the Difficult Client or Potential Client

I worked for a major retail tax company for the past four years and enjoyed it immensely.  Never before in my career have I been more sharp in taxes.  I completed 151 individual tax returns, one corporation, one partnership, and one trust.  I have two more corporations lined up and will do them soon.  Further, client feedback in surveys showed that I was the most highly rated tax professional in the office.  That was nice.

At the end of this tax season, I made the decision to leave the retail tax company where I have worked, for several reasons.  Their prices are way too high to be realistic, in many cases. Employees are suffered to work off the clock, though this is never explicitly stated.  However, you get in trouble if, when the tax season ends, you are still in the middle of a difficult tax return.  You cannot work extra hours to complete it beyond the sparse off-season office schedule.

This happened to me last week, when I was working on a difficult tax return for a very obnoxious client, someone who was rude, pushy, hostile and unreasonable.  This taught me a lesson:  feel free to reject a potential client at the outset.  Do one or more of these things:

1.  Inquire as to the status of the client's records -- will you have to do more than tax preparation, e.g. do a bookkeeping project to derive the numbers needed?

2.  Is the potential client quarrelsome, pushy, rude and putting pressure on you?  Skip them and refer them elsewhere.  Trust your gut on this.

3.  If late in the season, inform the client at the outset that they must be put on extension, or they can go elsewhere.  Their lateness in coming in is not your problem.

4.  Quote them a high price for the tax preparation, and ask for a retainer.  You can always come down if the assignment is less difficult than you feared, or the client is less troublesome than you thought.

TIP:  Create a questionnaire or checklist to remind you to inquire about such things before you formally accept the client.  The questionnaire can be limited to business or complex individual tax returns.