Tax Senior Associate Jobs in Iowa
Tax Senior Associate jobs in Iowa concentrate in public accounting, corporate tax compliance, and financial services, with consistent demand at the experienced-associate and senior level. Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, and the Quad Cities area post the most openings, anchored by employers like Principal Financial Group, Deloitte, and RSM U.S.. The most sought-after specialties in Iowa are federal and state income tax compliance, partnership taxation, and ASC 740 provision work. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Showing 5 of 12+ Tax Senior Associate jobs
Legacy Financial Group's Tax and Accounting division is seeking an experienced CPA to lead our tax department in Des Moines. This is a succession-track leadership role: you'll work alongside our current Tax Director during a planned transition period, taking on full department leadership by spring 2027. You'll oversee tax strategy, staff, and client relationships for a well-established, growing practice that's part of a larger, respected financial services organization — with a genuine path toward equity/partnership in the business for the right person.
Essential Responsibilities
- Lead and manage the tax and accounting department, including staff development, workflow, and quality control.
- Serve as lead CPA for complex individual, business, and entity returns within the firm's client base.
- Work with advisors to create tax planning strategy for clients across the firm's advisory base.
- Drive growth of the department's business-client base by expanding bookkeeping and payroll service offerings.
- Represent clients in IRS and state agency correspondence and audits.
- Oversee accounting services delivery — financial statements, reconciliations, bookkeeping support.
- Partner with firm leadership and advisory staff to ensure coordinated service for shared clients.
- Monitor tax law changes and translate them into proactive planning opportunities firm-wide.
- Manage departmental capacity planning, especially through busy season.
- Special projects and firm initiatives as they arise.
Qualifications
- Active CPA license (Iowa) required.
- 7+ years of public accounting experience, including prior supervisory or department-leadership experience.
- Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field required; Master's degree a plus.
- Strong knowledge of individual and business tax preparation and planning.
- Demonstrated ability to manage a team and client book simultaneously.
- Business-development mindset, with experience growing bookkeeping, payroll, or related service lines a plus.
- Comfortable operating in a fully in-person, client-facing environment.
Pay: $135,000.00 - $160,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Disability insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Employee discount
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Retirement plan
- Vision insurance
Experience:
- CPA: 7 years (Preferred)
- Supervisory: 3 years (Preferred)
License/Certification:
- CPA (Required)
Work Location: In person
Legacy Financial Group's Tax and Accounting division is seeking an experienced CPA to lead our tax department in Des Moines. This is a succession-track leadership role: you'll work alongside our current Tax Director during a planned transition period, taking on full department leadership by spring 2027. You'll oversee tax strategy, staff, and client relationships for a well-established, growing practice that's part of a larger, respected financial services organization — with a genuine path toward equity/partnership in the business for the right person.
Essential Responsibilities
- Lead and manage the tax and accounting department, including staff development, workflow, and quality control.
- Serve as lead CPA for complex individual, business, and entity returns within the firm's client base.
- Work with advisors to create tax planning strategy for clients across the firm's advisory base.
- Drive growth of the department's business-client base by expanding bookkeeping and payroll service offerings.
- Represent clients in IRS and state agency correspondence and audits.
- Oversee accounting services delivery — financial statements, reconciliations, bookkeeping support.
- Partner with firm leadership and advisory staff to ensure coordinated service for shared clients.
- Monitor tax law changes and translate them into proactive planning opportunities firm-wide.
- Manage departmental capacity planning, especially through busy season.
- Special projects and firm initiatives as they arise.
Qualifications
- Active CPA license (Iowa) required.
- 7+ years of public accounting experience, including prior supervisory or department-leadership experience.
- Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field required; Master's degree a plus.
- Strong knowledge of individual and business tax preparation and planning.
- Demonstrated ability to manage a team and client book simultaneously.
- Business-development mindset, with experience growing bookkeeping, payroll, or related service lines a plus.
- Comfortable operating in a fully in-person, client-facing environment.
Pay: $135,000.00 - $160,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Disability insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Employee discount
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Retirement plan
- Vision insurance
Experience:
- CPA: 7 years (Preferred)
- Supervisory: 3 years (Preferred)
License/Certification:
- CPA (Required)
Work Location: In person
See All 12 Tax Senior Associate Jobs in Iowa
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Find Tax Senior Associate JobsTax Senior Associate Jobs by City in Iowa
Where Iowa roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Tax Senior Associate Job Market in Iowa
A snapshot from current Iowa openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Manufacturing
What Iowa Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in tax senior associate jobs across Iowa.
- Active CPA license issued or recognized by the Iowa Accountancy Examining Board required
- Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, or a closely related field required
- Two or more years of public accounting or corporate tax experience required
- Proficiency with tax preparation software such as CCH Axcess or Thomson Reuters UltraTax
- Strong knowledge of federal and Iowa state tax codes and compliance requirements
- Demonstrated ability to manage multiple client engagements and meet filing deadlines
Tax Senior Associate Jobs in Iowa: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a tax senior associate in Iowa?
You become a tax senior associate in Iowa by earning a bachelor's degree in accounting or a related field, passing the CPA exam, and obtaining licensure through the Iowa Accountancy Examining Board. Most firms require candidates to have completed all four CPA exam sections before promotion to senior associate. Practical experience in tax compliance or review work, gained at a public accounting firm or in a corporate tax department, is the standard path to qualifying for senior-level roles.
How much do tax senior associates make in Iowa?
Tax senior associates in Iowa earn a median of about $77,440 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $51,420 for the lowest 10% to over $123,700 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire tax senior associates in Iowa?
Iowa tax senior associate roles are posted by Honkamp, UHY LLP, and Purple Cow Recruiting and others right now, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. Iowa's strong base of regional accounting firms, insurance companies, and financial services headquarters in Des Moines means consistent year-round demand for experienced tax professionals.
Which Iowa cities have the most tax senior associate jobs?
Waverly, Muscatine, and Des Moines post the most tax senior associate openings in Iowa. Des Moines dominates because of its dense concentration of national accounting firm offices, insurance carriers, and financial services headquarters, while Cedar Rapids draws hiring from manufacturing and agribusiness companies with significant tax compliance needs, and smaller hubs follow the same employer-driven pattern.
Are there remote tax senior associate jobs in Iowa?
Yes, and more than most fields, because tax senior associate work is largely analytical and document-based. About 67% of tax senior associate openings tied to Iowa are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, reflecting the desk-based nature of compliance and review work. Federal and state income tax compliance roles are the most likely to offer remote or hybrid arrangements, while roles requiring close client interaction or team review tend to remain hybrid.
How can I get hired as a tax senior associate in Iowa with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is joining a Des Moines or Cedar Rapids public accounting firm as a staff associate through a new-graduate hiring program, then advancing internally. Regional firms like RSM U.S. and FORVIS Mazars, as well as the Big Four offices in Des Moines, run structured associate programs for recent accounting graduates. Sitting for the CPA exam while in a staff role and passing all four sections accelerates promotion. Lateral moves from roles like tax analyst, audit associate, or corporate accountant at Iowa-based financial services firms also open the door.
Where can I find and apply to tax senior associate jobs in Iowa?
You can find and apply to tax senior associate jobs in Iowa on Migrate Mate, which lists current Iowa openings from employers across the state. Search the listings, find roles that fit your background and location, and apply directly to the ones that match.
See All 12 Tax Senior Associate Jobs in Iowa
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