Hiring Temporary Accounting Support for Tax Season

Updated 11/22/2023

Tax season is around the corner! But if you’re in accounting or finance, you probably already knew that.

In 2022, nearly 213.4 million tax returns were filed, so it’s safe to say the average tax season can be stressful for those in accounting or finance.

If you’re leading teams of accounting professionals who are understaffed or ill-equipped, that stress can intensify. But there’s a solution:

Hiring seasonal accounting professionals to get you through the chaos of tax season.

Read on to find out why you should hire seasonal support, which roles to consider, and how hiring seasonal accounting professionals can help your teams this tax season.

What is Seasonal Staffing?

Seasonal hiring is exactly what it sounds like—bringing on professional support for a specified amount of time. In accounting and finance, that period is most often January through April, also known as tax season.

When hiring seasonally, there is typically a contract in place detailing the parameters of employment such as hours, responsibilities, and timeframe. Once the contract has been fulfilled, neither the company nor the individual is under further legal obligation.

Why Hire Seasonal Support?

Just as retail stores hire more sales associates for the holiday season, accounting firms and tax preparation companies often need to increase their staff when demand is expected to increase.

We’re going to take a deeper dive into the individual benefits of hiring accounting professionals for tax season, but here’s a little bit of why you should consider this solution.

Hiring seasonal tax support is customizable! Seasonal hiring can take on different forms, specific to your business needs and priorities at that time. If one of your business goals is to expand your client base this tax season, hiring seasonal accounting professionals can help you achieve that goal. If you’d like to delegate a heightened workload, you can bring on support to do just that.

Seasonal staffing is an effective way to improve problem areas and course correct inefficiencies.

8 Accounting Hires to Consider for Tax Season

Consider these accounting roles if you’re preparing to expand your staff during tax season.

1. Staff Accountant

These accounting professionals are responsible for a variety of accounting services. Staff accountants can prepare financial statements, maintain or reconcile accounts, act as a tax preparer, file tax reports, and more. Their range in duties requires them to both oversee and manage financial data and information, allowing them to assist with compliance, budgeting, reporting, and forecasting.

Staff accountant responsibilities may include:

Bookkeeping
Financial reporting
Reconciliation
Budgeting and forecasting
Tax preparation

Staff accountants typically receive a Bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance and can earn between $58,000-77,000 annually. These professionals can also obtain certifications such as Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or Certified Management Accountant (CMA). Having one or even both of these certifications may positively impact a staff accountant’s skillset and career path.

2. Certified Public Accountant (CPA)

This is an accountant who has met specific licensing requirements, which can vary state by state. Earning a CPA provides accountants with more flexibility and designation to perform certain accounting tasks such as:

Auditing and review
Tax preparation and consulting
Financial planning

After passing the CPA examination, these professionals can make between $66,000-107,000 but they must meet work experience requirements such as:

Continuing education to maintain their license
Working a minimum number of years under the supervision of a senior CPA

CPAs play a critical role in the financial health of both individual and organizational clients, offering expertise that helps ensure compliance, financial stability and strategic financial planning.

3. Accounting Clerk

An accounting clerk covers a range of responsibilities, mainly focusing on clerical and organizational support as it pertains to accounting and finance. They prepare and maintain documents, enter and verify financial data, reconcile accounts, and track accounting information. These professionals can make between $20-21 an hour and their day-to-day tasks may include:

Data entry and record keeping
Invoice processing
Payroll Assistance
Filing documents

While accounting clerks don’t have the same level of education as CPAs, their role is crucial to the support and efficient operation of an accounting and finance department or firm.

4. Accounting Coordinator

Similar to accounting clerks, an accounting coordinator can wear many hats, being a liaison between an organization’s finance and accounting departments. They coordinate and oversee numerous accounting processes to ensure efficiency and accuracy across the board. A successful coordinator may possess strong organizational skills, attention to detail, proficiency in accounting software, and effective communication skills.

Accounting coordinators are also involved in the preparation, review, verification, and processing of records and other important accounting documents. These professionals can be responsible for:

Reconcile bank statements
Supervise and train junior and seasonal staff
Communicate with stakeholders

An accounting Coordinator typically has earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance and work experience in accounting or a similar role is often essential. Coordinators can earn an average of $43,000-53,000 annually.

5. Accounts Payable Specialist

An accounts payable specialist is responsible for managing payroll processes and ensuring that all valid invoices incurred by the company are paid to prevent leaving any accounts outstanding. These accounting professionals may also research and verify invoices.

Typically, accounts payable specialists can make an average of $41,000-50,00 annually and only need a high school diploma; however, some employers may prefer candidates with a bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance

6. Administrative Assistant

An administrative assistant isn’t specific to accounting and finance, but is extremely useful. A qualified administrative assistant can make a huge impact with organizational and clerical support, helping the accounting and finance departments to run as smoothly as possible. In this role, one might expect to earn $29,000-48,000 annually.

7. Bookkeeper

Duties of the bookkeeper may overlap with an accounting coordinator in the way they produce and maintain accuracy for various financial records and reports. However, rather than coordinating among departments, they’re responsible for delivering accurate financial information to business owners and managers. This information is then used to develop strategies and make decisions. On average, bookkeepers earn $39,000-43,000 annually.

8. Tax Analyst

Tax analysts focus on strategy and have immense knowledge on tax laws, codes, liability, and practices for their company. They are also responsible for identifying opportunities to legally reduce tax payments for their organization. Essentially, they research and assess corporate financial records so that their organization can improve financial operations. A tax analysts responsibilities may include:

Tax preparation and filing
Tax planning and strategy
Auditing and compliance
Financial analysis

It is preferred for these professionals to have a bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance, similar to a few of the other roles we’ve mentioned, but some firms may also require a master’s degree as well certifications. Essentially, tax analysts assist with interpreting and complying with all tax legislations and can earn up to $73,000 annually.

4 Benefits of Hiring Tax Season Support

From company morale to revenue, seasonal accounting professionals are good for your business.

1. Sustainability

One of the top reasons to bring on accounting support for tax season? To protect the accounting professionals you already have.

Throughout the year, it’s projected that accountants and other accounting professionals work between 50 and 60 hours per week during tax season. With a heavier workload and longer hours, many accounting professionals sacrifice their work-life balance. But, seasonal hires can ease the strain that tax season inflicts on those in accounting or finance. Using seasonal support can improve operations, and preventing burnout is likely to benefit your teams after even tax season ends.

2. Specialized Expertise

Hiring seasonally can enable you to hire for targeted or niche skillsets that are meant to support specific projects, clients, deadlines, and more. This makes hiring seasonal accounting professionals a strategic move for your business.

3. Efficiency

This benefit is simple: more accounting professionals means more expertise and more support—all resulting in higher efficiency.

Struggling with organization or communication? Bring on an accounting coordinator. Need legal expertise? Maybe you could use a CPA or tax analyst. Considering your business needs, seasonal hires may allow you to be more targeted and strategic. You can identify obstacles your teams are encountering and bring on accounting professionals with the direct purpose of eliminating those obstacles.

4. Potential for Higher Revenue

Among morale and performance, hiring seasonal accounting support may also be a way to increase business capacity.

Maybe your teams aren’t at risk for being overloaded this season, but you do want to service more clients without creating the potential for burnout. Bringing on accounting professionals for the season can allow you to responsibly support more clients or projects, potentially increasing your cash flow.

We Can Make it Less Taxing

Seasonal hiring is dynamic—use it to meet your specific business needs or goals. Whether it’s counteracting burnout or expanding your business, seasonal accounting professionals are an effective resource to consider for tax season. If you are ready to bring on efficient, talented, and experienced support for tax season, connect with our team today!