US Tax Preparer (Drake Tax) for Cross-Border CPA Firm | $9-$13/hr USD | As-Needed Now, Steady Hours from January, Full-Time Path

We're a fast-growing US/Canadian cross-border CPA firm hiring a tax preparer to join our new delivery team. You'd be one of the first three hires, working directly with the founder, a dual-licensed US/Canadian CPA.

What makes this seat different:

1. Top-of-market pay, stated up front: $9-$13 USD per hour depending on experience, paid twice monthly via Wise, always on time. Hours are as needed to start: some weeks a file or two, some weeks none, while you learn our files. From January, steady part-time hours through tax season, and a full-time path for the right person. At full time, 13th month kicks in.

2. Most of the number-crunching is done before a file reaches you. You'll get completed workpapers and calculations to enter into Drake, fix entries that didn't come through cleanly, or pick up a return that's halfway entered and finish it. Your job is the part that needs a brain: organizing source documents, building workpapers, finishing the return, and catching what's wrong before the reviewer does.

3. You'll work with AI tools all day. Most of the firm's drafting, checklists, and workpapers are prepared by AI tools inside documented workflows. Full access to the same tools the founder uses.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

• Prepare US individual returns (1040 + common cross-border forms) in Drake Tax from organized workpapers
• Build clean workpaper files from client source documents
• Enter completed calculations into Drake, finish partially entered returns, and fix entries that don't tie to the workpapers
• Assemble e-file packages and track acceptances
• Learn our cross-border forms over time (1116, 2555, FBAR, 8938, 3520); we train, you grow into the specialty

YOU'RE A FIT IF YOU HAVE

• 2+ years preparing US returns (firm experience preferred; volume matters more than complexity)
• Drake Tax experience strongly preferred (TaxDome familiarity a plus; both together puts you at the top of the list and the top of the band)
• Careful, accurate, checklist-driven working style; you verify rather than assume
• Good written English
• Reliable fiber internet and a quiet workspace

SCHEDULE: as needed through December, steady hours from January. At least 3 hours of overlap with US Eastern business hours on the days you work.

GROWTH: cross-border US/Canada tax is a specialty most preparers never get access to. We train you into it. The seat grows into senior preparer, and for the right person the firm will sponsor the IRS Enrolled Agent credential.

HOW TO APPLY (read carefully; applications that skip a step aren't reviewed):
1. Put "DRAKE + your full name" in the first line of your application.
2. Attach your resume.
3. Answer in writing: (a) returns you've prepared per season and the software used, (b) years with Drake specifically (0 is an acceptable answer, say so), (c) your expected monthly salary, (d) your internet speed (screenshot).
4. Record a 2-minute Loom: who you are, the trickiest return you've prepared, and how you make sure your work is right before someone reviews it.

Shortlisted candidates get a paid test task ($25 for ~2 hours), then a video interview with the founder.