Strategies for Recruiting Employees to Boost Your Tax Business

It’s a familiar scenario – a potential client with immense potential knocks at your door, but your bandwidth is stretched to its limits. The constant juggling of business management leaves you little room to cater to your existing clients, let alone entertain new ones. Your primary focus on tax preparation is taking a hit due to the overwhelming workload.

If this resonates with you, the time has come to consider hiring a tax preparer for your business. Yet, how can you achieve this in a competitive labor market, where jobs requiring relentless dedication during the initial 115 days of the year might seem unattractive?

The solution lies in strategic thinking. Craft a well-thought-out plan and consider the following insights to secure the assistance your tax preparation business demands.

Defining Your Needs

Hiring a tax preparer entails more than simply filling a vacancy. It’s crucial to evaluate your business and identify pain points. Where are the bottlenecks and discrepancies? Who’s missing when a specific task requires attention? Who’s devoting more time to trivial tasks rather than high-impact pursuits?

While a tax preparer might be a priority, broadening your perspective could reveal opportunities for pivotal support roles that deliver efficiency and a favorable return on investment. Contemplate the addition of roles such as:

Data Transcriber: A professional responsible for reviewing, examining, and managing the deluge of documents flowing through your business daily.

Administrative Assistant: If tasks like phone calls, customer interactions, calendar management, and deadline tracking are a concern, this role could be invaluable.

Bookkeeper: Entrusting someone with billing and financial responsibilities frees up your time for client engagement and strategic planning.

In essence, create a job announcement that hones in on essential tasks and outcomes to propel your business forward.

Choosing Between Full-Time and Temporary Hires

While focusing on your core mission is pivotal for business growth, the seasonal nature of tax preparation poses a challenge. The decision between a full-time employee and a temporary hire requires careful consideration:

Full-Time Employee: Tax-related issues don’t vanish after April 15. Some clients seek year-round guidance in the event of IRS inquiries or audits. Conversely, a slowdown after the tax season might result in idle time for a full-time employee.

Temp: Various individuals seek flexible employment, suitable for their circumstances. Prospective tax preparers might include stay-at-home parents, retirees, seasonal workers from other domains, college and graduate students aiming to gain experience, and service industry professionals aspiring to transition to a white-collar profession. However, some job seekers might shun short-term commitments.

Defining the Role

Delve deeply into the expectations you have for your newly recruited tax preparer. Will this individual:

Support or Work Independently: Clarify the level of autonomy expected.

Specialize in Clientele: Determine whether specialization in particular sectors (e.g., education, government, small business) is beneficial.

Engage in Outreach: Decide if the role involves attracting new clients.

Require Training or Experience: Assess whether prior tax preparation experience is crucial.

Interact with Clients: Decide if client interaction is face-to-face or behind the scenes.

Train Subsequent Employees: Establish if the role includes mentoring new hires.

Work Hours: Determine if the position is part-time or full-time.

Reporting Structure: Define whether the role reports directly to you or another team member.

Furthermore, consider your budget for compensating the new employee and ensure competitiveness by researching industry pay rates.

Identifying Top Prospects

In your pursuit of a tax preparer, qualifications extend beyond availability during evenings and weekends. Look for candidates who can contribute to the company’s growth both in capacity and reputation. Seek candidates with these qualities:

Strong Work Ethic: Verify through references and observations of behavior.

Consistent Performance: The continuity of familiar faces matters to clients; a candidate’s willingness to return indicates a positive rapport.

Communication Skills: Internal operations and client interactions necessitate effective communication.

Initiative: Opt for candidates who can contribute to business growth, attracting new clients and staying updated on industry trends.

Recruitment and Offer

Cast a wide net by posting openings on job-search websites and relevant platforms. Forge connections with educational institutions, diverse organizations, and military career services. During interviews, involve team members to assess the candidate’s fit, and gauge their problem-solving skills and teamwork approach. A thorough background check is essential, ensuring compliance with state regulations. Certify the candidate’s eligibility to work in the U.S. to avoid legal complications.

Smooth Onboarding for Long-Term Success

During the hiring process, keep the bigger picture in mind – retaining a dedicated team player aligned with your business’s values and goals. Develop a comprehensive onboarding plan encompassing:

Detailed Job Description: Clearly state expectations and introduce the company’s history, vision, mission, and strategic plan.

Product and Service Familiarization: Equip the new hire with comprehensive knowledge of your offerings.

Policies and Procedures Review: Personally guide the new hire through the employee handbook.

Encouraging Questions: Signal that initial unfamiliarity is expected, and create an environment where questions are encouraged.

Conclusion

The method of hiring is as crucial as the individuals hired. A thoughtful approach to recruiting tax preparers prevents costly errors and propels your dynamic business toward growth. Did you know that Surgent Income Tax School offers a range of professional education seminars and packages? Their Guide to Start and Grow Your Successful Tax Business is an invaluable resource for launching and expanding your tax business. With Surgent’s guidance, your first hire can set the stage for remarkable growth.