Kayla Lavi
Studio City,CA
Summary
Accounting professional with two years of hands-on tax preparation experience through VITA at UC Santa Cruz, preparing federal and state returns for low-income households and university students. Working directly with clients, reviewing financial documentation, and navigating individual tax situations solidified my interest in pursuing a career in tax.
Since graduating with an Accounting concentration, I have been actively pursuing CPA licensure while building my professional experience. I’m eager to continue developing my technical and client-facing skills, take on increasing responsibility, and grow into a well-rounded CPA.
Overview
2
2
Languages
2
2
years of professional experience
Work History
Client Operations Manager
Seymour Marine Discovery Center
Santa Cruz, CA
10.2024 - 10.2025
- Managed the full client lifecycle from initial venue tours and contract execution through deposit collection, final payment, and event completion, serving as the primary point of contact throughout the process.
- Drafted and administered client contracts, monitored payment schedules and outstanding balances, and processed payments and post-event security deposit refunds while maintaining accurate financial documentation.
- Coordinated event logistics with clients, vendors, and internal staff, managing schedules, special requests, and last-minute changes to ensure seamless event execution.
Tax Preparer
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program
Santa Cruz, CA
11.2023 - 06.2025
- Prepared federal and state individual income tax returns using TaxSlayer, working one-on-one with low-income individuals and university students throughout the full preparation and filing process.
- Conducted pre-filing client interviews to gather income, deduction, and dependent information, reviewed supporting documentation for accuracy, and electronically filed completed returns with the IRS based on client authorization.
- Handled sensitive taxpayer information, including Social Security numbers, W-2s, and other financial documents, maintaining strict confidentiality and accuracy throughout the tax preparation process.
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Business Management Economics & Accounting
University of California, Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, CA06-2025
Languages
English
Native/ Bilingual
Persian
Full Professional
Timeline
Client Operations Manager
Seymour Marine Discovery Center
10.2024 - 10.2025
Tax Preparer
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program
11.2023 - 06.2025
Bachelor of Arts - Business Management Economics & Accounting
University of California, Santa Cruz