Keisha Brown
Columbia,USA
Summary
Analytical, well organized, and detail-oriented tax professional, with extensive background in individual and business taxation among other tax filing obligations. I have continuously and successfully generated exceptional deliverables across numerous industries and platforms. I am experienced in team management and senior roles, working in both in-person and remote settings, involving both smaller and larger public accounting, as well as wealth management firms. I've upheld a large client base that has required resolving simple to complex tax obligations, IRS requirements and filings as it relates to tax returns, notices, planning, estimates, audits, payroll, bookkeeping, secure record keeping, consultations and more! Resulting in the release of burden placed on taxpayers by ensuring their needs are always met ar a higher than most standard. After spending over 17 years in various tax departments, I have developed my own unique style of leadership, becoming a resourceful and reliable mentor for my team. All of this and more have been achieved while I continue to genuinely and thoroughly enjoy what I do, placing great value on and taking proud ownership of my work. Feedback from teammates has remained positive and validated by the ease of feeling comfortable with me being a go-to person that they can rely on. I strive to maintain great professional relationships, even now as they come more naturally, I believe there is always room for improvement in every aspect. I always gain great satisfaction by having a hand in contributing to client satisfaction, department growth and overall company success!
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Tax Associate
Creative Planning
01.2023 - Current
- Collaboration with wealth and tax managers to advise clients on potential tax strategies leading into discussing unique overview of benefits and security obtained once a confirmed client.
- Updated briefings and consultations as needed for building financial portfolio for better strategic tax planning. Detailed reviews previously filed data, verifying accuracy and capturing amounts to be properly carried over into future years.
- Continuous contact made to clients for supporting timely filings and efficient payments, aiming to avoid avoidable penalties and fees.
- Quality review of staff work such as tax returns, quarterly estimates, tax law compliance, resolving tax notices, precise file documentation, reliable and supporting work papers that tie to deliverables, compliance is met in accordance to IRS regulations and proper detailed disclosures as required following ASC 740 and GAAP..
- Preparation of complex tax Forms 1040, 1120, 1120S,1065,1041,709, and 990, with all required state filings to which are reconciled with both excel calculations and worded complied work papers.
- Mentor for team related inquiries for clear understanding of questioned or inaccurate reporting proven to increasing performance and decrease prep time, while building confidence.
- Essential participation with staff annual performance evaluations identifying areas needing improvement, and alo highlighting noted strengths.
- Meatures taken to maximize benefits relating to retirement distributions/contributions according to account type. Always satisfying any RMDs, QCDs, or rollover conversions.
- Providing most reliable tax story capturing qualified expenses, proper statements discloses, usage of effective tax rates, making book/tax adjustments, all to satisfy tax provisions.
- Providing guidance on business formation,consideration of start up costs, R&D credits, capitalizing assets, recording depreciation, outlining various entity types considering operations agreement, and possible SE tax, PTE tax, or the beneficial QBI deduction, with respect to income limitations, and anyother possible tax occurrences.
Senior Tax Accountant
JLPollack CAP
01.2018 - 01.2023
- Sole senior staff member for growing public accounting firm, assisting and mentoring junior staff to sustain successful work flow.
- Reviewer of staff work on simple to complex individual and business tax returns.
- Verification of accurate reporting, and detailed disclosures. Confirmation of excellent deliverables that meet compliance.
- Preparation or review of abatement forms, and responses to resolution of tax notices.
- Calculating quarterly estimates and year-end planning to satisfy timely quarterly and annual payments are made.
- Maintained clear and encouraging strong client communications which generate long lasting professional relationships.
- Solely worked specific areas of workflow, such as adjusting journal entries, account reconciliations, and proper updates to general ledgers. As need revisions made to income statements and balance sheets.
- Single handedly prepared and filed Year-End financial documents including; 1099NEC, 1099MISC, 1099INT, 1098s, W-2s and applicable Form 1096 as needed for each client.
- Closely worked with all three CPAs to validate success in production, clarity of internal controls, team building methods, and firm growth each year in comparison to previous years.
- Efforts validated and rewarded with additional pay, and proudly being recognized in the Charlotte Business Journal as #1 for best place to work and honored with Fast 50 Awards for two consecutive years in 2021 and 2022.
Staff Accountant
McGregor & Company
01.2017 - 01.2018
- General accounting experience gained at mid-sized public accounting firm, including analyzing and recording financial data, bank account reconciliations, reviewing and recording monthly financial transactions.
- Required consistent attention to adhere accuracy in accordance with GAAP, IASB, SEC and any other applicable Accounting guideline standards.
- Preparation of various types of US tax returns such as 1040, 1120s, 1120 & 1065, along with state and local filings.
- Also prepared and filed Forms 941 and 940 payroll tax returns and any SUTA forms to satisfy client payroll obligations.
- Preparation of Year-End financial forms such as W2's and 1099NEC and 1099MISCs, as well as financial reporting verifying accuracy and timely filings accordance with GAAP.
- Conducted comprehensive financial statement analyses to identify areas of concern or opportunity within a client''s business operations, offering any actionable recommendations for improvement.
- Minimized potential risk exposures by staying current on industry regulations, tax laws, and advising on bettering practices to meet compliance.
- Maintained accurate fixed asset records, ensuring proper depreciation calculations and capitalization rules were followed.
- Developed in-depth understanding of client industries researching competitiveness through careful analysis, which enhance the quality of services provided.
- Proactive communication applied to strengthened client relationships, and to inform of important deadlines, regulatory changes, or potential risks to their business operations.
- Supplying management with periodic financial performance through creating customized reports that highlighted KPIs.
- Increased efficiency in payroll processing for multiple clients by implementing streamlined procedures that reduced errors and ensured timeliness of payments via QBO.
- Assisted clients in resolving IRS issues by researching applicable regulations and translating to clear understandable guidance on possible solutions.
Senior Tax Specialist
PwC IASVBO Division
01.2010 - 01.2017
- Gained in-depth Big 4 exposure to tax filings for high-net worth individuals on international assignments.
- In PwC's virtual business office, I was responsible for satisfying tax obligations for assignees(who were actually employees whose employers satisfied their staff's tax obligations).
- Identifying needed foreign disclosures and positions for these expats, inpats, and dual-status US taxpayers.
- Resolving highly complex tax matters and applicable foreign reporting requirements such as treaty exclusions, foreign earned income exclusions, foreign tax credits mainly on passive and general income, Determining tax home and equalizing individuals based on domiciled home to eliminate double taxation.
- Properly capturing foreign mutual funds, foreign exchange rate gains, additional Non US earnings, FBAR (FinCen), and the newer Specified Foreign Financial Assets form 8938. Both FinCen and 8938 filing requirements documented based on the combined year end treasury exchange rate value within documented work papers.
- Conducted detailed tax research to identify potential savings and optimize tax positions for diverse client portfolios.
- Each return required extensive well detailed, work papers which tie back to tax returns to validate accuracy in a compiled organized format.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams such as audit to enhance tax compliance processes and improve client service delivery.
- Calculated gross-ups for pre or post assignment income, and Tax Equalizations to break out non assignment income.
- Detailed income sourcing for multiple NR state returns, careful to capture necessary adjustments after verifying each state's filing requirements.
- Began focusing primarily on individual taxation, then advanced post promotion to senior associate, when I began preparation of corporate, partnership, and private foundation tax returns.
- Auditing exposure being assigned to verify accurate recording of financial documents, and ensuring compliance was met according to auditing procedures and standard accounting guidelines.
- Maintained up-to-date knowledge of evolving tax laws and regulations to provide informed guidance to clients and internal teams.
- Development of leadership skills thrived from overseeing numerous projects successfully increasing office productively. Achieved by gathering up teams based on skills to determine and implement the best strategies for finance and tax purposes. Exploring benefits for items such as how many days to stay aboard to qualify for exclusions under BFR or PPT.
- Developed high gratitude and appreciation for all the required hard work and long hours, which I still credit to many of my successes today!
Tax Manager
Jackson Hewitt
01.2009 - 01.2010
- My Entry level tax position was Manager working directly with general manager after obtaining perfect scores on three part eligibility test.
- Instantly assigned to independently manage tax service store overseeing eight junior staff members.
- Responsibilities included generating work schedules for continued coverage during extended store hours.
- Streamlined tax preparation processes, reducing turnaround time for client filings and increasing client satisfaction.
- Held weekly meetings to discuss any concerns and voice expectations for the remainder of the busy season.
- Advised customers for better understandings related to their tax obligations, attracting additional customers by recommendations from satisfied customers expressing positive feedback.
- Bookkeeping done to keep current records of daily processed financial transactions, such as customer bill payments.
- Uniquely generated creative marketing techniques, and strategies to promote, then increase company growth and success.
- Conducted thorough tax compliance reviews to ensure accuracy in reporting and adherence to all regulatory requirements.
- Identified potential tax savings opportunities through comprehensive analysis of client financial situations.
- Trained and mentored junior staff on tax preparation processes, enhancing team efficiency and accuracy.
- Implemented best practices for tax documentation and record-keeping to support compliance efforts.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Accounting
Strayer University
Columbia, SC12.2016
Skills
- Strong communication skills
- Team leadership qualities
- Continuous learning mindset
- Tax compliance expertise
- Tax research
- Tax software proficiency
- Data analysis
- GAAP reporting
- Organization skills
- Corporate and Partnership tax
- Financial statement development
- Quality improvement identification
- Payroll processing
- Document workpaper preparation
- Trust and Estate Tax
- Tax audit procedures
- Payroll Tax
- Bookkeeping
- New business development/conversions
- Tax law knowledge
- Year-end tax provision proficiency
- QuickBooks proficiency
- Gift Tax
- Planning and estimations
- Multi-state tax filing
- Payroll taxes
- Private Foundation Tax Reporting
- IRS communication
- Tax consulting
- Teamwork and Team building
- Excellent client communication
- Time management
- Attention to detail
- Multitasking
- Critical thinking
- Organizational growth
- Project management capabilities
- International taxation laws
- Tax advising
Timeline
Senior Tax Associate
Creative Planning
01.2023 - Current
Senior Tax Accountant
JLPollack CAP
01.2018 - 01.2023
Staff Accountant
McGregor & Company
01.2017 - 01.2018
Senior Tax Specialist
PwC IASVBO Division
01.2010 - 01.2017
Tax Manager
Jackson Hewitt
01.2009 - 01.2010
Bachelor of Science - Accounting
Strayer University