Dear Tax Pros: If you’ve been promised additional help, but you check their LinkedIn page and see they’re only recruiting for on-site people…you’re being played. They know how absolutely brutal the market is for tax talent, so on-site job ads are not good-faith recruiting efforts.

The Truth About Tax Hiring Practices: A Cautionary Note for Professionals

As tax professionals, many of us are aware of the challenges that come with peak seasons. Those few months of the year can easily become overwhelming if adequate support isn’t available. However, it seems that some companies are taking advantage of this situation rather than addressing it.

If you’ve encountered promises of additional assistance but then found that those same companies are solely advertising for on-site candidates, it’s time to question their sincerity. In today’s competitive market for tax talent, it’s clear that simply posting on-site positions may not reflect a genuine effort to improve staffing situations for staff members or lighten their workload. Instead, it may point to a structure focused on enhancing their own bottom line.

If these organizations were truly dedicated to easing the burdens of their employees during busy periods, they would consider implementing flexible work arrangements. Remote opportunities can attract a broader range of applicants, including those with varying levels of experience, that could help distribute the workload more evenly. The reality is that without such accommodations, their intentions seem questionable at best.

In a profession already strained by seasonal pressures, let’s remain vigilant. We should seek out employers who truly support their employees, embracing innovative solutions that not only benefit the organization but also foster a healthier work-life balance for tax professionals everywhere.