Every workday, Mallory Vincent, CPA, explores ways to build and broaden client relationships at Mason + Rich, PA, based in New Hampshire.

“Clients are the building block of what I do every single day,” said Vincent, Individual and Trust tax manager. “Taking care of clients and serving them to the best capacity possible is something I’m very passionate about.”

Vincent loves answering clients’ questions and guiding them as they plan for the next chapters in their lives. Although she started her career in audit — a different branch of accounting — she made the switch to tax at the suggestion of a mentor. “My director saw something in me that I didn't see myself,” said Vincent, who discussed her role as a tax manager at the October Q&A With a CPA webinar. “I didn't realize my strength was working with people … that’s something that’s really important on the tax side." Accounting is so much more than spreadsheets and numbers: You can build a meaningful career around your strengths and interests and help your clients achieve their goals.

“What I love about tax is the number of people I get to serve and the relationships I get to build long term from when someone has a child to when they retire,” Vincent said. “There’s really a lot of phases of life I get to be with my clients through on the individual side.”

Strong relationships paint clearer pictures

Tax advisers are go-to sources for tax services and advice, and Vincent is focused on strengthening trust with her clients. She builds a bond with clients by asking personal yet fun questions about their children, pets, and day-to-day life outside of their tax return.

She also requests feedback from the client — so she can grow as a professional. Are her clients happy with the services she’s providing?

Vincent is an expert in tax and understands that her clients need assistance outside of her expertise. Vincent can match a client with an expert from her network — an attorney or a financial adviser. Clients get the information they need from a source they trust.

That's why networking is so important, she said. “Having different connections and people in my back pocket that I can utilize and refer our clients to is extremely important in this line of work,” Vincent said.

Working with so many individuals is intentional — it paints a clearer picture of where the client is at and where they are headed, she said.

The role of the tax manager beyond tax season

The job of a tax manager doesn't stop once most tax returns are filed yearly on April 15. After the deadline passes, there is still work to be done.

“After April 15, [I typically work with] my trust and estate clients. I'm also working on extended tax returns,” Vincent said. “This is also a great time for me to spend more time with the staff, mentor them … and help them develop further from staff to senior.”

During slower periods, she prioritizes outreach events, being visible in her community, and building her network.

“I'm sure there is this perception that tax managers spend a ton of time during tax season in the office behind a computer desk, crunching numbers,” Vincent said. “But I’m more client-based, and I really have only a few weeks of the year that I’m super busy. I really am able to have that flexibility and work-life balance.”

Advice for aspiring young professionals

The best way to learn if a career in tax is right for you, Vincent said, is to do a job shadow, internship, or apprenticeship.

“These are great ways to see if the kind of work that [the organization] is doing is something you would enjoy doing,” she said. “Getting your feet wet before committing to it is a really great opportunity. And, ask a lot of questions.”

Accounting is a dynamic and challenging profession, and Vincent’s story is just one of the pathways that exist. Curious about what it means to be a CPA? Q&A With a CPA — our free, interactive webinar — gives you the inside scoop on accounting and finance.

With these online sessions, you’ll hear directly from CPAs who use their degrees and skill sets to assist customers and solve problems. You'll learn what’s possible in the world of accounting, and our experts will answer your questions live.

Archived webinars, including Vincent’s Q&A With a CPA: A Day in the Life of a Tax Manager, can be found under the “Past Events” banner. Log in or join as a free AICPA student affiliate member to view.

Mark your calendars for Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2–2:30 p.m. ET for