Tax and Accounting Supervisor
Executive recruitment company Monroe Consulting Group Philippines is recruiting on behalf of a of a leading provider of accounting and tax services with over 35 years of experience, supporting businesses with accounting, tax compliance, financial reporting, and government regulatory requirements. The Tax and Accounting Supervisor leads Accounting Department and is the firm's senior-most technical resource on accounting, tax, and government compliance matters. The role ensures accurate and timely filing of tax returns, preparation of financial statements, and resolution of tax and accounting issues across a portfolio of approximately 200 SME clients, spanning BIR, SEC/DTI, LGU, SSS, PhilHealth, and Pag-IBIG compliance. This is a hybrid role, part technical specialist, part hands-on supervisor. The Supervisor directly leads a team of four (4) Junior Accountants, handling day-to-day task allocation, review, coaching, and quality control across the client portfolio. The Supervisor also serves as the firm's principal technical reviewer for complex accounting matters and its lead representative for complex BIR audits and assessments. Key Responsibilities: Accounting, Bookkeeping, and Tax Compliance Reporting Lead onboarding for new clients availing Monthly Retainer Engagement (MRE) services, including kickoff meetings, document and account setup, compliance calendars, and briefing the assigned Junior Accountant. Ensure timely and accurate preparation of client working papers and review all tax returns prior to filing and payment. Oversee accurate transaction entries and bookkeeping across the client portfolio, and supervise the preparation of spreadsheets and books of accounts required for BIR compliance. Oversee payroll processing, commission reconciliation, check voucher preparation, and payable list monitoring across assigned engagements. Ensure accurate record-keeping and compliance with BIR regulations across all client accounts. Implement and maintain a sound accounting system to efficiently monitor client accounts and streamline accounting processes. Maintain updated compliance tools, including checklists, templates, and engagement letters. Prepare client reports and documentation, proactively addressing compliance issues and providing regular updates on engagement progress. Technical Accounting Review and Financial Statement Oversight Oversee the preparation of Annual Financial Statements for clients, coordinating with partner external auditors and BOA-accredited CPAs for audit opinion and sign-off. Review journal entries for complex or non-routine transactions, including asset disposals, foreign exchange adjustments, accruals, and depreciation policy changes. Advise clients on proper accounting treatment for unusual transactions and ensure alignment with applicable PFRS. Review and finalize disclosure notes and supporting schedules for Annual Financial Statements prior to external audit submission. Communicate changes and updates to Accounting Standards and frameworks in the Philippines to the team and, where relevant, to clients. Identify and flag accounting risks or irregularities across client portfolios and recommend corrective actions to Management. Tax and Compliance Advisory Conduct comprehensive tax health assessments to verify client compliance status and secure clearances for client projects. Develop and recommend tax strategies that minimize liabilities while ensuring compliance. Provide advisory support on the tax implications of client business decisions. Research and resolve complex tax issues, delivering practical recommendations to clients. Conduct regular client visitations and meetings to ensure timely and quality deliverables. Schedule and prepare Junior Accountants for client visitations, and supervise their execution. Provide accounting and tax consultation support to the Compliance Department during new business registrations, including guidance on tax type registration (VAT vs Non-VAT), books of accounts requirements, and initial compliance setup. BIR Audit, Assessment, and LOA Defense Routine BIR, LGU, SSS, PHIC, and HDMF notices are first drafted by a Junior Accountant and reviewed by the Supervisor before release. The Supervisor personally leads complex or escalated cases only, with a working cap of 5 to 8 active complex cases at a time to protect quality and prevent overload. This cap is a starting estimate and should be adjusted once real caseload data is available. Act as the person-in-charge (PIC) for complex or escalated Letter of Authority (LOA) cases, including setting up meetings with BIR examiners, group supervisors, and revenue officers. Oversee record reconciliation, document consolidation, and data submission to the BIR for LOA cases under their direct handling. Devise ways to lower BIR assessments relating to LOA, and design accounting strategies and policies to reduce clients' future LOA exposure. Review responses to routine BIR, LGU, SSS, PHIC, and HDMF letters and notices drafted by Junior Accountants, and personally draft responses only for complex or escalated matters. Draft protest letters, position papers, and formal replies to Preliminary Assessment Notices (PANs) and Final Assessment Notices (FANs) for complex or escalated cases. Represent clients in informal conferences and meetings with BIR examiners on complex or escalated cases, working toward favorable resolutions and reduced assessments. Conduct internal tax health checks and diagnostic reviews to proactively identify client exposure areas before an LOA is issued. Prepare comprehensive tax reconciliation schedules and audit workpapers to support the defense of client positions during examination, and draft clear, comprehensive tax memorandums on complex matters. Team Supervision and Leadership Lead and mentor a team of four (4) Junior Accountants, providing guidance, feedback, and support for professional growth. Allocate tasks and review outputs to ensure accuracy, timeliness, and service quality across multiple client accounts. Set weekly and monthly objectives for the Accounting Department that ensure timely and accurate delivery of client services. Monitor team performance and maintain efficient workflow within the department. Establish and maintain technical SOPs, compliance checklists, and quality control standards specific to the department's scope of work. Conduct regular one-on-ones and formal performance reviews for direct reports, providing clear and actionable feedback. Participate in the screening, interviewing, and onboarding of new hires for the department. Initiate inter-department communication with Finance, Compliance, and Client Service Teams to ensure accurate workflows and processes. Training and Continuous Improvement Design and deliver periodic training sessions and reference materials, including briefings on newly issued BIR Revenue Regulations, Revenue Memorandum Orders, and Revenue Memorandum Circulars, to keep the team current and compliant. Identify skills gaps within the team and address them through targeted coaching, maintaining a basic reference library of compliance manuals, templates, and process guides. Support the processing of accountants' professional certifications and accreditations. Recommend and implement improvements to compliance processes and workflows as they come up. Key Qualifications: Certified Public Accountant (CPA) preferred; unlicensed candidates with at least 3 years of practical accounting and tax experience will be considered if a suitably experienced CPA is not available. At least 3 years of relevant experience, including experience as an engagement in-charge, team lead, or direct supervisor. Meaningful experience (2+ years) in a Big 4 accounting firm (SGV & Co., KPMG R.G. Manabat & Co., Isla Lipana & Co./PwC, Deloitte) or another large, reputable audit and advisory firm. Candidates from a Tax practice background are strongly preferred over Audit-only experience, given this role's heavy BIR-facing scope. Senior-level candidates, not yet at Manager level, are welcome to apply. Strong working knowledge of Philippine Financial Reporting Standards (PFRS, including PFRS for SMEs), BIR regulations, and current issuances (RRs, RMOs, RMCs). Direct experience handling BIR audits, LOAs, or tax assessments is a strong advantage. Some experience leading, coaching, or reviewing the work of junior staff, whether as a direct supervisor or as an engagement in-charge. Candidates without formal direct-report experience are welcome; this will be actively supported during the ramp-up period. Strong written communication skills, with the ability to draft technical memos, protest letters, and client-facing advisory notes. Comfortable representing clients in direct, sometimes adversarial, discussions with BIR examiners and revenue officers. Adaptable to an SME environment. This is a 15-person firm, not a Big 4 practice: there is no bench of associates to delegate to and no dedicated learning and development function, and the Supervisor will do hands-on work personally, not only review it.
