Chief Operating Officer

Chief Operating Officer

Join to apply for the Chief Operating Officer role at Shah & Associates CPAs PA . We are looking for a top‑tier COO (A‑player only).

Overview

At Shah & Associates CPAs PA we don’t just prepare tax returns—we partner with clients year‑round to deliver proactive tax planning strategies that create measurable savings and long‑term wealth. Our mission is to elevate our clients’ financial position through collaborative advisory services designed to increase revenues, profits, and overall net worth.

This role exists because the firm is growing rapidly and needs a senior operations leader to bring structure, accountability, and execution discipline to the next stage of scale.

Core Values

• Client Success – Our clients’ success is the foundation of everything we do.
• Communication & Collaboration – Open communication and teamwork are central to our culture.
• Accountability – We hire professionals who own their responsibilities and deliver results.
• Adaptability & Flexibility – We welcome change and thrive in an evolving industry.
• Transparency – Knowledge flows openly; informed teams make better decisions.
• Innovation – We’re forward‑thinkers always seeking better ways to serve clients.
• Growth – We invest in your professional and personal development.
• Aligned & Intentional – Clear goals, deliberate action, and consistency lead to big wins.
• Results‑Oriented – Success is measured by outcomes, not just effort.
• Gratitude, Integrity & Empathy – High integrity, empathy for people, and accountability for performance.

Primary Goal of the Role

The Chief Operating Officer owns everything related to delivery, people, process, and capacity—so the CEO never has to. Your mandate is to drive operational excellence, accountability, and efficiency to support firm growth to $4M in Annual Recurring Revenue with a 50% profit margin. You will serve as the firm’s day‑to‑day execution leader, allowing the CEO to focus exclusively on vision, strategy, and R&D.

You will directly manage a team of approximately 8 team members (including administration and marketing) and will be responsible for scaling the organization to 15+ people while maintaining performance, culture, and profitability.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Achieve and maintain a 50% profit margin on ARR
• Scale the team from 8 to 15+ A‑players
• Improve systems documentation from 6/10 to 8/10
• Reduce qualified client churn by 50%
• Implement firmwide utilization and billable‑time tracking via Karbon
• Reduce CEO time spent on operational and managerial tasks
• Improve system integration across core platforms
• Implement and adapt the firm’s SCALE operating model quarterly
• Eliminate last‑minute scrambles and seasonal chaos
• Maintain strong performance without losing A‑players

Core Responsibilities

• Leadership, People Management, & Accountability (The "Will" Driver)
• Direct manager for all department leaders and managers
• Execute a consistent, non‑emotional accountability framework
• Define and track KPIs with the CEO to drive desired outcomes
• Drive a high‑performance culture focused on ownership and execution
• Run daily huddles, weekly planning, and monthly reviews
• Operational execution & system management; consolidate SOPs into a firmwide Operations Manual
• Lead software transitions, automation, and AI initiatives
• Convert CEO decision‑making into repeatable workflows
• Own the P&L; partner with finance to improve margins, pricing, and cost control
• Manage vendor & referral‑partner relationships and lead negotiation of terms/fees
• Balance delivery capacity across tax strategists
• Improve compliance and manage the delivery team for tax plans & filing deadlines
• Scaling & organizational design: build scalable org charts, create recruitment & onboarding systems, run quarterly planning
• Identify and solve operational bottlenecks

How You’ll Contribute

• 30 Days
  • Shadow CEO heavily, map processes, understand systems and design, own a weekly ops meeting.
  • Meet 1:1 with every team member; map hidden dependencies on the CEO.
  • Understand technology stack and AI tools; complete training on client journey, value delivery, client retention, referrals and upsell revenue streams.
  • Meet stakeholders (Tax Planners, Sales Rep, Marketing Manager, Fractional HR/Recruiter/Legal, Referral Partners, Client Success Manager).
  • Team up with Tax Manager to improve service strength.
  • Understand performance‑management framework, PTO approval, onboarding processes.
  • Deliverable by Day 30: Written Operational Assessment with a clear list of COO vs. CEO responsibilities.
• 60 Days
  • Take over Daily Huddle, weekly capacity planning, deadline management, workflow assignments, client onboarding, internal escalations.
  • Improve or rebuild SOPs; establish clear KPIs: On‑Time Delivery, Utilization, Rework Rate, Client Satisfaction.
  • Implement client‑retention and referral plans, install upsell revenue streams.
  • Meet external stakeholders to build the network.
  • Deliverable by Day 60: CEO no longer the operational hub; team goes to COO first; CEO can miss a week without chaos.
• 90 Days and Beyond
  • Complete implementation of retention, referral, and upsell plans.
  • Proactive hiring plan and margin improvement initiatives.
  • AI/process improvements across delivery.
  • Bring solutions to CEO, not problems, and push back on bad ideas.
  • Deliverable by Day 90: CEO fully out of day‑to‑day ops; clear scorecard; 70‑80% TRE work completed on or before June; calm busy seasons.

What You’ll Bring (Non‑Negotiables)

• True executor: track record of translating vision/strategy into clear, measured success. Must have removed CEO from operations in prior roles.
• Accountability driver: ability to hold team members accountable without emotion.
• Systems thinker: passion for building and documenting scalable systems (SOPs, workflows, decision trees).
• Prior experience: ran ops for a similar professional‑service business from $2M to $10M range.
• Hands‑on: run everything that is not sales/content/vision.

You’re a Fit If You

• Have 10+ years in operations / delivery / client success in professional services, consulting, tax, accounting, or similar; have achieved the KPIs.
• Highly organized, data‑driven, detail‑focused, critical‑thinking.
• 30‑day resignation notice (instead of two weeks) and no mid‑season resignations.
• US‑based, Central or Eastern Time Zone.
• Currently employed full‑time and has worked remotely.

Nice to Have (Not Required)

• Experience in tax, accounting, financial services, or compliance‑heavy industries.
• Familiarity with CRMs (Karbon, ProConnect), project‑management tools, and basic reporting.

Compensation & Benefits

• Base Salary: $190,000 – $200,000
• Performance Bonus: up to $60,000
• Primarily Remote; occasional travel for conferences, retreats, learning events.
• 100% company‑paid health, dental, short‑term & long‑term disability insurance.
• PTO up to 4 weeks.
• 401(k) with up to 6% company contribution.
• HSA or FSA available.
• Fully covered CPE, if applicable.

Schedule

• Full‑time exempt remote role with occasional travel.
• Primarily U.S. hours (Eastern Time Zones); available Monday‑Friday, 9 am‑5 pm ET for internal & external meetings.
• Additional hours may be required during quarter‑end, launches, or deadlines.
• Flexible core hours, but must be ready for evenings and weekends when a hot, time‑sensitive issue arises.

Who This Role Is NOT For

• Clock‑watchers, B‑players, or anyone who needs hand‑holding or avoids accountability.
• People who guard their evenings and weekends as sacred ground – this role flexes with the firm and CEO.
• Those who hesitate to take initiative or wait for permission to lead.

Next Steps

If you have read through this description and are thinking “Heck Yes, I’m in”, here are the next steps:

• Submit application
• Round 1 – Prescreen interview with CEO (60 min) | Take‑home pre‑employment tests
• Round 2 – Deep dive interview with CEO (60–90 min) | Take‑home pre‑employment tests
• Round 3 – Final interview and offer (30–45 min)

Seniority Level

Executive

Employment Type

Full‑time

Job Function

Management and Manufacturing

Industries

Accounting