Administrative Associate

Administrative Associate

Blackman & Sloop Advisors Inc. Chapel Hill NC

At Blackman & Sloop we hire great people and give them a great place to work. We listen to what our employees value and being a local firm gives us the advantage of flexibility. Our secret to retaining staff is a positive culture strong community involvement and a dedication to constantly increasing our competencies. We are a single-office firm with approximately 45 full-time staff.

For 8 years weve been honored as one of Accounting Todays Best Accounting Firms to Work For! Weve also been recognized by Business North Carolina as one of the Best Employers in North Carolina list for multiple years. Most recently we are proud to have received the Best Companies Group award for Best Accounting Firms for Women in Chapel Hill.

As an independent member of the BDO Alliance we have access to the resources of BDO USA LLP the worlds 5th largest accounting and consulting firm. Additionally in April 2024 we made the strategic decision to join Ascend to usher us in our next stage of growth.

At Ascend we understand the struggles that accounting & finance professionals face in traditional public accounting firms from rigid hierarchies overwhelming workloads and the elusive work-life balance. Its time for a transformative change. We believe your ambition should not be constrained by outdated practices or opaque career paths. Here youre not just a number; youre a valued member of a community that supports & celebrates your professional & personal fulfillment. Our mission is to transform the public accounting experience into one where work-life harmony is a reality and where your career advancement is supported by a nurturing network and comprehensive resources.

Backed by private equity from people-focused Alpine Investors Ascend is building a dynamic platform for regional accounting firms that enables them to stay independent while accessing the resources of a Top 25 firm to help them grow. Ascend provides access to growth capital robust talent acquisition and training leading quality management resources best-of-breed technology AI tools an offshore captive shared back-office services a catalytic leadership system and modernized equity incentives so that firms can surmount todays industry challenges to reach their full potential.

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We are seeking a Administrative Associate to provide dedicated administrative support to one of our three service lines Tax Client Accounting & Advisory Services (CAAS) or Audit. This role works alongside a service line team to keep client work moving deliverables organized and clients well-served through every stage of the engagement.

This is a generalist role designed for someone who could seat effectively in any of our service lines. We hire for the person not the practice line initial placement will be based on firm need and where your strengths align best and the role is structured so Administrative Associates can move across service lines over time as the firm evolves.

You will work directly with Partners Managers and staff to support client engagements and you will be a primary point of contact for clients themselves answering questions coordinating deliverables and representing the firm in every interaction. This role reports to the Admin Lead with strong working relationships with the Partners of your assigned service line.

• Serve as a primary administrative point of contact for clients answering questions coordinating deliverables and maintaining warm professional relationships
• Manage inbound client phone calls emails and requests for the service line team
• Coordinate the flow of client deliverables tax returns financial statements audit reports advisory memos through review signature and final delivery
• Track engagement status and keep Partners and Managers informed of client activity and open items

• Manage document intake scanning and logging for client engagements
• Support production of client deliverables assembly formatting quality checks and final packaging
• Route engagement letters service agreements and related paperwork for signature and internal filing
• Maintain client files and records in accordance with firm standards and confidentiality requirements

• Support new client onboarding for the service line client setup in practice management systems engagement letter preparation and initial documentation
• Coordinate with the Customer Experience team on onboarding execution and client escalations
• Support acceptance and continuance processes as directed by the Admin Lead and service line Partners

• Maintain the service lines deadline and compliance calendar; surface upcoming deadlines to Partners and Managers
• Track engagement workflow and status in CCH Workflow CCH Axcess and adjacent systems
• Coordinate with the Operations Manager on capacity and scheduling implications of engagement volume
• Support the service line through peak seasons (tax season for Tax monthly close for CAAS audit peaks for Audit)

• 35 years of administrative experience in professional services (CPA firm law firm or similar preferred)
• Strong client-service instincts warm professional responsive under pressure
• Excellent written and verbal communication; comfort as a primary client touchpoint by phone and email
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail the ability to keep multiple engagements moving without dropping threads
• Discretion and mature judgment when handling confidential client information
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft 365 (Outlook Word Excel PowerPoint Teams) and comfort learning new systems
• Ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment with shifting priorities and seasonal demand cycles
• Eagerness and willingness to adopt and use new technologies including AI-enabled tools
• Willingness and adaptability to work across service lines as firm needs evolve

• Prior experience in a CPA firm law firm or other professional services environment
• Familiarity with CCH Axcess CCH Workflow or similar practice management tools
• Exposure to tax audit or client accounting work even at a high level
• Experience supporting multiple partners or senior professionals simultaneously
• Familiarity with e-signature platforms document management systems or client portals

A career administrative professional who takes real pride in the craft someone who understands that a well-run engagement is the product of a hundred small acts of care done consistently and well. Warm and professional with clients sharp and reliable with Partners adaptable across service lines. Someone who can hold multiple engagements in their head at once spot the thing thats about to slip and quietly handle it before anyone else has to think about it.

In-office Chapel Hill NC. Full-time exempt (salaried). Increased hours and flexibility expected during tax season (February 1 April 15) and extension season (August 1 October 15) and during service-line-specific peak periods.

We hire good people and give them a good place to work. Our secret to keeping them around is a positive culture strong community involvement and a dedication to constantly increasing our competencies. We truly believe that when you succeed the firm succeeds and we make sure you have whatever tools you need to make that success possible.

• Unlimited PTO
• Medical Dental and Vision Insurance
• 401(k) Matching
• Performance Bonus
• 12 Paid Holidays
• Off-season Flex Fridays
• Closed Fridays in June
• Professional Development

Submit your information in the application section directly below! This will include:

• Basic contact information
• Resume/CV and optional cover letter upload
• Work eligibility credentials and compensation
• Voluntary demographic & self-ID questions

For questions or inquiries about the role please reach out to Karina Matos Recruiter at

At Ascend we provide a fair and equal employment opportunity for all candidates regardless of race color religion national origin gender pregnancy sexual orientation gender identity/expression age marital status disability or any other legally protected characteristic. Ascend hires and promotes individuals solely based on qualifications for the position to be filled and business needs.