We seek a talented Tax Manager with a minimum of 3 years of experience in a public CPA firm to join our team at Hawkinson Muchnick & Associates, PC. As a Tax Manager, you will play a crucial role in providing exceptional tax services to our business and individual clients. This position offers growth opportunities, including the possibility of ownership, and promotes work-life balance.
Responsibilities:
Provide comprehensive tax planning and compliance services for a diverse client base.
Manage and review tax returns, ensuring accuracy and adherence to relevant regulations.
Conduct tax research and stay up-to-date with changing tax laws and regulations.
Develop and maintain strong client relationships, delivering exceptional customer service.
Identify tax planning opportunities and provide strategic advice to clients.
Supervise and mentor junior team members, fostering their professional growth.
Requirements:
Minimum of 3 years of experience in a public CPA firm, specializing in tax services.
Strong knowledge of tax laws, regulations, and compliance.
CPA certification is required
Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and organizational skills.
Ability to work independently and as part of a team in a fast-paced environment.
Hawkinson Muchnick & Associates, PC is a leading CPA firm based in Douglasville, GA. With over 30 years of professional experience and deep roots in the Douglas County area, we are known for our stability, expertise, and commitment to our clients. Our team of seasoned Certified Public Accountants and Enrolled Agent ensures that our clients receive top-notch financial planning services.
More than just a traditional tax and accounting firm, our comprehensive and customized strategic Financial Planning packages set us apart, allowing us to provide personalized solutions tailored to each client’s unique needs. As active members of the community, we actively participate in local organizations and take on leadership roles to make a positive impact.
How to Apply:
If you are a dedicated Tax Manager seeking a rewarding opportunity with growth potential, we would love to hear from you. Please submit your resume and a cover letter detailing your relevant experience and why you would be a great fit for our team preferably via LInkedIn Job Post or via this website via the contact form. Let’s start a conversation about your future with Hawkinson Muchnick & Associates!
Note: All applications will be treated confidentially. Only qualified candidates will be contacted for further steps in the hiring process.
About Us: https://hma-cpa.com
Location: Douglasville, GA
Employment Type: Full-time
Salary: Competitive, based on experience
We look forward to reviewing your application and exploring the possibility of welcoming you to our team at Hawkinson Muchnick & Associates, PC.
If you have children or grandchildren, you have an opportunity to give them a jump-start on their journey to becoming financially responsible adults. While teaching your child about money and finances is easier when you start early, it’s never too late to impart your wisdom. Here are some age-relevant suggestions to help develop a financially savvy young adult:
Preschool –Start by using dollar bills and coins to teach them what the value of each is worth. Even if you don’t get into the exact values, explain that a quarter is worth more than a dime and a dollar is worth more than a quarter. From there, explain that buying things at the store comes down to a choice based on how much money you have (you can’t buy every toy you see!). Also, get them a piggy bank to start saving coins and small bills.
Grade school –Consider starting an allowance and developing a simple spending plan. Teach them how to read price tags and do comparison shopping. Open a savings account to replace the piggy bank and teach them about interest and the importance of regular saving. Have them participate in family financial discussions about major purchases, vacations and other simple money decisions.
Middle school –Start connecting work with earning money. Start with activities such as babysitting, mowing lawns or walking dogs. Open a checking account and transition the simple spending plan into a budget to save funds for larger purchases. If you have not already done so, now is a good time to introduce the importance of donating money to a charitable organization or church.
High school –Introduce the concept of net worth. Help them build their own by identifying their assets along with their current and potential liabilities. Work with them to get a part-time job to start building work experience, or to continue growing a business by marketing for more clients. Add additional expense responsibility by transferring direct accountability for things like gas, lunches and the cost of going out with friends. Introduce investing by explaining stocks, mutual funds, CDs, and IRAs. Talk about financial mistakes and how to deal with them when they happen by using some of your real-life examples. If college is the goal after high school, include them in the financial planning decisions. Tie each of these discussions into how it impacts their net worth.
College –Teach them about borrowing money and all its future implications. Explain how credit cards can be a good companion to a budget, but warn them about the dangers of mismanagement or not paying the bill in full each month. Discuss the importance of their credit score and how it affects future plans like renting or buying a house. Talk about retirement savings and the importance of building their retirement account.
Knowing about money – how to earn it, use it, invest it, and share it – is a valuable life skill. Simply talking with your children about its importance is often not enough. Find simple, age-specific ways to build their financial IQ. A financially savvy child will hopefully lead to a financially wise adult.
A new wave of technology is quietly reshaping the world. Here are several tech breakthroughs you should know about that are real, rising fast, and ready to impact your life.
Spatial Computing: The Next Digital Frontier
Imagine putting on a pair of glasses and seeing digital objects pop into your real world like a coworker sitting across from you, a 3D model floating in your living room, or step-by-step repair instructions hovering over a broken appliance. This is spatial computing. It’s a mix of augmented reality, virtual reality, and motion tracking that lets technology understand physical space like we do. Companies like Apple are already betting big on it, but it’s not just for gamers or techies.
What it means for you: You could soon try on clothes without stepping into a store, design your kitchen in 3D before you remodel, or learn new skills in fully interactive virtual spaces.
Availability: Still expensive and not yet mainstream, but real and in use.
Digital Twins: Virtual Copies That Think Like the Real Thing
A digital twin is a high-tech copy of something real like a building, a car engine, a factory, or even your body, recreated in virtual space and fed real-time data. These virtual versions let engineers, doctors, and city planners test ideas, spot problems, and predict outcomes without ever touching the real thing. Airlines use them to monitor jet engines mid-flight. Hospitals use them to plan surgeries. Entire cities are building digital twins to manage traffic, pollution, and energy use.
What it means for you: Behind the scenes, digital twins will help make your world run smoother – from shorter wait times at the doctor to fewer traffic jams on your commute.
Availability: You’re unlikely to use one directly, but cities, hospitals, and industries around you may already be using them.
Wearable Tech: Smart Devices That Stick With You
Wearable technology has come a long way from step counters and smartwatches. Today’s wearables can track your heart rate, stress levels, sleep cycles, hydration, even blood sugar, all from patches, rings, or tiny sensors you barely notice. Some are worn on the skin, others are woven into clothes, and a few are even exploring brainwave monitoring to boost focus or improve sleep. This new wave of wearables isn’t just about fitness, it’s about full-body awareness and personalized health.
What it means for you: Your next health checkup might start on your wrist or your skin, helping you catch problems early, manage stress, and optimize how you feel day to day.
Availability: More advanced devices like smart tattoos or neural wearables are in R&D or early trials.
Quantum Computing: The Next Leap in Brainpower
Quantum computers don’t think like normal computers. Instead of using bits that are either 0 or 1, they use qubits, which can be both 1s and 0s at once, thanks to the strange rules of quantum physics. This allows quantum machines to explore many possibilities at the same time, making them incredibly powerful for solving complex problems. Scientists are already using them to model new molecules, test climate scenarios, and explore next-gen encryption.
What it means for you: In the near future, quantum breakthroughs could speed up drug discovery, protect your data with ultra-secure encryption, and help tackle global challenges we can’t solve with today’s tech.
Availability: Most quantum computers still live in research labs, but tech giants are racing to bring them into the real world.
These technologies aren’t science fiction, they’re already taking shape. And as they evolve, they’ll continue changing how we live, work, and connect.
Like a bundle of sticks, good business partners support each other and are less likely to crack under strain together than on their own. In fact, companies with multiple owners have a stronger chance of surviving their first five years than sole proprietorships, according to U.S. Small Business Administration data.
Yet sole proprietorships are more common than partnerships, making up more than 70 percent of all businesses. That’s because while good partnerships are strong, they can be a challenge to successfully get off the ground. Here are some of the ingredients that good business partnerships require:
A shared vision. Business partnerships need a shared vision. If there are differences in vision, make an honest effort to find common ground. If you want to start a restaurant, and your partner envisions a fine dining experience with French cuisine while you want an American bistro, you’re going to be disagreeing over everything from pricing and marketing to hiring and décor.
Compatible strengths. Different people bring different skills and personalities to a business. There is no stronger glue to hold a business partnership together than when partners need and rely on each other’s abilities. Suppose one person is great at accounting and inventory management, and another is a natural at sales and marketing. Each is free to focus on what they are good at and can appreciate that their partner will pick up the slack in the areas where they are weak.
Defined roles and limitations. Before going into business, outline who will have what responsibilities. Agree on which things need consensus and which do not. Having this understanding up front will help resolve future disagreements. Outlining the limits of each person’s role not only avoids conflict, it also identifies where you need to hire outside expertise to fill a skill gap in your partnership.
A conflict resolution strategy. Conflict is bound to arise even if the fundamentals of your partnership are strong. Set up a routine for resolving conflicts. Start with a schedule for frequent communication between partners. Allow each person to discuss issues without judgment. If compromise is still difficult after a discussion, it helps to have someone who can be a neutral arbiter, such as a trusted employee or consultant.
A goal-setting system. Create a system to set individual goals as well as business goals. Regularly meet together and set your goals, the steps needed to achieve them, who needs to take the next action step, and the expected date of completion.
An exit strategy. It’s often easier to get into business with a partner than to exit when it isn’t working out. Create a buy-sell agreement at the start of your business relationship that outlines how you’ll exit the business and create a fair valuation system to pay the exiting owner. Neither the selling partner nor the buying partner want to feel taken advantage of during an ownership transition.
Blizzards aren’t the only storms on the menu as we head into the winter season.
Storms of all types often slip in small surprises, such as cancelled plans, brief power losses, or water issues that disrupt your day. These moments can reveal where daily habits and budgets feel a bit thin. Here are some ideas to help keep your family prepared when these unwanted surprises take place.
Idea #1: Build a short-term cushion
An emergency fund offers to soften the blow of unexpected events from weather to home repairs. So create your three to six month emergency fund AND then if possible create a special emergency fund to address that surprise bill or event. Remember, these moments can create unusual expenses like takeout, extra childcare, or a rush for basic supplies.
Idea #2: Keep practical supplies on hand
A few shelf-stable meals, working batteries, candles, a backup charger, clean water, and comfortable layers can make a short power outage easier. Stock items you will actually use for a day or two at home, not specialized gear most people never touch. Those in hurricane prone areas know the drill, but the same preparedness can be used by everyone.
Idea #3: Think ahead: Power and water interruptions
When the lights go out or the water slows to a trickle, the real strain can show up in the costs that follow. A short outage can force a change in plans such as shifting work hours, rearranging childcare, or tossing out spoiled food. You may also need a Plan B if the air conditioning goes out during summer or the heat takes a lunch break during the winter. Even simple tasks like cooking, bathing, or keeping pets comfortable can turn into small, repeated expenses.
Idea #4: Tune up your insurance
Review whether your insurance covers common storm-related issues, such as water damage, roof damage, fallen branches, or personal liability if someone is hurt on property you are responsible for. Make sure your deductible still feels right and confirm whether your belongings would be protected if you needed to stay elsewhere for a night or two. Clear answers now can help you avoid surprise expenses later.
Turn storm prep into everyday resilience
General storm readiness can ease both worry and costs when your routine gets knocked off balance. Use these ideas to help you move through unexpected disruptions with a little more confidence.
Rising costs across nearly every kind of product and service have stretched everyone’s budgets, making each dollar feel a little tighter. Here are some tips to spend less to help offset the effect from these higher prices.
Pay down high-interest debt. You can start spending less money today by paying down high-interest debt. Data from the Federal Reserve shows people who don’t pay off their credit card balance each month pay an average interest rate of 22.83%. For a monthly credit card balance of $500, this interest expense costs you $9.51 a month, or just over $114 a year.
Revisit your subscriptions. Write down how many monthly subscriptions you’re paying for, then add up the monthly cost. Then ask yourself the following questions: Can you do without some of these subscriptions? Can you cut the cost of some of these subscriptions? Are there some with overlapping benefits? Maybe you’ll discover a subscription you completely forgot about. You don’t have to cancel all of them, but getting rid of just a few can help you spend less each month.
Shop around for insurance. Loyalty to an insurance company doesn’t always pay off. Consider shopping around and comparing rates for homeowners, auto, & umbrella insurance, along with other insurance coverage you may have.
Eat at home. Limit how often you dine out or stop for take-out. Your wallet will thank you! According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, overall food spending was up 6.9% in 2023 (the latest year data was available), partly driven by an 8.1% increase in food spending away from home.
Start using a budget. Finally, spend less by creating a written monthly budget and sticking to it. Find a budgeting app that you like the look and feel of, then create a budget within that app to help you decide how much to spend each month in various categories. Once the budget has been created, be sure to keep it updated throughout the month, instead of waiting until the last week to get it up-to-date.
The cost of everything may have skyrocketed, but you still have at least some control over where your money goes each month. Consider these steps to cut your spending, and you may be surprised at how much you save.
With tax season officially underway, here are several ideas to make filing your return as stress-free as possible:
Gather your tax information for filing. Items you’ll need include K-1s, W-2s, 1099s and other forms you receive from your business, employers, brokers, banks, and others. If you find any errors, contact the issuer immediately to request a corrected copy. And if you have tip or overtime income, be prepared to break this income out to take advantage of tax-free savings as this will not necessarily be broken out on your W-2.
Organize your records. Once you’ve started gathering your information, find a place in your house and put all the documents there as you receive them, or consider scanning documents to store on your computer. You can also take pictures of the documents with your phone as backup. Missing information is one of the biggest reasons filing a tax return becomes delayed.
Create an April 15th reminder. This is the deadline for filing your 2025 individual income tax return, completing gift tax returns, making contributions to a Roth or traditional IRA for 2025, and for paying the first installment of 2026 individual estimated taxes.
Know the deadlines for business returns. If you are a member in a partnership or a shareholder in an S corporation, the deadline for filing business returns for these two entities is March 16th. Calendar-year C corporation tax returns are due by April 15th.
Review your child’s income. Your child may be required to file a 2025 income tax return. A 2025 return is generally required if your child has earned more than $15,750, or has investment income such as dividends, interest, or capital gains that total more than $1,350.
Contribute to your IRA and HSA. You can still make 2025 IRA and HSA contributions through either April 15th or when you file your tax return, whichever date is earlier. The maximum IRA contribution for 2025 is $7,000 ($8,000 if age 50 or older). The maximum HSA contribution is $4,300 for single taxpayers and $8,550 for families.
Calculate your estimated tax if you need to extend. If you file an extension, you’ll want to do a quick calculation to estimate your 2025 tax liability. If you owe Uncle Sam any money, you’ll need to write a check by April 15th even if you do extend.
Plenty of tax changes are lining up as the calendar turns toward 2026, and knowing what’s coming can help you stay a step ahead. Before then, there’s also several moves to make filing your 2025 tax return as easy as possible.
Preparing to file your 2025 tax return
Gather records to support deductions for no tax on tips and no tax on overtime. Review the approved occupations for qualified tips and confirm the amount of this benefit you expect to claim in 2025. You will need proof of these claimed amounts. The same holds true for overtime pay. Employers are not required to issue W-2s or 1099s with this information in 2025, but they should provide you with the necessary confirmation of the dollar amounts. Compare these employer-provided amounts with your records to ensure they match prior to filing your tax return.
Look for new Form 1099-DA. If you own cryptocurrency or other digital assets, you may see this new form. Starting with the 2025 tax year, exchanges and brokers must report certain cryptocurrency and digital asset transactions, so you should track cost basis, sale dates, and wallets used to avoid mismatches or questions from the IRS.
1099-Ks may still be issued. You shouldn’t see a Form 1099-K from a payment processor such as PayPal or Venmo unless you have 200 or more transactions amounting in more than $20,000 in payments from the processor. But because of the many tax law changes in this area you may still receive a Form 1099-K in error. If you receive one, don’t throw it away! Include it with your other tax documents for proper reporting on your 2025 tax return.
Review IRA and HSA accounts. If you have an IRA or HSA account, you can make 2025 contributions up until either April 15, 2026 or the date you file your return, whichever is earlier.
What’s new in 2026
Above-the-line charitable contributions. You can deduct $1,000 of charitable contributions if single or $2,000 if filing jointly. This is available to you whether you use the standard deduction or itemize your deductions. There’s also the introduction of a 0.5% floor for itemizing charitable contributions.
Itemized deduction phaseout is back. If you’re in the top 37% tax bracket, your itemized deductions could be reduced. This phaseout of deductions is being re-introduced beginning in 2026.
Gamblers take a loss. Losses from wagering transactions are now limited to 90% of such losses. Under the previous law you could claim deductions up to the amount of your winnings. For example, if you won $10,000 and incurred $15,000 in losses over the course of a tax year, you could deduct $10,000 using the previous law. Under the new law you can only deduct 90% of your losses, or $9,000 in this example.
Mortgage insurance premiums can be reported as an itemized deduction.
Elimination of many energy credits. This includes the credit for purchasing electric vehicles after September 30, 2025 and the elimination of many residential energy efficient purchase credits at the end of 2025. So plan accordingly.
As a small business, once you decide to extend credit to a customer, you now have a financial stake in continuing that relationship even if you suspect there might be trouble brewing.
Here are some ideas to help you manage this risk.
Develop a rating system. Score each customer with a number. The number represents to whom you will sell on credit and how much risk you are willing to take. Also have scores that represent customers you will not bill and those who you will no longer take orders from because of credit risk. Develop a system to objectively assign the score. Payment history and external credit scoring reports are both good indicators of whether a particular customer will be an acceptable credit risk.
Consider credit applications. Create a simple credit application. The application should be signed by the responsible party to pay the bill. If large credit amounts are expected, get a person to take personal responsibility to pay the bill. This will provide an additional means to collect your money should the company fail to pay. You will need this signed document if you wish to use a collection agency to collect delinquent accounts.
Look at history. Those to whom you provide a credit line must have their payment history monitored. If they are habitually late payers, reduce their credit line. If they frequently miss payments, move them to prepay only.
Create a notes section on your customer records. Use this to record what a late paying customer tells you. Over time, this will reveal the customers who are honest and the customers who fail that test. This idea also provides continuity of communication for the customer that tries to tell different employees different stories.
Develop a collection system. The best credit rating system starts with a receivable aging report run once a month. This will quickly show you current trouble customers and potential trouble customers. When a bill ages through the report, know what you are going to do to collect bills at 30 days, 60 days, 90 days and anything older than that.
Look for other signs of trouble. Train your team to be on alert for:
Customers paying smaller invoices while larger invoices go unpaid.
The customer fails to return your phone calls or shows annoyance at your inquiries.
Your requests for information, such as updated financial statements, are ignored.
The customer places multiple, large orders and presses you for a higher credit limit.
The customer tries to coax you into providing a good credit report to another supplier.
You get word that the customer’s credit rating has been downgraded.
Remember, great customers can have sincere problems paying a bill. By having a good credit rating system, you can more readily identify the customers you want to accommodate to pay their bills and those customers whose activity should be suspended because they are truly problem accounts.
As always, should you have any questions or concerns regarding your tax situation please feel free to call.
Every January brings a familiar ritual. We promise to eat better, exercise more, and finally organize the garage. These are fine goals, but if you want a resolution that delivers real, measurable value, fewer taxes paid over your lifetime is about as concrete as it gets. Here are three possible resolutions to consider:
Resolution #1: Maximize use of your retirement accounts
One of the simplest ways to lower your current tax bill is by maximizing contributions to 401(k)s, IRAs and similar accounts. You can also defer taxes by maximizing contributions into 401(k)s and Traditional IRAs or reduce your taxes in the future by considering Roth accounts. Some other great tips:
Ensure you are taking advantage of catch-up contributions.
Always contribute to take advantage of any employer matching programs.
Take full advantage of SEP IRAs as a small business owner.
Look to create additional accounts when possible through spousal retirement accounts or youth accounts when children have earned income.
This resolution can be rich with tax saving ideas.
Resolution #2: I will keep my tax records organized.
If tax season feels like a scavenger hunt through old emails and crumpled receipts, organization should be high on your list. Remember, if you can’t support a deduction, you can’t take it. This is especially true if you run a small business, if you want to take advantage of things like the new $1,000 ($2,000 joint) charitable contribution deduction, or claim the teacher out-of-pocket expense deduction. The same is true with educational expenses.
Resolution #3: Commit to paying health costs tax efficiently
A health savings account (HSA) is one of the most powerful tax saving tools in the tax code. Contributions are often deductible, with earnings on funds in the account usually tax-free. Plus qualified medical withdrawals are also tax-free. So try to maximize your eligible donation into your HSA each year, including catch-up contributions. Then invest your unused funds to grow tax-free. Leaving the HSA untouched allows it to function like a stealth retirement account. Years down the road, those funds can be used for healthcare costs that almost everyone faces, often with significant tax advantages.
Making taxes a year-round conversation
Taxes are not a once-a-year event. Life changes like income shifts, business activity, investments, or family milestones can all affect your strategy.
This year, choose a resolution that quietly compounds, rewards consistency, and pays you back every April.
When it comes to personal finance, guidance is often delivered in quick, confident soundbites:
Open a high-yield savings account!
Sign up for a rewards credit card!
Buy your food in bulk to save money!
On the surface, these suggestions sound like common sense. But managing your money is rarely this simple, as what works brilliantly for one person might not be the best move for someone else. Here’s a closer look at a few common financial tips and how the hype holds up in practice.
#1 – High-yield savings accounts: A favorite low-risk move
Why they sound great: High yield savings accounts (HYSAs) are often promoted as a simple way to make your cash work harder. While a standard savings account may pay just 0.01% interest, many HYSAs offer more than 4% APY, a major boost if you’re building an emergency fund or saving for short-term goals.
The reality check: Everyone should consider better yields for their everyday funds. To not do so is simply giving this money away to the bank. But you need to be smart. Putting this money in CD’s often includes a hefty early withdrawal penalty. So find accounts with reasonable rates and then know how to transfer the money penalty-free to transaction accounts when you need it. Remember, a 4% yield on $5,000 provides approximately $200 every year. Would you be willing to take $200 and throw it on the street? Most banks hope the answer is yes, so they can pick it up.
Worth the hype? Yes, for the savvy consumer. While it won’t change your financial situation, it helps establish best practices and encourages active management of your financial life.
#2 – Credit card rewards: Free money or clever marketing?
Why they sound great: The pitch is to earn cash back, travel points, or perks for spending money you were going to spend anyways. Some cards even have generous sign-up bonuses worth hundreds of dollars.
The reality check: Credit card rewards can be lucrative, but only if you pay your balance in full every month. The second you start carrying a balance and paying interest, these rewards vanish into the void – lost in never-ending interest charges. Many cards also have annual fees, category restrictions, or minimum spend requirements that can lead you to overspend for the sake of earning points.
Worth the hype? Yes, but only for those who DO NOT carry a balance from month to month. If you’re debt-averse and organized, rewards cards are a tool, not a trap.
#3 – Buying in bulk: The Costco/Sam’s Club effect
Why it sounds great: The logic is simple: buying in bulk means paying less per unit. Warehouse clubs and bulk shopping apps promise you’ll save a fortune on everything from cereal to toilet paper.
The reality check: Bulk buying can indeed slash your cost per item, but only if you use it and have the space to store it. So be careful with perishables you can’t consume in time. And know your storage limits, especially for bulky items like paper towels.
Worth the hype? If you have a large family the savings are easy to obtain. If not, you simply need to be a smart shopper or shop with a friend or two to share the bulk purchase and the savings.
Financial tips are great, but only if you understand how they work and make them work for you and your situation.
