TESS Manager 1
We are the leading provider of professional services to the middle market globally, our purpose is to instill confidence in a world of change, empowering our clients and people to realize their full potential. Our exceptional people are the key to our unrivaled, inclusive culture and talent experience and our ability to be compelling to our clients. You’ll find an environment that inspires and empowers you to thrive both personally and professionally. There’s no one like you and that’s why there’s nowhere like RSM.
Job Summary:
The TESS manager demonstrates experience in a matrix organization and is responsible for managing an ESS team within their processing center of excellence (COE). This position partners closely with the TESS manager leads and the TESS director to ensure quality and consistent support of TESS and the tax line of business, including ensuring essential team coverage during needed hours is in place for all U.S. tax filing deadlines.
This position is responsible for leading the execution, adoption, and continuous improvement of standardized tax engagement support practices within TESS. The role provides strategic oversight for a team responsible for a wide range of tax engagement support activities, including contract preparation and delivery, workflow management, reporting, due date monitoring, and quality control processes. Leveraging deep expertise in specialized capabilities and technical areas, this position ensures the consistent delivery of high-quality services while mitigating risk to clients and the firm.
As a people leader, this role is accountable for fostering a culture of excellence, accountability, and continuous improvement. The TESS Manager provides leadership, coaching, and development opportunities to team members, ensuring alignment with tax processes, procedures, and quality standards. Through effective talent management, performance guidance, and resource planning, the manager drives operational results, strengthens team capabilities, and supports employee growth while maintaining a strong focus on client service and risk management.
In addition, this position requires the ability to manage complex projects while adhering to the applicable line of business policies and procedures and developed standards, including owning complete knowledge of all aspects of the client deliverables.
Essential Duties:
Process Stewardship:
- Maintain hands-on expertise in core tax engagement support processes to ensure operational effectiveness and deep process
- knowledge.
- Oversee key activities across tax processing, engagement administration, and e-filing functions.
- Provide technical guidance, resolve complex process-related issues, and support team capability development.
- Establish and maintain process documentation, operating procedures, and knowledge management standards.
- Promote process consistency, best-practice adoption, and effective service execution across TESS operations
Stakeholder Management & Business Partnership
- Build trusted stakeholder relationships and align services with business priorities and goals.
- Maintain clear communication on performance, commitments, operational priorities, and emerging risks.
- Lead structured business reviews, address stakeholder concerns, and drive satisfaction.
- Enable cross-functional collaboration and alignment to deliver consistent business value.
- Ensure transparency, effective expectation management, and continuous improvement through strong business partnerships.
People Leadership & Talent Management
- Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing, engaged, and accountable team.
- Drive performance through clear expectations, regular feedback, and a culture of accountability.
- Foster an inclusive and collaborative environment that strengthens engagement and retention.
- Enable employee growth through learning, capability building, and career development opportunities.
- Build future-ready talent pipelines and succession plans to sustain long-term organizational effectiveness.
Operational Excellence, Risk Management & Continuous Improvement:
- Quality Assurance, Risk & Compliance Management
- Ensure high-quality, accurate, and compliant service delivery through effective controls, governance, and oversight.
- Review work for accuracy, completeness, and adherence to policies, standards, and regulatory requirements.
- Maintain required documentation, approvals, and audit-ready records.
- Proactively identify, assess, mitigate, and escalate operational, compliance, and control risks.
- Investigate quality issues, perform root cause analysis, and implement sustainable corrective actions.
- Strengthen operational controls and process integrity to reduce risk and protect service outcomes.
- Continuous Improvement, Change & Transformation
- Drive process optimization, standardization, and operational excellence to improve efficiency, scalability, and service outcomes.
- Identify and implement improvement opportunities through automation, technology adoption, and data-driven insights.
- Lead and support change initiatives through effective communication, stakeholder engagement, training, and adoption
- management.
- Enhance productivity, consistency, and service quality through continuous improvement and transformation initiatives.
- Foster a culture of innovation, operational excellence, and ongoing process evolution.
- Perform other duties as assigned
EDUCATION
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent
EXPERIENCE
- 10 to 12 years of overall experience in a related field or area
- 3+ years of management and/or other experience in similar capacity
- 2+ years of prior experience in tax processing with demonstrated competency in a specific industry or technical area
- Ability to interact with multiple levels of leadership
- Demonstrated experience managing multiple projects of moderate risk
TECHNICAL/SOFT SKILLS (REQUIRED)
- Ability to solve problems in a fast-paced deadline driven environment
- Ability to communicate effectively with a diverse audience
- Advanced Microsoft Office Skills
- Adept at managing multiple tasks and projects
- Ability to manage workflow and expectations with team members, as well as provide guidance/training as needed
- Ability to prepare charts, graphics and tables, etc.
- Demonstrated ability to apply technical/procedures requirements of
- the position based on knowledge and experience within specialization
- Demonstrated ability to impact and influence a diverse population
- An advanced working knowledge of tools, resources and technology required with assigned responsibilities
- Demonstrates professional judgement and emotional intelligence, with the ability to coach others to do the same
- Effective organization, prioritization and time management skills, and strong attention to detail
- Excellent people skills
- Experience with project management tool(s)
- Strong grammar and proofreading knowledge and experience
- Ability to identify, assess and mitigate risks associated with processing deliverables
- Ability to analyze complex data and information to identify patterns, trends and potential risks
LEADERSHIP SKILLS (REQUIRED)
- Demonstrated ability to attract, lead, motivate and retain a team, providing guidance and feedback
- Demonstrated ability to manage discussions with office leaders, engagement leaders and line of business leadership
- Ability to lead by understanding team dynamics
- Ability to manage at a macro level and identify when a refined approach necessary
- Ability to assess and leverage skill sets among team members
- Ability to communicate effectively across multiple stakeholders and internal teams
- Ability to oversee and lead a team; market or specialty area-based team
- Ability to respond positively to changing circumstances, serve as a model of the change, while having quality-conscious client service, decision-
- making, conflict resolution and critical thinking skills
- Demonstrated ability to manage, direct and analyze the results of programs, projects or assignments
- Helps build a diverse and inclusive culture in the workplace by cultivating
- a safe environment to ask questions, share innovative ideas and make
- suggestions; provide coaching on an informal basis
- Promotes individual and team achievements; drives greater employee
- engagement to help employees understand how their work
- aligns to strategy
- Effective written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills
- Works collaboratively with peer group to provide support across the enterprise particularly during peak times
- Works collaboratively with subfunction leadership to provide input and support during the business planning process
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS SPECIFC TO JOB
- Confident knowledge and idea generator
- Strong technical aptitude, able to quickly master a variety of tax software and company tools
- Must be punctual and able to adapt to changing schedules
- Specialized training for both tools and process
- Ability to maintain strict client confidentiality
This position will typically require an in-office presence of 2 to 3 days per week; however, in-office attendance expectations may change based on business requirements as determined by U.S. business leaders. The tax line of business is high-volume and deadline-driven and may require extended hours with limited flexibility around key filing deadlines. Flexibility for a hybrid work arrangement may be made available based on the prior approvals
PREFERRED REQUIREMENTS
- Prior experience in managing or supporting operations for U.S.-based clients, businesses, or stakeholders is highly desirable.
- Excellent Data Analytical Skills
- Previous tax-related experience and knowledge of tax deadlines
- Experience with CCH Axcess Tax, Workstream and general filing of tax returns in the firm-preferred electronic filing system
At RSM, we offer a competitive benefits and compensation package for all our people. We offer flexibility in your schedule, empowering you to balance life’s demands, while also maintaining your ability to serve clients. Learn more about our total rewards at https://rsmus.com/careers/india.html.
RSM does not tolerate discrimination and/or harassment based on race; colour; creed; sincerely held religious beliefs, practices or observances; sex (including pregnancy or disabilities related to nursing); gender (including gender identity and/or gender expression); sexual orientation; HIV Status; national origin; ancestry; familial or marital status; age; physical or mental disability; citizenship; political affiliation; medical condition (including family and medical leave); domestic violence victim status; past, current or prospective service in the Indian Armed Forces; Indian Armed Forces Veterans, and Indian Armed Forces Personnel status; pre-disposing genetic characteristics or any other characteristic protected under applicable provincial employment legislation.
Accommodation for applicants with disabilities is available upon request in connection with the recruitment process and/or employment/partnership. RSMis committed to providing equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation for people with disabilities. If you require a reasonable accommodation to complete an application, interview, or otherwise participate in the recruiting process, please send us an email at [email protected].