Associate - Research & Advisory
Frazier & Deeter is a rapidly growing Top 50 accounting & advisory firm known for its commitment to training and inclusion. The Research & Advisory Associate role involves conducting technical research and providing advisory support for M&A and tax planning, focusing on high-quality deliverables and client engagement.
Responsibilities
- Conduct in-depth research using primary authorities, including the Internal Revenue Code, Treasury Regulations, IRS guidance, legislative history, and case law
- Prepare technical memoranda, research summaries, and opinion letters on matters involving pass-through taxation, M&A structuring, estate planning, and transactional issues
- Respond to internal inquiries, with a focus on technical accuracy, clarity, and practical applicability
- Monitor legislative and regulatory developments; draft internal alerts and planning memoranda outlining implications for clients and firm positions
- Contribute to and maintain the firm’s centralized repository of technical positions and guidance
- Support buy-side and sell-side M&A engagements, including pre-transaction planning and post-transaction structuring
- Develop and model alternative planning structures, evaluating tax efficiency, economic outcomes, and implementation risk
- Assist with estate, succession, and family office planning engagements
- Prepare client-ready materials illustrating planning alternatives and recommended strategies
- Monitor and draft internal technical briefs on IRS rulings, Treasury guidance, and court decisions
- Participate in internal technical discussions, roundtables, and position-development forums
- Support external thought leadership initiatives, including client alerts, newsletters, and presentation materials
Skills
- J.D. (with a tax focus), LL.M. in Taxation, or CPA with strong technical research experience
- 1–4 years of experience in tax research, advisory, or transactional planning
- Strong command of federal tax authorities and research methodology
- Demonstrated ability to synthesize complex technical material into clear, well-structured written work product
- Ability to operate effectively in a fast paced advisory and client-facing support environment
- Experience with pass-through taxation, M&A structuring, or estate and generational planning
- Familiarity with tax research platforms (Checkpoint, Bloomberg Tax, BlueJ, Cocounsel)
- Exposure to transactional due diligence, structuring analyses, or tax opinion work
- Interest in contributing to internal knowledge systems and firmwide technical standards
Company Overview