Example Achievement Log for a Tax Associate

A year in the life of a Tax Associate's log

• Feb - achievement: Completed 14 client 2023 1040s for the pre-April push, no errors caught by review. Flagged three amended returns from prior years with missed charitable deduction carryforwards; clients got refunds totaling $8,200.
• Mar - feedback: Maria said in standup that the carryforward audit saved her from a client complaint. 'Good detail work.' First named recognition for noticing what others missed.
• Apr - task: Scrambled to close 23 returns on April 12 when the system password reset corrupted two draft files. Rebuilt both from scans and email chains; learned to back up locally before system maintenance.
• Apr - achievement: Completed IRS Individual Practitioner Tax Certification. Qualified to sign Forms 8879 independently now instead of needing partner review on every e-file.
• Jun - task: Took over monthly estimated tax prep for 18 S-corp clients from retiring associate. Set up quarterly reminder system using shared calendar; two clients missed 2024 Q2 deadline before I flagged them.
• Jul - feedback: Derek pulled me aside after a complex LLC waterfalls meeting: 'You caught the K-1 discrepancy before I saw it. You're solid on Schedule M-2.' Confidence boost on the arcane stuff.
• Jul - achievement: Researched and drafted memo on IRC Section 469 passive activity loss rules for three real estate clients facing losses. Saved one client $12,000 in taxes by correctly attributing real estate pro status.
• Sep - task: Volunteered for VITA site prep after Maria mentioned the firm was short-handed. Organized intake folders and reviewed 12 basic returns; one client owed state penalty I caught.
• Oct - achievement: Identified that four construction clients had misclassified subcontractors as employees, exposing payroll tax risk. Sent each a detailed analysis with reclassification spreadsheets; all four corrected for 2024.
• Oct - task: Started training on trust and estate returns with Barbara. Shadowed two 1041 preps and a fiduciary accounting reconciliation. Still shaky on distributable net income calculations.
• Dec - feedback: In the firm meeting, Michael mentioned the contractor misclassification catch reduced our E&O exposure on those accounts. Named it as an example of proactive risk spotting.

What makes a strong entry

How this becomes your review in November

I completed my first year as a Tax Associate with a focus on accuracy and risk management that caught several significant issues. The carryforward audit that recovered $8,200 in client refunds and the contractor misclassification analysis that protected the firm from E&O exposure both came from attention to the details others missed. Obtaining my tax certification, moving into independent e-filing and S-corp estimates, and researching a complex passive activity loss situation that saved one client $12,000 showed I was ready to take on more sophisticated client work. The year involved real stumbles, like the system failure in April, but each one became a process improvement.

Starting your own log

Don't try to reconstruct a year you have already had. Start from today, one line whenever something happens, and let it build. The Perform Review Achievement Log does this for you and can capture wins straight from Slack, and how to start an achievement log covers the wider playbook.

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