The Estate, Gift, and Trust Manager will oversee complex tax compliance and planning engagements, providing high-level support to high-net-worth individuals, families, and their advisors. As a manager, you will lead and manage client relationships, guide the team in delivering exceptional services, and provide strategic advice on estate, gift, and trust tax matters. This role offers a unique opportunity to take ownership of client engagements, mentor junior staff, and drive the strategic direction of estate and trust taxation within the firm.
Essential functions
Tax Compliance and Oversight:
- Manage the preparation and review of advanced estate, gift, and trust tax returns (Forms 706, 709, and 1041)
- Ensure timely and accurate compliance with federal, state, and local tax regulations.
- Resolve complex technical tax issues and maintain high-quality standards in all deliverables
Tax Planning and Strategic Advisory:
- Lead the development and execution of comprehensive tax planning strategies for clients
- Work closely with clients, attorneys, financial advisors, and other stakeholders to design and implement effective estate and trust plans
- Provide expert guidance and innovative solutions to minimize tax burdens and optimize wealth transfer
Client Relationship and Engagement Management:
- Serve as the primary point of contact for key clients, fostering long-term, trusted relationships
- Proactively manage client needs, ensuring exceptional service and identifying new opportunities to add value
- Oversee multiple client engagements, ensuring the timely delivery of high-quality results while managing expectations
Team Leadership and Development:
- Supervise and mentor junior and senior staff members, providing guidance, training, and performance feedback
- Review and evaluate staff work to ensure it meets the firm's standards of quality and accuracy
- Foster a positive, collaborative, and high-performance team environment, supporting professional growth
Research and Technical Leadership:
- Stay current with changes in estate, gift, and trust tax laws and regulations.
- Conduct and oversee research on complex tax issues and communicate insights to both internal teams and clients
- Lead the development of thought leadership and client alerts on significant tax developments
Process and Efficiency Improvement:
- Identify opportunities to streamline workflows and improve the efficiency of tax compliance and planning services
- Leverage technology and automation tools to enhance service delivery and team productivity
Supervisory responsibilities
- Will supervise subordinate team members
Work environment
- Work is conducted in a professional office environment with minimal distractions
Physical demands
- Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and performing work in front of a computer screen for long periods of time
- Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds at a time
Travel required
- Travel may be frequent and unpredictable, depending on client's needs
Required education and experience
- Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, or a related field
- Minimum 5 accounting classes, one individual income tax class, and one business law class
- 5 - 8 years of relevant experience including preparation and review of estate, gift and trust returns
- Possession of professional certification(s) such as CPA, Enrolled Agent, LLM, CFP, MST, or Juris Doctor (JD)
- Experience in professional service environment, such as a CPA firm, financial consulting firm, or similar setting
- Specific positions may require additional industry or specialization certifications
- Responsible for completing the minimum CPE credit requirement
- Software: Axcess Tax, Axcess Document, Axcess Workstream, Thomson Reuters Fixed Assets CS, Checkpoint for Tax Research
Other duties
Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the colleague for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice. out notice.