Estate, Gift, and Trust Tax Director

Estate, Gift & Trust Tax Director / Partner

About the Role:

We are seeking an experienced Estate, Gift & Trust Tax Director or Partner to lead and expand a sophisticated Estate, Gift & Trust Tax Practice serving high net worth individuals, families, family offices, fiduciaries, and closely held businesses. This leadership role combines technical tax compliance expertise with practice development, client relationship management, and strategic growth. The ideal candidate is a CPA with an MST who has extensive experience in fiduciary taxation, estate and gift tax compliance, trust taxation, and business development.

This position offers a clear opportunity to lead and shape the future of a growing practice while working closely with attorneys, wealth advisors, and other allied professionals.

Responsibilities:

• Lead estate, gift, and trust tax compliance engagements for high net worth individuals, trusts, estates, and fiduciary entities.
• Review and prepare complex federal and state fiduciary income tax returns, estate tax returns, gift tax returns, and related tax filings.
• Provide technical guidance on fiduciary taxation, estate and trust administration, and wealth transfer strategies while maintaining a compliance-focused practice.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with attorneys, financial advisors, wealth managers, family offices, and other referral partners.
• Drive business development initiatives through networking, public speaking, seminars, professional organizations, and community involvement.
• Mentor, coach, and develop tax professionals while providing technical leadership across the Estate, Gift & Trust practice.
• Collaborate with firm leadership to expand service offerings and grow the practice through strategic client acquisition and retention.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to clients on complex estate, trust, and fiduciary tax matters.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local tax regulations while maintaining the highest standards of quality and client service.
• Contribute to long-term strategic planning with the opportunity to assume leadership of the Estate, Gift & Trust practice.

Qualifications:

• Active Certified Public Accountant, CPA, license in good standing.
• Master of Science in Taxation, MST, required.
• Significant public accounting experience at the Director or Partner level with a focus on Estate, Gift, and Trust taxation.
• Extensive expertise preparing and reviewing fiduciary income tax returns, estate tax returns, and gift tax returns.
• Strong knowledge of federal and state estate, gift, trust, and fiduciary tax laws and regulations.
• Demonstrated success developing new business and managing long-term client relationships.
• Established network of attorneys, wealth advisors, financial planners, family offices, and other allied professionals.
• Excellent leadership, mentoring, and team development skills.
• Strong presentation and public speaking abilities with experience representing a firm at industry events.
• Exceptional communication, relationship management, and client advisory skills.

Desired

Qualifications:

• Experience leading or building an Estate, Gift & Trust Tax practice within a public accounting firm.
• Existing book of business or proven ability to generate new client opportunities.
• Experience serving high net worth individuals, ultra high net worth families, private clients, and multi-generational family enterprises.
• Knowledge of advanced fiduciary planning, wealth transfer, charitable planning, and succession planning concepts.
• Experience collaborating with multidisciplinary advisory teams, including legal, investment, and wealth management professionals.
• Ability to travel within Southern California and work across multiple office locations as needed.