Tax Associate

Tax Associate

Role is in office three days per week (Tues-Thurs). Targeting 5 years of experience (will consider 3-5 if they have in-depth research skills) public accounting preferred. Reports to SVP, Tax Director. Great benefits, 11 holidays, 4 weeks' vacation.

• Bachelor of Science Degree in Business or Accounting.
• Fiduciary tax experience.
• At least 5 years' experience in a public accounting firm, preferably in a tax preparation role.
• Demonstrated tax knowledge and expertise.
• Ability to research tax issues and communicate results.
• CPA designation preferred.
• Microsoft Office programs.
• Excellent time management skills with the ability to multitask and maintain workflow to meet both internal and external deadlines.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Must be technologically adept with the ability to learn new software programs quickly and intuitively.
• Organized, responsible, loyal to and enthusiastic about the firms purpose / goals / values.
• Customer service, diplomacy, ability to observe strict confidentiality policies.

• Work with Tax Director to develop high-level understanding of company's fiduciary client base and individual client needs.
• Review of tax filings and forms prepared by outside preparers and / or Tax Director.
• Ability to research, coordinate and manage tax projects for our client base.
• Coordinate with Tax Director and outside preparers to track all required fiduciary filings and ensure timely and accurate remittance.
• Preparation of returns for a very small portion of fiduciary client base not done by our preparer.
• Coordination with obtaining third party information and preparation of quarterly estimates. Help project income and potential tax liabilities for estimated tax purposes.
• Respond to agency notices for our client base.
• Involvement with engagement letter process with Tax Administrator for preparing, sending and tracking fiduciary fee engagement letters.
• Communicate frequently and routinely with outside preparers to aid with information necessary for return preparation, to address transactional and coding questions, and to monitor flow of items.
• Ability to work directly with our fiduciary tax return preparer for ongoing best practices related to our client data.
• Share projected and final balance due and estimate amounts with relevant teams, including the Portfolio Management group for cash balance / investment purposes and Operations for timely processing of payments.
• Assist Tax Director with needs related to the firm's entity tax returns.
• Field internal and client inquiries on timing of specific tax items and forms and develop relationships with those parties.
• Perform various duties to assist the Tax Administrator with processing and other items during peak periods.
• Work closely with Trust Officers and Tax Director on items requiring specific attention, including onboarding of new trust accounts, trust terminations, changes to grant status of returns, private and / or foreign holdings, assessing the need for new state filing requirements, etc.
• Stay current on tax laws, regulations and proposals impacting clients.

• Learn to master the tax group's primary software, One Source Trust Tax (OSTT) and become the firm champion, maintaining responsibility for keeping up to date with software developments.
• Become proficient with the firms trust accounting system from which OSTT derives its information. Understand transactional flow and coding. Generate system reports and create custom reports, as needed.
• Maintain responsibility for data bridge between OSTT and the trust accounting system

• Serve as a resource to the firm and clients on tax related items.
• Work closely with Client Advisors, Portfolio Managers, Trust Officers, Real Estate and Operations groups as needed to better achieve efficiencies and compliance from a 360-degree perspective.
• Develop and maintain relationships with outside preparers, client CPAs and other professional advisors.
• Assist with managing client relationships with outside trustees.
• Work on individual client tax planning items and requests, as needed.
• Willingness to lead internal training on select topics.

• Assist with formulating tax group procedures to create efficiencies and high-level client service.
• Represent the tax group on company committees as requested.
• Participate in special firm or departmental projects.
• Attend weekly firm meetings and scheduled group meetings.
• Pursue educational and professional development opportunities.
• Other duties as assigned.