Tax Associate
Role is in office three days per week (Tues-Thurs). Targeting five years of experience (will consider three to five if they have in-depth research skills) public accounting preferred. Reports to SVP, Tax Director. Great benefits, 11 holidays, four weeks' vacation.
Skills / Experience Requirements
- Bachelor of Science Degree in Business or Accounting.
- Fiduciary tax experience.
- At least five 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 firm's purpose / goals / values.
- Customer service, diplomacy, ability to observe strict confidentiality policies.
Duties & Responsibilities
General Fiduciary Tax Responsibilities :
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.Technology Specific Responsibilities :
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 firm's 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 systemRelational Responsibilities :
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.Other Duties and Responsibilities :
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.