Job Summary:
We are seeking an experienced and highly motivated Fiduciary Tax Supervisor/Manager to lead our Trust & Estate tax practice. The ideal candidate will possess deep technical expertise in US Form 1041 (Fiduciary Income Tax Returns), related schedules, and fiduciary taxation compliance. You will oversee a team of tax professionals responsible for the preparation, review, and filing of complex fiduciary returns for trusts, estates, guardianships, and bankruptcy estates. This role demands strong technical acumen, proven leadership ability, client-facing advisory skills, and a commitment to delivering high-quality work within strict regulatory deadlines.
Key Responsibilities:
- Technical Leadership & Review: Perform and oversee the preparation and complex review of Form 1041 and associated schedules (Schedule A, B, D, G, I, J, K-1), including grantor trusts, complex trusts, simple trusts, estates, electing small business trusts (ESBTs), qualified disability trusts, and bankruptcy estates.
- Fiduciary Tax Compliance: Ensure accurate calculation of Distributable Net Income (DNI), income distribution deductions, alternative minimum tax (AMT) for estates/trusts, generation-skipping transfer tax (GSTT) implications, and state fiduciary return compliance (multi-state allocations).
- Team Supervision & Development: Lead, mentor, and evaluate a team of Tax Seniors and Associates; assign engagements based on complexity; conduct technical training on 1041 updates, K-1 preparation, and fiduciary accounting principles (UPIA/state law variations).
- Client Advisory & Relationship Management: Serve as primary technical contact for high-net-worth clients, family offices, corporate trustees, and fiduciaries; advise on tax-efficient distribution strategies, 645/663(b) elections, charitable deductions (Section 642(c)), and grantor trust rules (Sections 671-679).
- Quality Control & Risk Management: Establish and enforce firm-wide 1041 workpaper standards, review checklists, and quality control procedures; manage peer review and PCAOB/IRS inquiry responses related to fiduciary returns.
- Technology & Process Optimization: Drive adoption of tax technology (CCH Axcess, UltraTax, GoSystem, Thomson Reuters, or similar); automate K-1 data extraction, state allocation workflows, and fiduciary accounting-to-tax reconciliations.
- Project & Deadline Management: Own the fiduciary tax calendar (calendar year, fiscal year, 5/15 and 9/30 extensions); manage capacity planning for peak filing seasons; coordinate with Audit, Wealth Planning, and Legal teams on estate administration engagements.
- Business Development: Identify cross-sell opportunities (estate tax Form 706, gift tax Form 709, individual 1040, family office services); participate in proposals, RFPs, and client seminars on fiduciary tax topics.
- Regulatory Monitoring: Monitor IRS guidance, Treasury regulations, TCJA provisions (Section 199A deduction for trusts/estates), SECURE Act/SECURE 2.0 impacts on trust beneficiaries, and state law changes affecting fiduciary taxation.
Qualifications:
- CPA license (active) or EA certification required; JD/LLM in Taxation a plus.
- 7+ years progressive public accounting experience with 4+ years focused on Form 1041/fiduciary taxation (Big 4, regional, or boutique firm).
- Demonstrated experience reviewing complex trust/estate returns: QSSTs, ESBTs, charitable remainder/lead trusts, grantor retained annuity trusts (GRATs), intentionally defective grantor trusts (IDGTs), and non-grantor trusts with multi-state beneficiaries.
- Proficiency with fiduciary accounting principles (principal vs. income allocation, UPIA compliance) and trust instrument interpretation.
- Strong working knowledge of tax software (CCH Axcess/ProSystem fx, UltraTax, GoSystem, or Wolters Kluwer) and data analytics tools (Alteryx, Tableau, Power BI a plus).
- Proven track record managing teams of 3-10+ professionals; experience with performance management, scheduling, and technical mentoring.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to explain complex fiduciary tax concepts to non-technical clients and fiduciaries.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience with Form 706 (Estate Tax), Form 709 (Gift Tax), Form 3520/3520-A (Foreign Trusts), and Form 8865/5471 (International).
- Family office or private client services background.
- ACTEC Fellowship or active participation in AICPA Trust & Estate Tax Committee.
What We Offer:
- Competitive base salary + performance-based bonus structure
- Clear path to Principal/Director/Partner track
- Hybrid work flexibility (3 days onsite / 2 remote during non-peak)
- CPE budget + paid professional dues (AICPA, state society, ACTEC)
- Comprehensive benefits: 401(k) match, health/wellness, parental leave, PTO
