Client Associate & Trust Services (Tax/Bill Pay)

Laird Norton Wetherby•Seattle, WA

2d•$65,500 - $82,000•Hybrid

About The Position

We are seeking a full-time Client Associate & Trust Services (Tax/Bill Pay) to join our team. You will work with a team of wealth management professionals and other Laird Norton Wetherby (LNW) team members to provide excellent service to our internal clients. The focus areas will be Trust Tax and Trust Bill Pay. Your Role and Responsibilities Nature of Role As a Client Associate you will work primarily within our Trust Resource Group The role will be split between working on Trust tax matters and paying and monitoring trust client bill payments You must be organized, have outstanding attention to detail, excellent computer proficiency and great communication skills.

Requirements

Four-year college degree or equivalent work experience in the financial services industry is required
Experience coordinating outsourced tax preparation or compliance activities
Familiar with EFTPS, withholding payments, or similar electronic payment systems
Reconciliation-first mindset - seeks confirmation, not assumptions
Process-oriented – values controls, checklists, and closed-loop workflows
Comfortable with payments and accountability – understands the importance of precisions and verifications
Calm under complexity – able to manage ambiguity, legacy issues, and competing deadlines methodically
Strong organizational skills and attention and accuracy to detail to meet client deadlines with high quality, detail-oriented work
Strong communication skills enabling proactive, consistent and effective communication within the client team
Demonstrates the ability to work independently in a fast-paced setting, be a self-starter, and take ownership of tasks from beginning to end
Interest in building a career in the wealth management industry
Motivated to take on new challenges and actively involved in learning and development
Ability to effectively manage conflicting priorities and handle time-sensitive issues
Experience in Microsoft Office Suite is required, advanced skills preferred
Candidates must meet all employment qualifications in force at time of hiring, including successful passing of background & credit checks and any pre-employment examinations, signing of all employee agreements, and can perform the essential functions, duties and responsibilities set forth in a consistent and efficient manner.

Nice To Haves

Prefer 2 or more years’ experience in private wealth management, client services, or finance/banking operations.
Willing to hire with no or limited experience
Prior experience in trust operations, fiduciary administration, tax operations, accounting operations, or payment processing roles
Knowledge and experience of basic accounting concepts
Professional certifications such as CFP are not necessary but are a plus
Familiarity with investment concepts a plus
Experience in financial software applications and platforms, including Addepar, Salesforce, Schwab custodian, are a plus

Responsibilities

Coordinate and oversee tax filings prepared by external vendors (e.g., fiduciary income tax returns, information returns, and tax letters)
Prepare and file select tax forms in-house, including: Forms 945 and 945-A (federal withholding returns and schedules) Other periodic or one-off tax filings designated for internal preparation
Manage compliance for, including but not limited to: Forms 1041 (simple, complex, estate) Forms 1099 (DIV/INT/B/ISC/R) and Form 5498 Forms 1042 and 1042-2 Forms 1099-MISC for co-trustee fees and other required non-vendor 1099 reporting Forms 5227 and 990-PF Grantor, accommodations, and other tax reporting letters
Maintain filing inventories, due date tracking, extension, and delivery status
Ensure accurate setup and classification of accounts for tax report purposes
Review transaction level data flowing from trust accounting systems into tax reporting platforms and vendor deliverables. Identify and correct coding or classification issues that could impact tax reporting Coordinate corrections with Operations and Client Service teams as needed
Monitor and coordinate federal withholding obligations, including: IRA RMD withholding Backup withholding Nonresident alien withholding
Ensure alignment between: Withholding calculated Withholding paid Withholding reported
Track semi-monthly and monthly payment cycles and ensure timely compliance
Serve as primary liaison with external tax vendors for: Data delivery Status tracking Issue resolution
Receive, review, and disseminate tax deliverables provided by external tax vendors
Notify internal teams when tax returns, tax letters, and information returns are available
Coordinate and distribute workflows, ensuring teams retrieve their respective files and deliver them to clients in accordance with firm procedures
Collect and manage tax documentation from outside trustees and investment managers (e.g., Forms 7216, FRORs, outside K-1s)
Provide clean, organized information packages to vendors to minimize rework
Clear, professional communication skills and sound judgment when escalating issues
High standards of integrity, discretion, and reliability when handling sensitive financial and client information
Monitor Bill Pay inbox: Perform tasks as request from internal clients and respond to research/ project requests
Review prior day transactions for accuracy and coding
Update Bill Pay monthly tracking sheet to ensure all recurring bills have been received and special handling instructions followed
Review daily mail for recurring bill pay items (when time permits or other Associates are on PTO) to ensure correspondence has been handled
Duties and Responsibilities will increase and vary based on needs of business.