Senior Tax Advisor

Laird Norton Wetherby•Seattle, WA

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

We are seeking a full-time Senior Tax Advisor to join our team. The Senior Tax Advisor is responsible for the tax function by coordinating with senior management and with the client service teams. This is a representative list of the general duties the position may be asked to perform and is not intended to be all-inclusive. The Senior Tax Advisor will provide ongoing advice and counsel in developing and implementing the company’s tax functions, provide day-to-day leadership and management that reflects the mission and core values of the company, and act as a ‘client-care officer’ through direct contact with client services and our clients regarding tax matters. The role also involves fostering a team-oriented culture of intellectual curiosity, analytical rigor, creativity, respect and collaboration, assisting in the education and training of client service teams regarding various tax and estate planning matters, providing oversight of distributing fiduciary accounts to ensure adverse tax consequences do not occur, and alerting the President, Trust Services and General Counsel of areas of potential risk to the firm. In terms of Tax Processing Functions, the Senior Tax Advisor will review, sign and process outsourced trust tax returns, process requests for payment, act as lead analyst on quarterly tax reports for RIA clients, prepare and maintain cost basis calculations for closely held stocks (trusts only outsource others to 1040 CPA), review fiduciary quarterly estimated tax payments and provide a list to the client service team to comment on and raise cash, if necessary. The role also includes monitoring electric filings and processing tax payments, calculating and paying monthly, preparing and filing annual returns for the non-resident alien tax, regular back-up and IRA tax withholding payments, submitting tax runs to outsourced vendors and acting as a liaison with those vendors, taking ownership in improving and applying firm-wide quality control procedures, remaining current on the effective use of technology in processing client transactions, generating reports as requested, conducting research and preparing coherent presentations of analysis and research, and responding to tax notices relating to trust. The Senior Tax Advisor will also calculate and/or review unitrust amounts. Client Service duties include meeting with clients as needed to discuss tax, trusts and estate planning as requested by client services, being proactive in anticipating client needs and identifying issues requiring legal counsel, providing clear advice to the Trust Resource Group team and to client service for other clients, and maintaining strong communications skills to facilitate meetings with clients. Business Development involves continuing and developing firm relationships with estate planning and tax practitioners in relevant markets, meeting and working with new prospective clients interested in wealth management or trust services, developing potential new client opportunities by participating in professional and community activities, serving as an ambassador for the firm in the community, and participating in opportunities to showcase LNW Advisors including speaking engagements, white papers and interviews. Personal Development includes maintaining continuing education for professional designations. Duties and Responsibilities will increase and vary based on needs of business.

Requirements

Minimum of ten years of comprehensive experience, with trust and estate knowledge/experience, in a complex organization.
Four-year college degree
Professional designation, such as JD or CPA.
Strong leadership ability, including ability to manage without authority
Strong experience and skills in tax and estate planning, a plus
Strong strategic vision and creativity demonstrating excellent business acumen, professional judgment and understanding of company issues
Strong written and verbal communication skills
Excellent interpersonal skills
Skilled business leader/practitioner; capable of inspiring and developing others
A desire and the ability to work in a collaborative team environment that seeks success of the team rather than the individual
Strong organizational skills with attention to detail and ability to multi-task in a fast-paced environment
High ethical standards and the ability to place the clients’ needs before one’s own.
Experience in handling sensitive and confidential subject matter.
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

Strong experience and skills in tax and estate planning

Responsibilities

Provide ongoing advice and counsel in developing and implementing the company’s tax functions.
Provide day-to-day leadership and management that reflects the mission and core values of the company.
Act as a ‘client-care officer’ through direct contact with client services and our clients regarding tax matters.
Foster a team-oriented culture of intellectual curiosity, analytical rigor, creativity, respect and collaboration.
Assist in the education and training of client service teams regarding various tax and estate planning matters.
Provide oversight of distributing fiduciary accounts to ensure adverse tax consequences does not occur.
Alert President, Trust Services and General Counsel of areas of potential risk to the firm.
Reviews, signs and processes outsourced trust tax returns.
Processes requests for payment.
Acts as lead analyst on quarterly tax reports for RIA clients.
Prepares and maintains cost basis calculations for closely held stocks (trusts only outsource others to 1040 CPA).
Review fiduciary quarterly estimated tax payments and provide a list to the client service team to comment on and raise cash, if necessary.
Monitor electric filings and process tax payments.
Calculate and pay monthly, prepare and file annual returns for the non-resident alien tax, regular back-up and IRA tax withholding payments.
Submits tax runs to outsourced vendors and acts as a liaison with those vendors.
Take ownership in improving and applying firm wide quality control procedures.
Remains current on effective use of technology in processing client transactions.
Generate reports as requested.
Conducts research and prepares coherent presentations of analysis and research.
Respond to tax notices relating to trust.
Calculate and/or review unitrust amount.
Meet with clients as needed to discuss tax, trusts and estate planning as requested by client services.
Be proactive in anticipating client needs and identifying issues requiring legal counsel.
Provide clear advice to the Trust Resource Group team and to client service for other clients.
Maintain strong communications skills to facilitate meetings with clients.
Continue and develop firm relationships with estate planning and tax practitioners in relevant markets.
Meet and work with new prospective clients interested in wealth management or trust services.
Develop potential new client opportunities by participating in professional and community activities.
Serve as an ambassador for the firm in the community.
Participate in opportunities to showcase LNW Advisors including speaking engagements, white papers and interviews.
Maintain continuing education for professional designations.
Duties and Responsibilities will increase and vary based on needs of business.