Tax Director, Wealth Strategies

AllianceBernstein•San Francisco, CA

About The Position

Bernstein’s Investment and Wealth Strategies Team At Bernstein, our Investment and Wealth Strategies team stands at the intersection of deep technical expertise and client-centered planning. We are a national team of seasoned professionals—tax attorneys, estate planners, financial strategists—dedicated to guiding high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth clients through the most complex aspects of wealth management. Our mission is simple yet powerful: to deliver clarity in complexity and confidence in action. We help clients navigate pivotal financial decisions with precision, insight, and care—whether planning for a liquidity event, structuring a multigenerational legacy, or integrating philanthropic goals into a broader wealth strategy. Holistic Expertise: We provide comprehensive guidance across financial planning, income and estate tax strategy, wealth transfer, philanthropy, and investment implementation—ensuring every plan is both technically sound and personally meaningful. Collaborative Approach: We work hand-in-hand with Bernstein’s wealth advisors and external professionals to deliver seamless, integrated solutions tailored to each client’s unique circumstances. Innovative Tools & Research: Our team develops and enhances Bernstein’s proprietary planning tools, including the Wealth Forecasting System, and leverages cutting-edge modeling and research to inform every recommendation. Leadership & Development: We not only advise clients—we build the future of wealth strategy. We recruit, train, and mentor the next generation of Bernstein Wealth Strategists, ensuring continuity of excellence. Client-First Culture: Our work begins with listening. We uncover what matters most to our clients—their values, goals, and relationships—and craft strategies that reflect and respect those priorities. What You'll Do: Provide strategic, client-facing tax advisory services to ultra-high-net-worth individuals, families, and business owners, with a focus on income and estate tax planning. Conduct in-depth research and analysis of individual, trust, partnership, and corporate tax issues, identifying opportunities to optimize outcomes across complex wealth structures. Evaluate and advise on entity structures—including family limited partnerships, LLCs, and closely held businesses—to uncover planning opportunities and mitigate risk. Design and assess advanced tax strategies related to philanthropic planning, concentrated stock positions, and executive compensation (including NQSOs, ISOs, and restricted stock). Build and review sophisticated financial models to illustrate cash flow and tax implications of current and proposed planning strategies. Independently analyze planning documents such as deal structures, operating agreements, and equity compensation plans, offering strategic recommendations tailored to client goals. Translate complex tax and estate planning concepts into clear, actionable insights for clients, their advisors, and internal stakeholders. Collaborate closely with Bernstein Financial Advisors to integrate tax strategy into broader investment and estate planning conversations. Serve as a strategic partner in client engagements, helping to win new business and deepen existing relationships through technical expertise and thoughtful communication. Represent Bernstein externally, leveraging your professional network to build brand awareness and credibility among attorneys, accountants, and other centers of influence. Deliver presentations to diverse audiences—ranging from sophisticated professionals to lay clients—on Bernstein’s latest research, planning capabilities, and strategic insights. Train and mentor Financial Advisors and Wealth Strategies team members on applying Bernstein’s investment process within the context of trust, estate, and tax planning. Contribute to original research and thought leadership by publishing articles, developing marketing materials, and creating client-facing presentations on key planning topics. Stay current on evolving tax legislation, market trends, and planning techniques to ensure Bernstein remains at the forefront of UHNW advisory services. What We're Looking For: Bernstein is seeking a seasoned and technically adept tax strategist with 7–10 years of experience advising business owners and high-net-worth families on complex income and estate tax matters to join our Investment and Wealth Strategies team. This is a high-impact, client-facing advisory role dedicated to delivering sophisticated income and estate tax planning solutions for Bernstein’s high-net-worth clients and their wealth advisors. As a key member of Bernstein’s Wealth Strategies team, you will design customized planning solutions that help clients achieve their broader estate, tax, and investment objectives. You’ll engage directly with Bernstein’s most complex clients—including business owners, corporate executives, family offices, and their advisory teams—to deliver strategic, high-impact guidance across a wide range of sophisticated tax matters. This is a purely advisory role with no responsibility for tax return preparation or compliance. Instead, you’ll develop and deliver key strategic insights and actionable planning solutions that help clients optimize outcomes and make informed decisions with confidence. A strong foundation in income and estate tax planning is essential, including deep expertise in trust taxation, business entities, investment structures, and advanced planning strategies. Candidates must be able to distill complex estate, trust, and tax concepts into clear, actionable insights tailored to a range of audiences. As a client-facing wealth planning resource, exceptional presentation and communication skills are critical to effectively engage with clients, their advisors, and internal stakeholders.

Requirements

A strong foundation in income and estate tax planning is essential, including deep expertise in trust taxation, business entities, investment structures, and advanced planning strategies.
Candidates must be able to distill complex estate, trust, and tax concepts into clear, actionable insights tailored to a range of audiences.
As a client-facing wealth planning resource, exceptional presentation and communication skills are critical to effectively engage with clients, their advisors, and internal stakeholders.
JD or CPA required; additional advanced credentials strongly preferred (e.g., LLM in Taxation, MS in Tax, CFA, MBA).
Minimum of 5 years of professional experience in a law firm, accounting firm, or in-house tax department; prior experience in wealth management or a family office environment is highly desirable.
Extensive experience advising ultra-high-net-worth clients and family offices, with a deep understanding of their unique planning needs.
Expert-level knowledge of personal, trust, partnership, and corporate income taxation, including the integration of tax strategy with estate and investment planning.
Proven expertise in family entity structuring, wealth transfer techniques, philanthropic planning, and executive compensation strategies.
Advanced proficiency in financial modeling and scenario analysis, particularly using Excel or similar tools to evaluate tax and cash flow implications.
Demonstrated ability to work independently, prioritize effectively, and manage multiple complex projects under tight deadlines.
Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to simplify and convey complex tax concepts to diverse audiences.
A polished, professional presence and a client-first mindset, with a passion for delivering high-impact, personalized advisory services.

Responsibilities

Provide strategic, client-facing tax advisory services to ultra-high-net-worth individuals, families, and business owners, with a focus on income and estate tax planning.
Conduct in-depth research and analysis of individual, trust, partnership, and corporate tax issues, identifying opportunities to optimize outcomes across complex wealth structures.
Evaluate and advise on entity structures—including family limited partnerships, LLCs, and closely held businesses—to uncover planning opportunities and mitigate risk.
Design and assess advanced tax strategies related to philanthropic planning, concentrated stock positions, and executive compensation (including NQSOs, ISOs, and restricted stock).
Build and review sophisticated financial models to illustrate cash flow and tax implications of current and proposed planning strategies.
Independently analyze planning documents such as deal structures, operating agreements, and equity compensation plans, offering strategic recommendations tailored to client goals.
Translate complex tax and estate planning concepts into clear, actionable insights for clients, their advisors, and internal stakeholders.
Collaborate closely with Bernstein Financial Advisors to integrate tax strategy into broader investment and estate planning conversations.
Serve as a strategic partner in client engagements, helping to win new business and deepen existing relationships through technical expertise and thoughtful communication.
Represent Bernstein externally, leveraging your professional network to build brand awareness and credibility among attorneys, accountants, and other centers of influence.
Deliver presentations to diverse audiences—ranging from sophisticated professionals to lay clients—on Bernstein’s latest research, planning capabilities, and strategic insights.
Train and mentor Financial Advisors and Wealth Strategies team members on applying Bernstein’s investment process within the context of trust, estate, and tax planning.
Contribute to original research and thought leadership by publishing articles, developing marketing materials, and creating client-facing presentations on key planning topics.
Stay current on evolving tax legislation, market trends, and planning techniques to ensure Bernstein remains at the forefront of UHNW advisory services.