Tax Managing Director, Private Client Services

BDO USA • Detroit, MI

1d • $150,000 - $350,000

About The Position

The Tax Managing Director, Private Client Services (PCS), provides tax compliance and consulting services to high-net-worth clients, drawing on educational background, professional experience, communication, time management, leadership, technical, business development, and people skills. The role is a critical member of the office and regional leadership team.

BDO’s Private Client Services practice takes a high-touch approach with high-net-worth individuals and their families, family offices, C-suite executives, athletes, entertainers, and others with complex tax and financial structures. The practice provides estate, income, gift, and trust tax consulting and compliance; charitable giving and philanthropic foundation services; executive compensation advice; and cash-flow, retirement, and life-insurance planning.

The position leads complex client engagements, serves as a primary client contact, advises clients on tax matters and potential courses of action, and supervises and develops associates, senior associates, and managers. It also contributes to practice leadership, business development, recruiting, training, and operational responsibilities.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Ten or more years of prior experience in accounting, finance, or law required.
• Expertise in private client services required.
• Prior supervisory experience required.
• CPA credential, IRS Enrolled Agent credential, attorney admitted to practice in a U.S. jurisdiction, or equivalent designation required.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, specifically Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, and Adobe Acrobat required.
• Own career and technical development, and actively pursue projects and learning experiences to address technical knowledge gaps.
• Take joint responsibility for the success of the practice.
• Communicate effectively verbally and in writing, synthesizing complex ideas into clear, concise language and cohesive narratives.
• Communicate client status at the frequency requested and resolve client service issues in a timely and acceptable manner.
• Participate actively in practice leadership matters, including recruitment, staff learning and development, scheduling, and retention.
• Develop an in-depth understanding of technical and practical issues and opportunities for high-net-worth individuals and their families.
• Demonstrate expert knowledge of applying standards and recognition as an industry expert in a specialized tax field.
• Develop a network of key financial decision-makers, referral sources, and recruits, and actively network professionally outside BDO.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor’s degree majoring in Accounting, Finance, Economics, or Statistics.
• Master’s degree in Accountancy or Taxation.
• Experience working in public accounting.
• Other professional degrees or certifications applicable to the role.
• Experience with tax compliance process software such as GoSystems, BNA Tax Planner, GoFileRoom, or SurePrep.
• Experience with tax research tools such as BNA Portfolio, CCH IntelliConnect, Checkpoint, or Lexis Nexis.

Responsibilities

• Lead tax and consulting engagements and teach team members to identify client needs, tax-planning matters, and consulting opportunities.
• Serve as the primary client contact, demonstrating executive presence and presenting issues and resolutions to clients.
• Review complex individual, trust, estate, S-corporation, foundation, partnership, and gift tax returns, and provide written and verbal feedback to preparers.
• Direct communication with government agencies on matters of the highest complexity.
• Identify technical issues, conduct advanced tax research, and develop recommendations for PCS leadership, clients, and advisors.
• Expand tax knowledge through client engagements and awareness of current tax developments.
• Prioritize and review work to keep engagements on track.
• Use analytical, research, critical-thinking, and decision-making skills to address client needs involving individual and business decisions.
• Contribute to PCS and firm responsibilities, including billing, recruiting, attendance, and participation in continuing professional education activities and training.
• Build new relationships and maintain existing relationships with BDO professionals and external contacts.
• Introduce and develop ideas to improve outcomes for clients, the firm, or firm personnel.
• Present complex strategies to clients and prospective clients when required.
• Advise clients on tax implications, recommend alternative courses of action, and identify compliance methods.
• Manage and monitor business-line key performance indicators.
• Supervise associates, senior associates, and managers as appropriate.
• Review work prepared by associates and senior associates and provide review comments.
• Act as a career advisor to associates, senior associates, and managers.
• Schedule and manage the workload of associates, senior associates, and managers.
• Provide verbal and written performance feedback to associates, senior associates, and managers.
• Perform other duties as required.

Benefits

• Employee stock ownership plan (ESOP), offering participants a beneficial ownership stake in the firm.
• Comprehensive compensation and Total Rewards benefits offerings.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director