Trust and Estate Manager

The Swanson Group•Westbrook, ME

1d•Onsite

About The Position

At The Swanson Group, Your Trusted Accountant, we're not your average accounting firm. We're a collaborative crew of CPAs and tax planners who genuinely enjoy solving tax puzzles. To us, every tax return is a challenge worth mastering and we find joy in untangling last year's messes, strengthening small businesses, and uncovering tax savings along the way. As Westbrook's largest full-service tax, accounting, and consulting firm, we're proud to be a Next Generation Accounting Firm. That means we focus on relationships over transactions, strategic guidance over cookie-cutter forms. We offer forward-thinking counsel to help small businesses grow, while also delivering excellent traditional tax prep services. Led by a self-made, female entrepreneur, our team blends decades of expertise with fresh perspectives. We're casual, collaborative, and serious about delivering top-tier service without sacrificing fun or flexibility. We're searching for an ambitious and growth-minded Trust & Estate Manager to join our team in a high-impact role serving individuals, families, trusts, and estates. This is an excellent opportunity for someone who enjoys working closely with clients, navigating complex trust and estate matters, and becoming a trusted advisor to families through important financial and life transitions. You'll have the opportunity to take ownership of client relationships, mentor team members, and continue developing your expertise without the pressure of bringing in new business. You'll join a firm that respects your time and invests in your development, offering exceptional flexibility, meaningful client work, and a collaborative team environment.

Requirements

Significant experience in trust, estate, gift, and high-net-worth individual taxation, ideally within a public accounting or professional services environment.
Hands-on experience preparing and reviewing Forms 1041, 706, 709, and complex 1040 returns.
Understand estate and gift tax planning concepts and enjoy solving complex client issues.
Experience supervising, reviewing, and mentoring staff.
Stay current on evolving tax laws and enjoy sharing your knowledge with others.
Comfortable communicating directly with high-net-worth clients and their professional advisors.
Excel in a collaborative, team-driven environment.
Build and maintain strong, lasting client relationships.
Looking for an opportunity to continue growing into a senior leadership role within a firm.
Excited about the opportunity to live and work in coastal Maine, just minutes from Portland's vibrant restaurant and cultural scene.

Responsibilities

Manage and review trust, estate, gift, and individual income tax returns, including Forms 1041, 706, 709, and complex 1040s.
Oversee trust and estate engagements from planning through preparation, review, and completion.
Work directly with high-net-worth individuals, families, fiduciaries, executors, trustees, attorneys, and financial advisors.
Assist clients with estate and gift tax planning, trust taxation, wealth transfer strategies, and related compliance matters.
Research complex trust and estate tax issues and provide practical recommendations to clients.
Identify planning opportunities and proactively advise clients on potential tax implications.
Review work prepared by staff and provide technical guidance and feedback.
Supervise, mentor, and develop associates and senior-level team members.
Stay current on changes to federal and state trust, estate, and gift tax laws and help educate the broader team.
Build long-term client relationships by serving as a responsive and knowledgeable point of contact.
Collaborate with partners and other professionals across the firm to deliver comprehensive solutions.