Trust Tax Manager

Fifth Third Bank • Grand Rapids, MI

8d • Onsite

About The Position

The Trust Tax Manager directs and supervises, directly or indirectly, the tax return preparation and related client service activities of a large team of tax professionals (7-10) including Senior Trust Tax Accountants, Trust Tax Accountants, and may include Trust Tax Associates, Interns and Co-ops, Administrative Assistants, and Product Specialists. The department prepares approximately 25,000 tax returns and reports annually with trust tax fees totaling more than $6million. Each team is responsible for preparing between 5,000 and 10,000 returns. The Manager understands and can advise others regarding the most complex fiduciary tax issues and is responsible for the quality, quantity, and timeliness of work prepared by their assigned team. In addition, the Manager is responsible for ensuring that proper compliance and risk management controls are in place within the department and are functioning.
Responsible and accountable for risk by openly exchanging ideas and opinions, elevating concerns, and personally following policies and procedures as defined. Accountable for always doing the right thing for customers and colleagues, and ensures that actions and behaviors drive a positive customer experience. While operating within the Bank's risk appetite, achieves results by consistently identifying, assessing, managing, monitoring, and reporting risks of all types.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree and at least 10-15 years of clearly defined fiduciary tax experience.
• MBA, CPA or Enrolled Agent preferred.
• Graduate degree preferred.
• Demonstrates advanced leadership and relationship management skills and experience, along with strong mentoring abilities.
• Demonstrates successful independent decision making abilities.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office products.
• Knowledge of trust accounting systems and tax software.

Responsibilities

• Serves as an integral part of the Trust Tax department management team. Skills include the ability to establish and execute on a strategic vision that aligns with the departments and the Bank's overall growth and service strategies.
• Supervises the preparation process of between 5,000 and 10,000 federal and state fiduciary, charitable, split interest, IRA, individual, and other tax returns.
• Reviews the tax returns prepared by assigned team members and provide timely feedback.
• Ensures that returns, tax payments and estimated tax filings are processed timely and accurately.
• On a weekly basis, monitors the charging of relevant fees for the work performed in the Trust Tax department during the previous reporting period.
• Reviews complex trust documents, wills, and account closing requests to ensure accurate taxation of returns prepared by team members.
• Develops and implements best practices to ensure compliance with IRS and state tax authorities' rules and regulations and internal policies and standard processing procedures.
• Performs an annual review of account loads for each team member and allocates work assigned to the team prior to tax season. Reallocates work during tax season, as necessary to meet established deadlines and service standards.
• Maintains an awareness of new or proposed changes in tax laws that would result in necessary changes to policies or procedures.
• Performs advanced tax research and analyzes issues relating to fiduciary, charitable, individual and other relevant tax laws and provides recommendations to management and internal and external clients, as appropriate.
• Maintains an awareness of new estate planning and tax strategies, techniques and products through regular contact with other industry professionals and through internal and external research.
• Advises Trust Officers, external customers, attorneys, and accountants on highly complex tax matters which affect the administration of accounts.
• Keeps management and Trust Officers advised as to department progress related to established goals and deadlines, especially throughout tax season.
• Serves as a technical resource to team members and internal and external clients on all facets of relevant taxation.
• Demonstrates a mastery of and serves as an operational resource to team members for the Bank's tax software, including OneSource, Ultra Tax and RIA Online Research.
• Develops the technical and communication skills of team members through mentoring and training programs.
• Develops and delivers technical training programs for department staff.
• Maintains relationships with and serves as the department's point person with the Bank's IT group. Serves on project teams, as necessary, to develop software integration for tax technical changes to accounting and tax software.
• Maintains a relationship with and acts as a point person for the Bank's external software company.
• Demonstrates sound decision making skills, including balancing business risks to the Bank with client interests.
• Demonstrates experience operating in an environment that stresses both individual accountability and team-based performance goals.
• Participates in client/prospect pre-calls as requested by Trust Officers and Wealth Management Advisors.
• Participates in community affairs and professional associations, as requested.
• Supervises the work of a team of tax professionals in the return preparation process for between 5,000 and 10,000 federal and state fiduciary, estate, charitable, split interest, IRA, individual, and other tax returns. Reviews completed tax returns of Senior Trust Tax Accountants and Trust Tax Accountants, as necessary, prior to delivery to clients and filing. Maximizes performance and talent development of team members. Develops employees to their fullest potential by providing challenging opportunities. Provide employees timely, candid and constructive performance feedback; Ensures tax officers are operating within established guidelines, including adherence to policies and procedures and other compliance requirements, including required training. Recognizes and rewards employees for accomplishments and mentors those who require additional attention and training. Recruits and develops the appropriate talent pool to ensure adequate bench strength and succession planning. Responsible for building an engaged team of tax professionals consisting of Senior Trust Tax Accountants, Tax Accountants, Tax Associates and Administrative Assistants.

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefits
• Differentiated compensation offerings
• Incentive compensation plan
• Extensive benefits programs designed to support the individual needs of our employees and their families, encompassing physical, financial, emotional and social well-being.

What This Job Offers

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