Senior Trusts & Estates Tax Paralegal

Overview

This position supports senior-level Trusts & Estates tax and administration matters by assisting attorneys with estate administration, post-death irrevocable trust funding, document preparation, probate support, and preparation/filing of estate-related tax returns. The role also includes client case management and trust/accounting record maintenance.

Location is open in multiple offices across the United States, with a preference for St. Louis, Missouri or Phoenix, Arizona.

Responsibilities

• Assist with estate administration matters, including:
  • Funding post-death irrevocable trusts
  • Preparing documents
  • Probate administration support, including drafting probate pleadings
  • Client case management
• Prepare tax returns, including:
  • Estate Tax Returns
  • Fiduciary Income Tax Returns
• Maintain financial records of trusts, including:
  • Trust accounting
  • Auditing trust accounts
  • Maintaining general ledger (G/L) accounts
  • Reconciling broker statements
  • Preparing payables and bank deposits
• Obtain and reconcile tax statements, including:
  • 1099 statements
  • K-1 statements
• Maintain close contact with clients and financial advisors.
• Meet an annual billable hour requirement of 1600 hours.
• Develop technical proficiency in:
  • Database use and management
  • Internet/electronic research
  • Project folder/electronic file maintenance
• Independently organize and manage files, or delegate similar tasks to appropriate business professionals and supervise their work.
• Maintain attention to detail and quality of work.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Ability to provide superior service to internal and external customers and communicate effectively.
• Ability to interact professionally and courteously with clients and employees at all times; professional appearance required.
• Strong organizational, time-management, and prioritization skills to meet established time limits and ongoing deadlines.
• Ability to work collaboratively within a team and adapt to changing business demands.
• Ability to produce an acceptable quantity of work efficiently and accurately, with high-quality final deliverables.
• 8+ years of progressively responsible experience in Trusts & Estates, including complex estate and trust administration and estate/fiduciary tax matters.
• Two-year degree required. Bachelor’s degree or Paralegal Certificate from an ABA approved program preferred; significant, substantive related experience may be considered in lieu of formal education.
• Excellent communication, analytical, and organizational skills.
• Proven ability to succeed in a fast-paced, continually changing environment.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications.
• Familiarity with tax and trust accounting software.
• Experience with document database programs and/or software.
• Significant client case management experience.
• Exceptional attention to detail.
• Ability to perform effectively with little or no supervision.
• Ability to prioritize workflow and manage projects.

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity and experience with adopting legal AI; ability to learn and implement new AI preferred.

Compensation & Benefits

Compensation is commensurate with skill and experience. The exact compensation will vary based on skills, experience, location, and other factors permitted by law. Expected compensation ranges include:

• State of California: $88,000 - $180,000
• Cleveland, Ohio: $85,000 - $125,000
• Columbus, Ohio: $82,000 - $121,000
• State of Colorado: $82,000 - $145,000
• State of Connecticut: $70,000 - $178,000
• State of Illinois: $80,000 - $155,000
• State of Maine: $60,000 - $139,000
• State of Maryland: $86,000 - $130,000
• State of Massachusetts: $88,000 - $169,000
• State of Minnesota: $88,000 - $146,000
• Jersey City, NJ: $96,000 - $174,000
• State of New York: $82,000 - $178,000
• State of Virginia: $57,000 - $168,000
• State of Vermont: $87,000 - $168,000
• State of Washington: $86,000 - $164,000
• Washington, DC: $114,000 - $168,000

Location

• Open in multiple offices across the United States
• Preferred locations: St. Louis, Missouri or Phoenix, Arizona

Additional Information

• Reasonable accommodations will be provided as necessary to allow an individual with a disability to apply for and/or perform the essential functions of the position.
• Please include a cover letter and resume when applying.
• EOE/Minority/Female/Disabled/Vet. Principal Applicants Only.