Estate & Trust Tax Manager

Ascend

• $80K — $95K *
Legal & Accounting
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • B.A./B.S. degree in Accounting or related field
  • CPA license required; EA or JD/LL.M. also considered
  • Five years of public accounting experience focused on tax
  • Preferred experience with estate and trust returns
  • Strong knowledge of federal and state tax compliance
  • Familiarity with AI-enabled tax research and review tools
  • Demonstrated ability to manage multiple complex engagements and mentor team members

Responsibilities

  • Manage engagements from planning through Principal review
  • Review complex individual, corporate, partnership, trust, and estate returns
  • Act as primary client contact and business advisor
  • Identify tax planning opportunities throughout the year
  • Delegate tasks while considering team development and economics
  • Develop and coach team members across various work settings
  • Monitor engagement progress, staffing, and billing input
  • Use AI tools for research and reviews while ensuring ownership of conclusions
  • Represent clients during audits and ensure adherence to quality standards
  • Support business development through networking and proposals

Benefits

  • Comprehensive health, dental, and vision coverage
  • Life insurance and short/long term disability plans
  • Flexible spending accounts for medical and dependent care
  • Generous paid time off plan
  • 401(k) plan with company match
Full Job Description
About the Role

We are seeking a Tax Manager with public accounting experience to join our team. Tax Managers own assigned engagements from planning through Principal review, often serving as the client service contact, and provide detailed review of complex tax returns, tax authority notices, and research engagements. You will apply professional judgment to work supported by automation and AI-enabled tools, surface planning and advisory opportunities throughout the year, and participate in billing your engagements.

You will also develop, train, and motivate team members - including those working remotely or on shared-service teams - and may serve as a Career Advisor. This role fits someone who wants to own client relationships end to end, build a specialized area of tax expertise, and work with a collaborative team that invests in your growth and community involvement.

Key Responsibilities
  • Manage assigned engagements from planning through Principal review.
  • Review complex individual, corporate, partnership, trust, and estate returns, tax authority notices, and research engagements.
  • Serve as the primary client contact and business advisor for assigned clients.
  • Identify tax planning and advisory opportunities throughout the year, not just at deadlines.
  • Delegate with engagement economics and team development in mind, including work prepared by shared-service or outsourced teams.
  • Develop and coach team members across in-person, hybrid, and remote settings; provide timely feedback and evaluation input.
  • Monitor engagement progress, staffing, out-of-scope work, and billing input.
  • Use AI-enabled research and review tools appropriately, retaining ownership of every conclusion delivered to clients.
  • Represent clients at audits, document tax advice, and monitor team adherence to quality assurance and ethical standards.
  • Support business development through referral sources, networking, proposals, and expanded services.

Qualifications
  • B.A./B.S. degree in Accounting or a related field.
  • CPA license required; EA or JD/LL.M. also considered.
  • Five or more years of public accounting experience with a focus on tax.
  • Estate and trust return experience preferred.
  • Strong federal and state tax compliance knowledge, with experience reviewing complex returns.
  • Working knowledge of tax research, preparation, and AI-enabled review tools.
  • Proven ability to manage multiple complex engagements while developing team members.
  • Strong project management, communication, and interpersonal skills, including with remote teams.

Jackson Thornton offers a comprehensive, competitive benefit package to all of our professionals, which includes health, dental, and vision coverage, life insurance, long term and short term disability plans, medical and dependent care flexible spending accounts, paid time off plan, and a 401(k) plan with a match.
How to Apply

Submit your information in the application section directly below! This will include:
  • Basic contact information
  • Resume/CV and optional cover letter upload
  • Work eligibility and compensation
  • Voluntary demographic & self-ID questions

For further questions or inquiries about the role, please reach out to Olivia Riley, Sr. Recruiter at [email protected].

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