Senior Trust Tax Accountant

Community Bank System, Inc.

$72K — $124K *
Finance & Insurance
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Taxation, or related discipline.
  • Minimum of 5 years of experience in trust or investment fund taxation.
  • Knowledge of partnership and LLC taxation, including Form 990-T and Schedule K-1 analysis.
  • Strong analytical and project management skills.
  • Advanced Microsoft Excel proficiency.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

  • Oversee tax compliance activities for investment entities, ensuring adherence to regulations.
  • Manage preparation and filing of tax returns, including Form 990-T.
  • Maintain tax compliance calendars to track filings and payments.
  • Oversee withholding tax recovery processes with custodians and external providers.
  • Review Schedule K-1s for accuracy and consistency with investments.
  • Evaluate tax implications of investment structures and activities.
  • Develop and maintain internal controls for tax compliance.

Benefits

  • 11 paid holidays and paid vacation.
  • Medical, Vision & Dental insurance.
  • 401K with a generous match and Pension plan.
  • Tuition Reimbursement and banking discounts.
Full Job Description
Responsibilities

The Senior Trust Tax Accountant is responsible for overseeing tax compliance, reporting, and tax-related operational support for investment entities, including Delaware Limited Liability Companies (LLCs), Collective Investment Trusts (CITs) and related investment structures. This role serves as the organization's subject matter expert on trust and investment fund taxation, ensuring compliance with applicable federal, state, local, and international tax requirements.

The Senior Trust Tax Accountant partners closely with Finance, Operations, Legal, Compliance, custodians, investment managers, and external audit and tax advisors to support accurate reporting, effective risk management, and the continued enhancement of tax processes and controls.

Essential Duties:

Tax Compliance & Reporting
  • Oversee and coordinate all tax compliance activities for LLCs, CITs, and other investment-related entities, ensuring adherence to applicable federal, state, local, and international tax regulations.
  • Manage the preparation, review, and timely filing of tax returns, including Form 990-T and other required regulatory filings.
  • Maintain and monitor tax compliance calendars to ensure completion of filings, extensions, estimated tax payments, and related deliverables.

Tax Operations & Administration
  • Oversee domestic and foreign withholding tax recovery and reclaim processes, working with custodians, administrators, and external service providers to maximize recovery opportunities and improve operational efficiency.
  • Review and analyze Schedule K-1s and other tax reporting documents for accuracy, completeness, and consistency with underlying investment activity.
  • Coordinate the collection, review, and submission of tax-related documentation required by foreign tax authorities, custodians, and service providers.

Advisory & Risk Management
  • Evaluate the tax implications of investment structures, transactions, and fund activities, providing guidance to internal stakeholders and management.
  • Identify tax risks, reporting discrepancies, and operational vulnerabilities, and recommend corrective actions and process improvements.
  • Support responses to auditor inquiries, regulatory examinations, tax authority notices, and internal management requests.

Governance & Process Improvement
  • Develop, document, and maintain policies, procedures, and internal controls supporting tax compliance and operational best practices.
  • Partner with cross-functional teams to implement process enhancements, improve reporting efficiencies, and strengthen tax governance frameworks.
  • Monitor legislative, regulatory, and industry developments impacting trust taxation, investment funds, and partnership structures, and communicate implications to management.

Vendor & Stakeholder Management
  • Serve as the primary liaison with external tax advisors, auditors, fund administrators, custodians, and other service providers.
  • Manage relationships with external partners to ensure timely delivery of tax-related services and resolution of complex tax matters.
  • Support strategic initiatives, new product launches, and organizational projects requiring tax expertise.


Qualifications

Education, Training, Experience, and Skill Requirements:

Required
  • Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Taxation, or related discipline.
  • Minimum of 5 years of experience in trust taxation, partnership taxation, investment fund taxation, or related tax compliance functions.
  • Demonstrated knowledge of:
    • Partnership and LLC taxation
    • Form 990-T preparation and review
    • Schedule K-1 analysis and reporting
    • Domestic and international withholding tax recovery processes
    • Tax compliance considerations for investment entities
  • Strong analytical, organizational, and project management skills.
  • Proven ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a highly regulated environment.
  • Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and related financial reporting tools.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to interact effectively across all levels of the organization.

Preferred
  • CPA designation and/or Master's degree in Taxation.
  • Experience with Collective Investment Trusts (CITs), pooled investment vehicles, or institutional investment products.
  • Experience working with trust companies, custodians, asset managers, fund administrators, or public accounting firms.
  • Knowledge of international tax documentation requirements and foreign tax reclaim processes.
  • Familiarity with investment operations, fund accounting, and regulatory frameworks affecting investment entities.

Key Competencies
  • Tax Compliance & Technical Expertise
  • Risk Management & Internal Controls
  • Strategic Problem Solving
  • Project & Vendor Management
  • Regulatory Awareness
  • Process Improvement & Operational Excellence
  • Stakeholder Collaboration & Communication


Other Job Information

Compensation: Commensurate with experience plus potential for annual merit increase. In addition to your competitive salary, you will be rewarded benefits including: 11 paid holidays, paid vacation, Medical, Vision & Dental insurance, 401K with generous match, Pension, Tuition Reimbursement, Banking discounts and the list goes on!

Physical Requirements:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be required to stand, walk or sit. Use hands and fingers, handle or feel, reach with hands or arms, and speak and hear. The employee may occasionally be required to lift and or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, and the ability to focus.

Minimum

USD $72,000.00/Yr.
Maximum

USD $124,686.00/Yr.

Similar Jobs

More Jobs at Community Bank System, Inc.

More Finance & Insurance Jobs

Find similar Senior Trust Tax Accountant jobs: