About the Role

The Tax Associate Director, High Net Worth Individuals leads and manages a portfolio of high net worth clients and related engagements. This role oversees workflow, ensures compliance with regulatory requirements, and provides strategic tax planning and advisory services for individuals with complex financial situations. They serve as a trusted advisor to clients, often coordinating across multiple entities (partnerships, S corporations, trusts) and collaborating with attorneys, wealth advisors, and other professionals. Additionally, this role plays a key leadership function within the firm, contributing to business development, mentoring team members, and supporting the growth of the firm's HNW practice, maintaining a strong focus on client relationships and overall engagement performance.

This role may not be for you:

This role may not be a good fit for someone who prefers purely technical work, dislikes client interaction, avoids leadership and business development, struggles in a fast-paced environment, or doesn't want administrative responsibilities. It requires a balance of tax expertise, management, and strategic growth efforts.

This role may be for you:

This role is ideal for an experienced CPA who enjoys working with high net worth individuals and families, thrives in a client-facing environment, and excels in both technical tax and strategic advisory. It offers the opportunity to work on complex returns, provide meaningful planning insights, and build long-term client relationships.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

The essential duties & responsibilities of the Tax Associate Director role are outlined below in correlation with Dean Dorton's performance management impact areas.

Technical

Definition: your specialized knowledge & expertise associated with the work you perform for/with clients (note: clients may be internal to Dean Dorton).

• Lead and manage client service teams and engagements focused on high net worth individuals and related entities, including:
• Managing workflow of engagements, ensuring deadlines are met, including the collection and review of client information to complete client engagement tasks.
• Reviewing complex individual income tax returns (Forms 1040), including multi-state filings, K-1 aggregation, and investment-related reporting.
• Overseeing tax compliance and planning for trusts, estates, partnerships, and S corporations tied to individual clients.
• Developing a deep understanding of clients' financial situations, including investments, real estate holdings, business ownership, and compensation structures.
• Providing proactive tax planning strategies related to income deferral, capital gains, charitable giving, and estate and gift tax considerations.
• Researching complex tax questions and issues, relying on other internal experts for guidance and support as needed.
• Engaging in tax planning activities, identifying opportunities to minimize tax liabilities and optimize financial outcomes for clients.
• Consulting with clients on tax compliance and regulatory impacts with entity type changes; merger and acquisition activity; and other business activities.
• Interfacing with taxing authorities and assisting in gathering information for federal, state, and local tax audits, as needed.
• Resolving client issues.
• Signing tax returns.
• As necessary, participating at any level of a tax engagement or project to ensure client and regulatory deadlines are met.
• Communicate with clients throughout the year to maintain relationships and address significant issues. Educate clients on tax law, regulatory, and compliance changes/requirements.
• Assess overall risk and staffing needs for tax engagements. Monitor staffing of client engagements to ensure proper leveraging standards are maintained.
• Assess skill sets, strengths, and abilities to match team members with client engagements.

Behavioral

Definition: the behaviors associated with performing your job (interpersonal skills).

• Monitor overall performance, including profitability, of client engagements.
• Communicate effectively, setting clear expectations for team members and clients.
• Obtain confidence and independence in making decisions and managing clients, that reduce client and firm risk.

Non-Charge

Definition: the contribution you make to Dean Dorton outside of client work.

• Support the growth of the High Net Worth practice, including participation in business development and networking activities.
• Serve as a mentor, coach, and Career Advisor to team members.
• Provide internal training on HNW-specific tax topics and planning strategies.
• Represent Dean Dorton to clients, prospects, and professional networks.
• Participate in firm initiatives, committees, and process improvement efforts.
• Assist with recruiting, interviewing, and developing talent aligned with the HNW practice.
• Oversee firm administrative tasks such as scheduling, billing, business development, recruiting, and training.
• Lead or actively participate in tax and firm committees.

Requirements

Experience & Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required in accounting, finance, business, or related field.
• Minimum of ten years of experience in tax, with significant experience serving high net worth individuals and families required.
• CPA licensure required.
• Strong experience with complex individual returns, multi-entity structures, and estate/gift tax concepts.

Software & Tools

• CaseWare
• CCH Fixed Assets
• CCH Axcess Tax
• CCH Workstream
• CCH Billing and Invoice
• Tax Research Software and Tools
• Client Portal Tools (SafeSend, ShareFile)
• QuickBooks
• TValue
• Adobe
• Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams)
• Data analysis and visualization tools, such as PowerBi
• Familiarity with other relevant software and tools used in accounting and tax practices.

Travel

Travel may be required for client or firm needs, including occasional overnight stays.

Benefits

The Fun Stuff

Work isn't all work! We want to make your experience at Dean Dorton a great one. From your health and happiness to your long-term satisfaction, we focus on YOU! A few highlights are listed below:

• Health insurance - medical, vision, dental
• Unlimited PTO
• Paid family leave, medical leave, and maternity/paternity leave programs.
• Retirement benefits - 401(K) match and best-in-class automatic profit sharing
• Telemedicine, mental health resources, and wellness program reimbursement
• Life insurance and disability insurance