Senior Trusts & Estates Tax Paralegal

Overview

This position supports a Trusts & Estates tax practice by assisting attorneys with estate administration and fiduciary tax and accounting work. The role involves managing client matters, preparing tax documents, supporting trust funding and administration, and maintaining accurate financial records.

This position is open in any of the organization’s offices, with location preferences for St. Louis, Missouri or Phoenix, Arizona.

Responsibilities

• Assist with estate administration matters, including:
  • Preparing probate-related pleadings
  • Supporting funding of post-death irrevocable trusts
  • Preparing and filing estate-related tax returns
  • Supporting client case management
• Prepare tax returns, including:
  • Estate Tax Returns
  • Fiduciary Income Tax Returns
• Maintain trust financial records, including:
  • Trust accounting
  • Auditing accounts
• Maintain general ledger (G/L) accounts, including:
  • Reconcile broker statements
  • Prepare payables
  • Prepare bank deposits
• Obtain and reconcile 1099 and K-1 statements
• Maintain close personal contact with clients and financial advisors
• Learn and develop technical proficiency, including:
  • Database use and management
  • Internet/electronic research
  • Project folder and electronic file maintenance
• Organize and manage files independently or delegate similar tasks to appropriate business professionals and supervise same
• Support adoption of legal AI; familiarity and ability to learn and implement new AI is preferred
• Maintain attention to detail and quality of work
• Perform other duties as assigned

Essential Job Functions

• Prepare various tax returns including Estate Tax Returns and Fiduciary Income Tax Returns.
• Maintain financial records of trusts; perform trust accounting; audit accounts.
• Maintain G/L accounts, reconcile broker statements, prepare payables and bank deposits.
• Obtain and reconcile 1099 and K-1 statements.
• Irrevocable trust funding and administration (post death).
• Probate administration, including drafting of probate pleadings.
• Maintain close personal contact with clients and financial advisors.
• Meet an annual billable hour requirement of 1600 hours.
• Learn/develop technical proficiency in database use and management; internet/electronic research; and project folder/electronic file maintenance.
• Independently organize and manage files or delegate similar tasks to appropriate business professional and supervise same.
• Familiarity and experience with adopting legal AI and ability to learn and implement new AI preferred.
• Sustain attention to detail and quality of work.
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Ability to deliver superior service to internal and external customers and to communicate effectively
• Ability to interact professionally and courteously with clients and employees at all times; professional appearance required
• Ability to perform required duties with excellent organizational, time-management, and prioritization skills
• Ability to work collaboratively within a team and adapt to changing business demands
• Ability to produce an acceptable amount of work efficiently and accurately; ability to produce quality final work product
• 8+ years of progressively responsible experience in Trusts & Estates, including complex estate and trust administration and estate and fiduciary tax matters
• Two-year degree required
  • Bachelor’s degree or Paralegal Certificate from ABA approved program preferred
  • Significant, substantive related experience may be considered in lieu of formal education
• Excellent communication, analytical, and organizational skills
• Proven success working in a fast-paced, continually changing environment
• Ability to prioritize with excellent time management
• 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 and within established time limits and ongoing deadlines

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity and experience with adopting legal AI; ability to learn and implement new AI
• Bachelor’s degree or Paralegal Certificate from ABA approved program

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:

• 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 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

The organization will provide reasonable accommodations as necessary for individuals with disabilities to apply for and/or perform the essential functions of a position.

Location

• Open in any of the organization’s offices
• Preferred: St. Louis, Missouri or Phoenix, Arizona

Application Requirements

Please include a cover letter and resume when applying.

Equal Opportunity Statement

EOE/Minority/Female/Disabled/Vet. Principal Applicants Only.