Senior Trusts & Estates Tax Paralegal

Overview

This role supports a firm team handling Trusts & Estates matters, including estate administration, irrevocable trust funding and administration (post-death), probate administration, and estate and fiduciary tax return preparation. The position is available in multiple office locations across the United States, with preference for location in St. Louis, Missouri or Phoenix, Arizona.

Responsibilities

• Prepare Estate Tax Returns and Fiduciary Income Tax Returns.
• Maintain financial records of trusts; perform trust accounting and audit accounts.
• Maintain general ledger (G/L) accounts, reconcile broker statements, and prepare payables and bank deposits.
• Obtain and reconcile 1099 and K-1 statements.
• Assist with irrevocable trust funding and administration (post death).
• Support probate administration, including drafting of probate pleadings.
• Maintain close personal contact with clients and financial advisors.
• Manage files independently or delegate similar tasks to appropriate business professionals and supervise as needed.
• Learn and develop technical proficiency in database use and management, internet/electronic research, and project folder/electronic file maintenance.
• Contribute to quality work with sustained attention to detail.
• Meet annual billable hour requirement of 1600 hours.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Ability to deliver 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 successfully meet position requirements.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team and adapt to changing business demands.
• Ability to produce acceptable work efficiently and accurately while maintaining quality.

Position-Specific Requirements

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

Compensation & Benefits

• Compensation will be commensurate with skills and experience.
• 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

Reasonable accommodations will be provided as necessary for individuals with disabilities to apply for and/or perform essential job functions.

Location

• Open in any of the firm’s offices across the United States.
• Preferred location: 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.