Senior Trusts & Estates Tax Paralegal

Overview

This role supports estate administration and estate/fiduciary tax work, assisting attorneys with administering estates and trusts, preparing required documents, filing estate-related tax returns, and managing client matters.

The position is open in any of the organization’s offices, with preferred locations in St. Louis, Missouri or Phoenix, Arizona.

Responsibilities

• Prepare various tax returns, including 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, prepare payables, and prepare bank deposits.
• Obtain and reconcile 1099 and K-1 statements.
• Support irrevocable trust funding and administration (post-death).
• Assist with probate administration, including drafting probate pleadings.
• Maintain close personal contact with clients and financial advisors.
• Learn and develop technical proficiency in:
  • Database use and management
  • Internet/electronic research
  • Project folder and electronic file maintenance
• Independently organize and manage files or delegate similar tasks to appropriate business professionals and supervise those tasks.
• Support adoption of legal AI tools; learn and implement new AI preferred.
• Maintain attention to detail and consistent quality of work.
• 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.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team and adapt to changing business demands.
• Ability to produce work efficiently and accurately, with a quality final work product.

Position-Specific Qualifications

• 8+ years of progressively responsible experience in Trusts & Estates, including complex estate and trust administration, as well as 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.
• Highly organized; able to prioritize workflow and manage projects.
• Ability to perform effectively with little or no supervision and within established time limits and ongoing deadlines.

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 by jurisdiction:

• 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

Location

Open in any of the organization’s offices; St. Louis, Missouri or Phoenix, Arizona preferred.

Application Materials

Please include a cover letter and resume when applying.

Equal Opportunity Statement

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