Senior Estate Administrator, WM

Northern Trust; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Northern Trust is seeking a Senior Estate Administrator in Wealth Management to manage complex estates and taxable trusts, coordinating with internal teams and external counsel. The role emphasizes tax elections, asset valuation, and fiduciary duties with a focus on client service.

The successful candidate will bring 8+ years of estate administration or personal trust experience, along with JD/LLM qualifications.

Qualifications

• Minimum 8 years’ experience in estate administration or personal trust.
• Graduate, JD, LL.M., and/or other related professional designations are strongly desired for this role.
• Advanced knowledge of estate planning and tax laws, trust, fiduciary income, investments, real estate, accounting, trust operations, and current issues within the field.

Responsibilities

• Marshals and administers assets in complex estates and taxable trusts.
• Decides all substantive questions arising within the estate including tax elections, reserves, valuation, and asset disposition.
• Manages accounts with sophisticated estate plans and unusual assets, complex tax matters, and significant investment decisions.
• Coordinates communication of investment decisions and cash needs among the bank and beneficiaries.
• Educates clients on bank products and regulatory/tax changes; maintains relationships with beneficiaries.
• Cultivates opportunities for related services (private banking, investment management, securities) with stakeholders.
• Oversees funding/distributions and review of accounting documents; coordinates court filings as needed.
• Coordinates response to litigation or regulatory inquiries with counsel and senior admins.

Skills

Estate administration

Tax knowledge

Client relationship management

Legal coordination

Education

JD

LL.M.

Job description

About Northern Trust

As a global leader in innovative wealth management, asset servicing, asset management and banking services, Northern Trust (Nasdaq: NTRS) is proud to guide the world’s most successful individuals, families, corporations and institutions.

Since 1889, we have aligned our efforts with our three guiding Principles That Endure: Service, Expertise, and Integrity. Together, they reflect the three cornerstones of business conduct which we strive to instill in our employees, whom we call partners, and to provide to our clients and the communities we serve worldwide.

With more than 135 years of financial experience and over 24,000 partners, we serve the world’s most sophisticated clients using leading technology and exceptional service.

SENIOR ESTATE ADMINISTRATOR, WEALTH MANAGEMENT

OH: R157899

Administers complex, sensitive probate estates and taxable trustscontainingsophisticated estate plans, sensitive family situations, and complex or difficult issuespertaining toinvestment, tax, legal, or other questions. Implements the descendant’s estate plan in all areas where the bank hasresponsibility.Manages relationships among internal support divisions, outside counsel, co-fiduciaries, beneficiaries, and advisors.

Major Duties:

• Marshals and administers assets in complexestates and taxable trusts.
• 2. Decides all substantive questions arising withinthe estate including tax elections, use of tax reserves,disposition,valuationand collection of assets, raisingof cash, resolution of liabilities, audits, and litigation.
• 3. Manages accounts which feature sophisticatedestate plans, unusual assets, complicated will ortrust provisions, intricate tax matters, significantinvestment decisions, and sensitive familysituations.
• 4. Administers unusual assets, such asclosely heldstock, investment concentrations, large or multiplereal estate holdings,unusual, qualifiedplans,deferred compensation agreements, and farms.
• 5. Enables preparation of tax returns (estate, gift,generation-skipping, fiduciary, and personal incometax) throughlocatingand marshaling assets,arranging for valuation, quantifyingexpenses, andsecuring and reviewing financial records.
• 6. Works with internal tax support, co-fiduciaries,and outside counsel to consider all tax electionsand determineappropriate taxreporting.
• 7.Advisesinvestment division of all pertinentcircumstances related to cash requirements of estateand investmentobjectivesof beneficiaries. Helpsdevelop and communicate investment programs,ensuring that all fiduciary requirements are observed.
• 8. Coordinates thebalancingof account requirementsand customer needs during the estate settlementperiod. Ensures thatappropriate communicationof investment decisions occurs between the bankand interested outside parties.
• 9. Establishes andmaintainsstrong relationshipswith beneficiaries responding to their needsandobjectives and explaining any issues that arisein the estate. Educates clients on bank productsand services, emerging issues, and regulatory/taxchanges.
• 10. Cultivates relationships for expanded businessopportunities with the bank (personal trust, NorthernTrust Securities, investment management, privatebanking, etc.).
• 11. Reviews and implements all fundings anddistributions, reviewing all pertinent accountingdocumentation for assigned accounts. Overseespreparation and filing of all necessary courtdocuments.
• 12. Oversees special tasks, including sale of realestate or family business interest, disposition ofqualified plan assets, coordinating response toestate tax audits, andfacilitatingbeneficiaries’credit requests.
• 13. Coordinates response to litigation or initiateslitigation ifappropriate. Coordinates discussionand review of technical tax and legal issues,using outside counsel, in-house legal or taxcounsel, and senior administrators.
• 14. Serves as a resource for the group, providingtraining and consultation on estate matters.

The successful candidate willbenefitfrom having the following competencies:

• Minimum 8years’ experiencein estate administrationor personal trust, with broad exposure to legal, tax,investment, and operational elementsrequired.
• In addition,Graduate,JD,L.L.M.and/or other related professional designations are stronglydesiredfor this role.
• Advanced knowledge of estate planning and tax laws,trust, fiduciary income, investments, real estate,accounting, trust operations, and current issues withinthe field.

Work Authorization

Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. without the need for employment-based visa sponsorship now or in the future. Northern Trust will not sponsor applicants for U.S. work visa status for this opportunity (no sponsorship is available for H-1B, L-1, TN, O-1, E-3, H-1B1, F-1, J-1, OPT, CPT or any other employment-based visa).

Working with Us

As a Northern Trust partner, you will be part of a flexible and collaborative work culture, which has a strong history of financial strength and stability. Movement within the organization is encouraged, senior leaders are accessible, and you can take pride in working for a company committed to an inclusive workplace and assisting the communities we serve.

Philanthropy is deeply rooted in Northern Trust’s history and is an essential element of our culture. Employees around the world give their time and talent to work for the greater good of their communities.

Reasonable Accommodation

Northern Trust is committed to working with and providing adjustments to individuals with health conditions and disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please email our HR Service Center at [e-mail], or alternatively you can discuss your individual requirements with the recruiter you are working with.