Senior Tax Advisor

Laird Norton Wetherby; Seattle (WA); Hybrid; USD 235,000 - 250,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid schedule

Excellent benefits

Sabbatical after 10 years

401(k) plan

Educational reimbursements

Flexible paid time off

Job summary

Laird Norton Wetherby in Seattle seeks a Senior Tax Advisor to oversee the tax function, coordinating with senior management and client service teams. This full-time role supports trust and estate planning within a collaborative, hybrid environment.

The position emphasizes leadership, tax planning, and education of client service teams, with a focus on risk management and quality control across fiduciary activities.

Qualifications

• Minimum of ten years of comprehensive experience with trust and estate knowledge/experience in a complex organization.
• Four-year college degree is required.
• Professional designation such as JD or CPA.

Responsibilities

• Provide ongoing advice and counsel in developing and implementing the company's tax functions.
• Lead and manage client services and tax matters with a client-care approach.
• Improve firm-wide quality control and stay current with technology in processing client transactions.
• Meet with clients to discuss tax, trusts and estate planning; advise client service teams.

Skills

Trust & estate knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Location: Seattle, Washington (Full time, partially remote)

Availability: Full-time position. Hybrid schedule, with a minimum of 2 days/week on-site at LNW's Seattle office and up to 3 days/week remote.

Executive Summary

We are seeking a full-time Senior Tax Advisor to join our team. The Senior Tax Advisor is responsible for the tax function by coordinating with senior management and with the client service teams.

Your Role And Responsibilities

This is a representative list of the general duties the position may be asked to perform and is not intended to be all-inclusive.

Tax Functions

• Provide ongoing advice and counsel in developing and implementing the company's tax functions
• Provide day-to-day leadership and management that reflects the mission and core values of the company Act as a 'client-care officer through direct contact with client services and our clients regarding tax matters
• Foster a team-oriented culture of intellectual curiosity, analytical rigor, creativity, respect and collaboration
• Assist in the education and training of client service teams regarding various tax and estate planning matters
• Provide oversight of distributing fiduciary accounts to ensure adverse tax consequences does not occur
• Alert President, Trust Services and General Counsel of areas of potential risk to the firm

Tax Processing Functions

• Reviews, signs and processes outsourced trust tax returns. Processes requests for payment
• Acts as lead analyst on quarterly tax reports for RIA clients
• Prepares and maintains cost basis calculations for closely held stocks (trusts only outsource others to 1040 CPA)
• Review fiduciary quarterly estimated tax payments and provide a list to the client service team to comment on and raise cash, if necessary. Monitor electric filings and process tax payments
• Calculate and pay monthly, prepare and file annual returns for the non-resident alien tax, regular back-up and IRA tax withholding payments
• Submits tax runs to outsourced vendors and acts as a liaison with those vendors
• Take ownership in improving and applying firm wide quality control procedures
• Remains current on effective use of technology in processing client transactions
• Generate reports as requested
• Conducts research and prepares coherent presentations of analysis and research
• Respond to tax notices relating to trust
• Calculate and/or review unitrust amount

Client Service

• Meet with clients as needed to discuss tax, trusts and estate planning as requested by client services
• Be proactive in anticipating client needs and identifying issues requiring legal counsel
• Provide clear advice to the Trust Resource Group team and to client service for other clients
• Maintain strong communications skills to facilitate meetings with clients

Business Development

• Continue and develop firm relationships with estate planning and tax practitioners in relevant markets
• Meet and work with new prospective clients interested in wealth management or trust services
• Develop potential new client opportunities by participating in professional and community activities
• Serve as an ambassador for the firm in the community
• Participate in opportunities to showcase LNW Advisors including speaking engagements, white papers and interviews

Personal Development

• Maintain continuing education for professional designations

Duties and Responsibilities will increase and vary based on needs of business.

More About You

• Minimum of ten years of comprehensive experience, with trust and estate knowledge/experience, in a complex organization
• Four-year college degree
• Professional designation, such as JD or CPA

Skills And Attributes

• Strong leadership ability, including ability to manage without authority
• Strong experience and skills in tax and estate planning, a plus
• Strong strategic vision and creativity demonstrating excellent business acumen, professional judgment and understanding of company issues
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Skilled business leader/practitioner; capable of inspiring and developing others
• A desire and the ability to work in a collaborative team environment that seeks success of the team rather than the individual
• Strong organizational skills with attention to detail and ability to multi-task in a fast-paced environment
• High ethical standards and the ability to place the clients’ needs before one’s own
• Experience in handling sensitive and confidential subject matter

Candidates must meet all employment qualifications in force at time of hiring, including successful passing of background & credit checks and any pre-employment examinations, signing of all employee agreements, and can perform the essential functions, duties and responsibilities set forth in a consistent and efficient manner.

Compensation And Benefits

We provide a competitive salary commensurate with your experience and skills and offer an annual bonus based on company and individual performance. The salary range for this position starts at $235,00 to $250,000 for those who meet all qualifications depending on location and experience.

The salary range applies to current posting and may change in the future. The posted salary range may vary for key factors including, but not limited to, education, job-related knowledge, experience, skill set, and geographic location.

We offer excellent benefits including medical, dental, and vision coverage; generous time off (including a sabbatical program after 10 years); flexible spending plans for health care, transportation, and dependent care; 401(k) plan, educational reimbursements, and more. Detailed information can be found on our site and here

Our Team

You will be joining a client service team that is dedicated to helping our clients achieve their goals by providing exceptional client service and wealth planning services. Putting our clients first guides our decision-making and culture, and allows us to build long-term, caring and trusted relationships.

We love working in a professional yet relaxed working environment. We encourage openness, active listening, mutual respect, candor and integrity. We cultivate a diverse and inclusive work environment where we encourage a work/life balance through a generous PTO policy and flexible work hours. We enjoy each other's company at team and semi-annual firm wide outings. We take a hybrid in-office/remote working approach.

About Us

Laird Norton Wetherby (LNW) serves exceptional families and individuals seeking to activate the full potential of their wealth. To help turn lifelong ambitions and multigenerational aspirations into reality, LNW brings to each client relationship a high level of care combined with deep expertise in wealth and legacy planning, investments, and trust and estate services.

Offering both RIA (Registered Investment Advisor) and trust services, LNW is committed to providing clients with unbiased, independent guidance and solutions. LNW has offices in Seattle, San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles and Philadelphia, as well as an affiliated trust company in South Dakota, empowering clients across the U.S. and around the world.

LNW is owned by employees and majority owned by Laird Norton Company, one of the longest-sustained family enterprises in the United States. To learn more, please visit LNWAdvisors.com.

Additional Information

Our firm aims to cultivate an inclusive environment and culture that fosters growth, collaboration and acceptance; where we celebrate the diverse voices and perspectives of our employees; and where employees feel empowered to bring their full, authentic selves. Our diversity drives us forward and helps us build deeper relationships with our clients and our community.

We are an equal opportunity employer that prohibits discrimination against employees, applicants for employment, individuals providing services in the workplace pursuant to a contract, unpaid interns and volunteers based on their actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, ancestry, marital status, registered domestic partner status, military and veteran status, civil air patrol status, national origin, immigration status, pregnancy (including childbirth and related medical conditions, and including medical conditions related to lactation) or medical condition (cancer and genetic characteristics).

• As of 5/7/2026