Tax Manager - Trust & Estate

CyberCoders; Grand Haven (MI); Hybrid; USD 145,000 - 165,000; Full time

Job summary

CyberCoders is seeking a Tax Manager specializing in Trust & Estate to lead a portfolio of high-net-worth fiduciary clients. You will oversee compliance, planning, and advisory work, mentor junior staff, and support business development within our Private Client practice.

The role requires deep technical knowledge of fiduciary taxation and a proven ability to manage multiple priorities while delivering quality client service.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of progressive Trust & Estate tax experience, including 3+ years in public accounting with client management.
• Deep technical knowledge of fiduciary taxation, estate tax, gift tax, and basis adjustments.
• Experience preparing and reviewing Form 1041 and estate tax returns.
• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field.
• CPA license or active pursuit of a CPA license.
• Strong written and verbal communication; ability to present complex tax concepts.
• Proven leadership and people-management abilities, mentoring staff and cross-functional teams.
• Proficiency with tax research tools and common tax software; ability to meet deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Manage and oversee preparation, review, and filing of fiduciary and estate tax returns (1041, 1040, estate tax forms).
• Provide tax planning and advisory services for trusts, estates, guardianships, and fiduciary entities.
• Serve as the primary client contact to build and maintain relationships with clients and advisors.
• Supervise, mentor, and develop staff accountants and seniors; assign work and review deliverables.
• Conduct technical tax research, interpret law changes, prepare memos, and present recommendations.
• Coordinate with wealth advisory teams on income tax, gift and estate planning, and family office matters.
• Support business development through proposals, client presentations, and cross-selling services.
• Ensure engagement profitability and quality via budgeting, billing, and policy adherence.
• Leverage tax software and maintain documentation for compliance and audits.

Skills

Tax regulations

Client management

Leadership

Tax research

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting/Finance

CPA license or in progress

Tools

Tax software

Tax research tools

Job description

We are seeking a motivated and experienced Tax Manager specializing in Trust & Estate to lead a portfolio of high-net-worth and fiduciary clients. In this role, you will oversee all aspects of trust and estate tax compliance and planning, deliver client-focused solutions, mentor junior staff, and support business development within our Private Client practice. This role requires deep technical knowledge of trust and estate taxation, experience in public accounting, and the ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining high-quality work and strong client relationships.

What you'd do

• Manage and oversee preparation, review, and timely filing of federal, state, and local fiduciary and estate tax returns including Form 1041, Form 1040, estate tax returns, and related schedules
• Provide tax planning and advisory services for trusts, estates, guardianships, and other fiduciary entities, including income tax, distribution planning, basis, and estate tax minimization strategies
• Serve as the primary client contact for assigned Trust & Estate engagements to build and maintain strong relationships with individual clients, trustees, executors, attorneys, and financial advisors
• Supervise, mentor, and develop staff accountants and seniors by assigning work, reviewing deliverables, providing technical guidance, and conducting performance feedback
• Conduct technical tax research, interpret changes in tax law impacting trust and estate matters, prepare memos, and present recommendations to clients and internal stakeholders
• Coordinate with our broader tax and wealth advisory teams on income tax, gift and estate planning, charitable planning, and family office matters
• Support business development activities including proposal preparation, client presentations, and cross-selling firm services to expand our Trust & Estate practice
• Ensure engagement profitability and quality through effective project management, budgeting, timely billing, and adherence to firm policies and professional standards
• Leverage tax software and practice tools while maintaining accurate documentation for compliance and audit readiness

What we need

• 5+ years of progressive Trust & Estate tax experience, including at least 3 years in public accounting or professional services with responsibility for client management
• Deep technical knowledge of fiduciary taxation, estate tax, gift tax, basis adjustments, fiduciary accounting, and related compliance matters
• Demonstrated experience preparing and reviewing complex fiduciary and estate tax returns including Form 1041 and estate tax forms
• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field
• CPA license or active pursuit of a CPA license
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to present complex tax concepts to clients and non-tax professionals
• Proven leadership and people-management abilities, including mentoring staff and leading cross-functional project teams
• Proficiency with tax research tools and common tax software
• High ethical standards, attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple deadlines

Nice to have

• Master's in Taxation or a relevant advanced degree

Pay & benefits

• $145,000 - $165,000 /year DOE
• Competitive base salary commensurate with manager-level experience

Location & schedule

• West Michigan
• Hybrid
• Full-time

About

We are a well-established firm with a sophisticated Private Client practice and a collaborative team environment across West Michigan. We focus on providing high-touch, premium advisory services to our clients while fostering the continuous career development of our professionals.