Tax Manager (Trust & Estate)

Hungerford; Grand Rapids (MI); Hybrid; USD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance – Immediate eligibility for employer-sponsored medical, dental, vision

Work-Life Balance – schedule flexibility, generous PTO, parental leave

Flexible Spending & Dependent Care Accounts

401k + Retirement Advising

Job summary

A leading tax advisory firm located in Grand Rapids is searching for an experienced tax professional specializing in estate and trust taxation. This role involves preparing and reviewing tax returns, providing consulting support, and developing client relationships. Candidates should possess a relevant bachelor's degree, an active CPA license, and at least five years of public accounting experience. The company champions work-life balance with flexible arrangements and a commitment to employee growth, making it an ideal workplace for dedicated professionals.

Qualifications

• Active CPA license required.
• 5+ years of public accounting tax experience.
• 3+ years of expertise in estate, gift, and trust tax planning and compliance.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and review fiduciary, gift, and estate tax returns.
• Lead estate and trust tax planning activities.
• Deliver high-level tax consulting and advisory support.

Skills

Proficient technical tax knowledge

Project management skills

Client relationship management

Attention to detail

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting

Job description

Description

As a key member of our Tax team, the position will assume a strategic role in high level tax oversight, client relationship management, and team development, with a particular emphasis on estate and trust taxation. The primary day-to-day responsibilities may involve; tax planning, tax return review, building and maintaining local business professional network, strategic planning, engagement planning and oversight, quality control review, and mentoring and training staff.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and review fiduciary, gift, and estate tax returns, ensuring accuracy and compliance with current tax law
• Lead estate and trust tax planning, including estate plan review
• Deliver exceptional consulting and advisory support
• Work closely with trustees, attorneys, and personal representatives to execute tax strategy and project management
• Analyze and interpret trust and estate documents, with a focus on understanding the tax implications of document language.
• Monitor and interpret legislative changes
• Provide engagement oversight and quality control, including technical review and internal staff leadership

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting
• Active CPA license
• 5+ years of related public accounting tax experience
• 3+years of expertise in estate, gift, and trust tax planning and compliance
• Proven leadership abilities

Qualifications

• Proficient technical tax knowledge
• Must enjoy "taking care" of their clients
• Proven time and project management skills, able to effectively manage client relationships and workload
• Professional and personable
• Practices a high level of inclusion and collaboration skills
• Pays close attention to detail
• Able to adapt to multiple businesses/industries
• Prefers a fast-paced, hands-on work environment, able to handle stress and deadlines
• Embraces technology and uses it to improve processes

Benefits

• Health Insurance – Immediate eligibility for employer-sponsored medical, dental, vision
• Work-Life Balance – schedule flexibility, personalized hybrid work arrangements, generous PTO, parental leave
• Flexible Spending & Dependent Care Accounts
• 401k + Retirement Advising

About Us

Hungerford is a forward-thinking, innovative firm with over 80 years of proud service to West Michigan. We offer expertise in tax, audit, accounting, business advisory, technology, and wealth management, and are deeply committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and collaboration—within our team, with clients, and throughout the community. Our culture is rooted in excellence, inclusivity, and a shared dedication to client success and employee growth. By exchanging innovative ideas, we help organizations thrive, create new opportunities for our people, and give back in meaningful ways. Through it all, we make sure to have fun. As a locally owned and operated firm, we’re proud to call Grand Rapids, Greenville, Holland, Muskegon, and St. Joseph home.