Trust and Estate Manager

The Swanson Group LLC; Westbrook, Northern (ME, KY); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Unlimited PTO

Make-your-own-schedule flexibility

401(k) with 3% match

Health and dental insurance

Short- and long-term disability

Group life insurance

Job summary

The Swanson Group LLC in Westbrook, ME, is seeking a Trust & Estate Manager to lead complex fiduciary work for individuals, families, trusts, and estates. You’ll own client relationships, mentor staff, and expand expertise while avoiding new business development pressure.

Join a collaborative, growth-oriented firm that values flexible work, professional development, and delivering tax-savvy guidance through major life transitions.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in trust, estate, gift, and high-net-worth taxation.
• Experience preparing/reviewing Forms 1041, 706, 709, and complex 1040 returns.
• Ability to supervise and mentor staff.
• Strong communication with high-net-worth clients and advisors.

Responsibilities

• Manage and review trust, estate, gift, and individual income tax returns, including Forms 1041, 706, 709, and complex 1040s.
• Oversee trust and estate engagements from planning through preparation, review, and completion.
• Work directly with high-net-worth individuals, families, fiduciaries, executors, trustees, attorneys, and financial advisors.
• Assist with estate and gift tax planning, tax planning, wealth transfer strategies, and related compliance.
• Research complex trust and estate tax issues and provide practical recommendations.
• Identify planning opportunities and advise clients on tax implications.
• Review staff work and provide guidance.
• Supervise and develop associates and senior-level team members.
• Stay current on changes to federal/state laws and educate the team.
• Build long-term client relationships as a responsive contact.
• Collaborate with partners across the firm to deliver comprehensive solutions.

Skills

Trust & estate taxation

High-net-worth client management

Tax planning

Mentoring staff

Client relationship building

Form 1041, 706, 709, 1040

Job description

Trust & Estate Manager

At The Swanson Group, Your Trusted Accountant, we're not your average accounting firm. We're a collaborative crew of CPAs and tax planners who genuinely enjoy solving tax puzzles. To us, every tax return is a challenge worth mastering and we find joy in untangling last year's messes, strengthening small businesses, and uncovering tax savings along the way.

As Westbrook's largest full-service tax, accounting, and consulting firm, we're proud to be a Next Generation Accounting Firm. That means we focus on relationships over transactions, strategic guidance over cookie-cutter forms. We offer forward-thinking counsel to help small businesses grow, while also delivering excellent traditional tax prep services.

Led by a self-made, female entrepreneur, our team blends decades of expertise with fresh perspectives. We're casual, collaborative, and serious about delivering top-tier service without sacrificing fun or flexibility.

We're searching for an ambitious and growth-minded Trust & Estate Manager to join our team in a high-impact role serving individuals, families, trusts, and estates.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone who enjoys working closely with clients, navigating complex trust and estate matters, and becoming a trusted advisor to families through important financial and life transitions. You'll have the opportunity to take ownership of client relationships, mentor team members, and continue developing your expertise without the pressure of bringing in new business.

You'll join a firm that respects your time and invests in your development, offering exceptional flexibility, meaningful client work, and a collaborative team environment.

What You'll Do

As a Trust & Estate Manager, you'll play a key role in managing our trust, estate, gift, and high-net-worth individual client relationships. Responsibilities will include:

• Manage and review trust, estate, gift, and individual income tax returns, including Forms 1041, 706, 709, and complex 1040s.
• Oversee trust and estate engagements from planning through preparation, review, and completion.
• Work directly with high-net-worth individuals, families, fiduciaries, executors, trustees, attorneys, and financial advisors.
• Assist clients with estate and gift tax planning, trust taxation, wealth transfer strategies, and related compliance matters.
• Research complex trust and estate tax issues and provide practical recommendations to clients.
• Identify planning opportunities and proactively advise clients on potential tax implications.
• Review work prepared by staff and provide technical guidance and feedback.
• Supervise, mentor, and develop associates and senior-level team members.
• Stay current on changes to federal and state trust, estate, and gift tax laws and help educate the broader team.
• Build long-term client relationships by serving as a responsive and knowledgeable point of contact.
• Collaborate with partners and other professionals across the firm to deliver comprehensive solutions.

What You'll Bring

You'll be a strong fit for this role if you:

• Have significant experience in trust, estate, gift, and high-net-worth individual taxation, ideally within a public accounting or professional services environment.
• Have hands-on experience preparing and reviewing Forms 1041, 706, 709, and complex 1040 returns.
• Understand estate and gift tax planning concepts and enjoy solving complex client issues.
• Have experience supervising, reviewing, and mentoring staff.
• Stay current on evolving tax laws and enjoy sharing your knowledge with others.
• Are comfortable communicating directly with high-net-worth clients and their professional advisors.
• Excel in a collaborative, team-driven environment.
• Build and maintain strong, lasting client relationships.
• Are looking for an opportunity to continue growing into a senior leadership role within a firm.
• Are excited about the opportunity to live and work in coastal Maine, just minutes from Portland's vibrant restaurant and cultural scene. Our newly renovated, dog-friendly office is located on Main Street in Westbrook, across from the Presumpscot River.

Compensation & Growth

We believe your compensation and career should grow alongside your impact.

• No business development requirement -- we have plenty of existing work and will match your client responsibilities to your interests, experience, and capacity.
• Opportunity to manage a meaningful portfolio of trust, estate, and high-net-worth client relationships.
• Competitive base compensation based on experience.
• Long-term advancement opportunities as the firm continues to grow.
• Our goal is to become an ESOP by December 31, 2030, creating an exciting opportunity for employees to participate in the firm's long-term success.

Outstanding Benefits

• Unlimited PTO
• Make-your-own-schedule flexibility
• 401(k) with 3% match
• Health and dental insurance
• Short- and long-term disability coverage
• Group life insurance
• Ongoing training and professional development

Come Grow With Us

If you enjoy helping families navigate complex trust and estate matters and want to build your career with a firm that values both your expertise and your time, we'd love to meet you.