Trust & Estates Tax Manager, CPA
Wertz & Associates
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Benefits offered by this job
Job summary
Wertz & Associates in Madison, Wisconsin seeks a Trust & Estates Tax Manager to lead fiduciary, estate, gift, and high-net-worth individual tax planning as a CPA with substantial experience. You will serve as a technical leader and trusted advisor to multi-generational families and business owners, emphasizing strategic planning over compliance.
The role offers hybrid flexibility, a competitive base of $140,000–$190,000 with performance bonus, and opportunities for leadership growth within a
Qualifications
- Experience in fiduciary, estate, gift, and high-net-worth individual taxation.
- Strong understanding of Form 1041 and 706.
- Leadership experience supervising staff and reviewing returns.
- Excellent communication and client relationship skills.
- Advisory-focused mindset with fiduciary tax expertise.
Responsibilities
- Prepare and review fiduciary, estate, gift, and individual tax returns.
- Provide strategic tax planning related to trusts, estates, and wealth transfer.
- Assist clients in developing tax-efficient estate and gifting strategies.
- Analyze complex fiduciary and trust structures.
- Stay current on estate and fiduciary tax developments.
Skills
Education
Tools
Job description
Compensation: $140,000–$190,000 Base + Performance Bonus + Leadership Growth Opportunity
Location: Madison, Wisconsin (Hybrid Flexibility Available)
Our client, an award-winning and rapidly growing tax advisory firm, is seeking an experienced Trust & Estates Tax Manager to join its expanding wealth advisory and tax practice.
This is not a traditional tax compliance role.
This is an opportunity to become a trusted advisor to high-net-worth individuals, multi-generational families, business owners, trustees, and their legal and financial advisors. You'll help clients preserve wealth, navigate complex estate and fiduciary tax matters, and develop tax-efficient strategies that impact generations.
If you enjoy combining deep technical expertise with meaningful client relationships and sophisticated planning work, this could be an exceptional next step in your career.
- $140,000–$190,000 base salary
- Performance-based bonus opportunity
- Hybrid and flexible work arrangements
- Advisory-focused environment with minimal compliance-only work
- Significant exposure to high-net-worth individuals and family wealth planning
- Estate, gift, trust, and succession planning opportunities
- Collaborative, team-oriented culture
- Direct access to firm partners and leadership
- Opportunity to become a subject matter expert and strategic advisor
- Award-winning workplace with a people-first culture
Exceptional candidates with significant fiduciary taxation expertise, advanced estate planning experience, or business development capabilities may be considered above the posted compensation range.
As Trust & Estates Tax Manager, you'll serve as a technical leader and trusted advisor for sophisticated estate, trust, fiduciary, wealth transfer, and individual tax matters.
You'll collaborate closely with attorneys, wealth managers, trustees, executors, business owners, and family offices to help clients navigate the complexities of preserving and transferring wealth while minimizing tax exposure.
This role offers exposure to:
- Fiduciary Taxation (Form 1041)
- Estate & Gift Tax Planning
- High-Net-Worth Individual Taxation
- Wealth Transfer Strategies
- Succession Planning
- Family Legacy Planning
- Estate Administration
- Advisory Services & Client Relationship Management
- Prepare and review fiduciary, estate, gift, and individual income tax returns
- Provide strategic tax planning related to trusts, estates, wealth transfer, and succession planning
- Assist clients in developing tax-efficient estate and gifting strategies
- Analyze complex fiduciary and trust structures
- Stay current on estate, gift, and fiduciary tax law developments
- Serve as the primary advisor for assigned trust and estate clients
- Build and maintain long‑term relationships with high-net-worth individuals and families
- Participate in planning meetings alongside attorneys, financial advisors, and firm leadership
- Deliver proactive recommendations and ongoing advisory services
- Help clients navigate complex tax and wealth‑planning decisions
- Research complex tax issues and communicate recommendations clearly
- Review work prepared by staff and provide technical guidance
- Assist with IRS and state examinations, notices, and tax controversies
- Develop best practices and enhance the firm's trust and estate expertise
- Help establish consistent quality control standards
- Mentor and train tax professionals
- Share technical knowledge and industry best practices
- Support staff development and continuing education initiatives
- Foster a collaborative and high‑performing team environment
- Bachelor's Degree in Accounting
- Active CPA license
- 7–10+ years of progressive tax experience
- Significant experience with fiduciary, estate, gift, and high-net-worth individual taxation
- Strong understanding of Forms 1041, 706, and related estate planning concepts
- Experience reviewing returns and supervising staff
- Excellent communication and client relationship skills
- Strong analytical and problem‑solving abilities
The ideal candidate:
- Enjoys working with high-net-worth individuals and families
- Thinks strategically beyond tax compliance
- Values becoming a trusted long‑term advisor
- Enjoys mentoring and developing team members
- Has a consultative and relationship‑driven approachAppreciates sophisticated tax planning work
- Wants meaningful influence within a growing advisory practice
- Competitive compensation package
- Performance-based bonus opportunities
- Flexible and hybrid work arrangements
- Comprehensive health, dental, and vision coverage
- 401(k) with employer match
- Professional development and continuing education support
- Paid community involvement and networking opportunities
- Team‑building events and firm‑sponsored activities
- Modern technology and advisory-focused environment
- Strong commitment to work‑life balance
Many firms talk about work‑life balance.
This firm measures it.
- January through April: Average of approximately 53 hours per week
- May through December: Average of approximately 36 hours per week
The philosophy is simple: sustainable careers are built through flexibility, balance, and mutual support.
Our client is one of Wisconsin's most respected and innovative tax advisory firms, serving business owners, entrepreneurs, high-net-worth individuals, and multi-generational families. The firm has earned multiple workplace and industry awards for its culture, client service, and commitment to employee success.
Unlike traditional CPA firms, the organization operates with an advisory-first mindset. Professionals focus on helping clients make better decisions, preserve wealth, and achieve long‑term objectives rather than simply preparing tax returns.
The firm's investment in technology, collaboration, professional growth, and client relationships has earned recognition as one of Wisconsin's best places to work and one of the nation's best accounting firms.
If you're a Trust & Estates Tax professional seeking a sophisticated advisory role with meaningful client relationships, complex planning opportunities, and exceptional work‑life balance, we'd love to speak with you confidentially.
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