Trust Compliance & Tax Specialist

Position Title: Trust Compliance & Tax Specialist

Reports To: Wealth Manager

Position Summary

The Trust Compliance & Tax Specialist is responsible for coordinating and supporting the department’s trust, estate, tax, and compliance functions. This position works closely with internal team members and external service providers to ensure required filings, notices, reporting, and reviews are completed accurately and timely.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Manage the coordination of fiduciary tax return preparation with outside service providers, ensuring timely delivery of required information, review of completed returns, and resolution of follow-up items.
• Coordinate personal income tax return preparation, as applicable, by gathering supporting documentation, communicating with preparers, and tracking filing deadlines.
• Coordinate federal estate tax return preparation, including collection of asset information, beneficiary details, valuation support, and other required documentation.
• Obtain tax identification numbers for trusts and estates and maintain related records in accordance with internal procedures.
• Prepare and process basic tax forms, including Form 56 and related fiduciary or estate filings, ensuring completeness and accuracy.
• Research, monitor, and coordinate responses to IRS and State of Michigan Treasury notices, including follow-up with internal stakeholders and external preparers as needed.
• Coordinate quarterly estimated tax payments by monitoring schedules, confirming payment amounts, and supporting timely processing.
• Review federal and state withholding activity and prepare required withholding returns to support accurate and compliant tax reporting.
• Reconcile, balance, and review 1099 reporting across trust and pension systems, identifying and resolving discrepancies prior to filing.
• Review tax reporting outputs, including 1099-Rs, 5498s, 1099-BDIs, and tax worksheets, to confirm accuracy, completeness, and consistency with account activity.
• Review account transactions to confirm appropriate tax coding and escalate unusual or complex items for further review.
• Prepare quarterly RC-T reporting and support related regulatory reporting requirements, documentation, and review processes.
• Support annual investment and administrative reviews by gathering information, reviewing account documentation, and identifying items requiring follow-up.
• Perform other duties assigned to support departmental objectives, client service standards, and compliance requirements.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree is required, preferably in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or a related field; equivalent advanced coursework or specialized trust and tax training may be considered.
• Certified Public Accountant (CPA) designation, formal tax training, or demonstrated fiduciary tax experience preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong analytical, research, and problem-solving skills with the ability to interpret tax, trust, estate, and compliance-related information.
• High level of accuracy and attention to detail when reviewing tax forms, account activity, regulatory reports, and supporting documentation.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to work professionally with internal partners, external tax preparers, and regulatory agencies.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, trust accounting systems, tax reporting tools, document management systems, and other technology used to support compliance and reporting activities.
• Ability to manage multiple deadlines, maintain confidentiality, exercise sound judgment, and work effectively both independently and collaboratively in a client-focused environment.