Fiduciary Accountant

New York, NY

Summary

Under the general direction of supervising attorney(s) and according to established Firm policies and procedures, the Fiduciary Accountant is responsible for handling all aspects of trust and estate accounting including, but not limited to, analyzing and preparing fiduciary income tax and gift and estate tax returns, fiduciary accountings and annual reports.  Essential duties are performed personally.  This position has moderate client contact.  Must maintain professionalism and strict confidentiality in all client and Firm matters. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include, but may not be limited to, the following.  Other duties may be requested and/or assigned.  Regular and predictable attendance is an essential function of the position.  Essential functions are primary job duties that an individual must be able to perform successfully with or without a reasonable accommodation.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Prepare and analyze federal and state tax returns, including fiduciary income tax returns, gift tax returns and estate tax returns.
• Compile all information required to prepare annual fiduciary income tax returns. Prepare and file federal and New York State tax returns and Inventory of Assets with the Surrogate’s Court.  Review completed tax returns, prepare checks, obtain necessary signatures, and forward to the taxing authorities.  Maintain complete and detailed files for audit purposes.
• Assure that trust/estate accounts are properly funded to pay taxes. If necessary, communicate with necessary parties to transfer funds between accounts.
• Follow up and monitor tax return extensions to assure returns are filed by deadline. Pay the quarterly estimated taxes from the trust or estate checking account on the client’s behalf.
• Prepare for audit of tax returns.
• Prepare and analyze fiduciary accountings and annual reports.
• Research and investigate any requests, problems or issues, and resolve with appropriate parties.
• Prepare initial drafts of client correspondence and memos.
• Responsible for client contact and communication to clients.
• Maintain up-to-date time reports to ensure accurate client billing.

Client billable hour requirement:  1,700 hours annually (142 client billable hours average per month).

Supervisory Responsibilities

• This position entails supervision of and coordination of work with junior paralegal who handles fiduciary bookkeeping and data entry into fiduciary accounting program. 

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Bachelor’s degree and five or more years of work experience as a fiduciary accountant, preferably in a law firm environment; or equivalent combination of education and experience. Ability to research tax issues required.  Paralegal certificate from an ABA-accredited paralegal program a plus.
• Ability to prepare and review fiduciary income tax returns and federal and state estate tax returns. Ability to prepare and review fiduciary accountings and annual reports.
• Familiarity with fiduciary software including, but may not be limited to, GEMS, Te-Dec, ONESource and LaCerte. Computer proficient with experience and working knowledge of Westlaw and other trust-related databases, Internet research, due diligence, Excel, Access, Outlook, and MS Word preferred.  Applicable knowledge of legal and investment terminology with a strong trust administration background.
• Excellent organizational skills including record keeping, data collection, and system information. Ability to compile and analyze data and furnish concise, detailed information in report format, written correspondence, e‑mail, or orally.
• Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills. Ability to communicate with courtesy and diplomacy, efficiently follow written and oral verbal instructions, provide information, and maintain effective relationships with a diverse group of attorneys, clients, staff, and outside contacts.
• Exhibit high degree of initiative with excellent analytical, technical, and critical-thinking skills requiring an aptitude for detail, precision, and logic in order to analyze and research trust and estates data, process information, conduct legal research, and perform essential duties.
• Dependable team player who works collaboratively and cooperatively with others in a team-oriented environment. Ability to act independently and make decisions within scope of the position’s responsibilities.  Proactive with excellent troubleshooting, problem resolution, and follow-through skills.
• Ability to organize, prioritize, and oversee numerous tasks from inception to completion, and ensure work is completed within strict deadlines.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously in a fast-paced, deadline-driven, detail-oriented work environment, and adapt to changes in workflow.
• Possess excellent knowledge of reading, writing, grammar, spelling, punctuation, proofreading, and formatting in order to interpret source data, prepare trusts/estates and tax documents and forms, proofread material for grammatical, typographical, and spelling errors, and perform file maintenance.
• Ability to perform mathematical calculations and apply mathematical concepts when computing, reconciling balances, verifying numerical data on forms and documents, and auditing trust/estate accounts, statements, tax returns, etc.
• Ability to operate standard office equipment including computer, laser printer, telephone, photocopier, calculator, scanner, facsimile, etc.
• Work occasionally requires more than 35 hours per week to perform the essential duties of the position.

Work Environment  

• The work environment is characteristic of a normal office environment with moderate exposure to excessive noise, dust, temperature, etc.

*The above is intended to describe the general content of and requirements for the performance of this job.  It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of essential functions, responsibilities, and requirements.  This position description may be modified in the future as necessary.